A vegetarian in Spain....

Being a vegetarian in the States has it's challenges sometimes but compared to some of my European expreiences it's a breeze.


After my Madrid Tapas experience I thought I had it all figured out. Be specific

when ordering food, that I am a vegetarian and don't eat meat, what do you have

available for me?

We stopped for something to eat at a roadside gas station/cafe (popular in many European countries). I explained that I am a vegetarian, don't eat any meat and asked what he suggested. How about a bocadillo? (a sandwich) Maybe with salad? Ok, great, a sandwich with salad. When my bocadillo showed up it looked
tasty.... I cut in half and went to take a bite... grilled bread, a tiny bit if lettuce, a little tomato... what's that?? Chopped egg and... TUNA???



On our way home from the hill towns we found a restaurant (actually a bar/cafe) that would

serve us food at 8pm (early by Spanish standards, dinner rarely is served before 9pm).

I explained the vegetarian thing and he invited us to peruse what he had on offer. There was a counter with some premade items, like a small buffet. You're a vegetarian, no meat? No, no meat. OK,fish? No fish. No meat? Hmn... How about chicken livers????

This particular story ends well however. He must have seen the desperation in my hungry eyes beause he took pity on me. He offered to cook something just for me. He decided rice and vegetables would suit. Great :) He decided that since he was cooking for me he'd offer to make something for Tom too. Fish? Pork? Chicken? Tom decided on calamari and pototoes (fries). Off to the kitchen my new best friend went, only to appear a few minutes later to ask if it was OK to make my rice Spanish (by adding potatoes). YES! I love Spanish!! Well then how about a tortilla too? YES!! I would love to try a Spanish tortilla (an egg/potato concoction). Tom enjoyed his calamari, and I was sooo happy that I was having real Spanish food, made just for me and not an animal part in sight ;) It was a good day.