Tag: food

Mercado de la Ribera

I love my food markets and I found one around the corner from where I am staying in Bilbao.

Mercado de la Ribera is supposed to be the biggest covered market in Europe. How did I not know this existed?

Anyway I stumbled in this market because it is near my hotel and I was hot and looking to cool down.

Once entering I noticed at least two levels of fresh goods. Many stalls were closed but it could have been a the time of day that I visited. There was no lack of goods for shoppers.

I’m a traveler with no kitchen so what I really needed was the tapas food court located on the second floor.

There are so many different tapas choices that it might not be a bad idea to visit multiple times to try all you wish to try.

Mercado de la Ribera

Eating healthy on the road

“Vegetable” side from the other night. Ended up being mostly mushrooms and onions.

I love food (and wine). I like to try new types of food and eat old comforts. I am most certainly going to try any local dish in a city I am in. BUT my body cannot sustain that kind of eating for long periods of time. I am finding myself seeking out ways to eat healthier more and more (It is always so easy to eat unhealthy).

For example, when I have a hotel with free breakfast included I load up on the fruit (and vegetables if they sometimes have them), or I seek out a big ole Salad, or I order the grilled vegetable side dish if they happen to actually have one on the menu. I am now staying in a vacation rental where I stocked it with fruits and yogurts for breakfast (If I eat one more croissant in the morning I think I will scream).

Let me be clear I am not dieting while I am traveling – that would be a disaster because I would be miserably looking at all the good food all the time.

I am just conscious of what my body needs; something that maybe comes with being an older traveler.

I can go longer if I occasionally give it the fuel it needs. And I want to keep going as long as I can.

I should have put more fruit and less cheese on this plate but it was my first day in Gijon and I wanted to try all the cheeses that morning.

Eating in Ghent

I loved Ghent. It is a cute picturesque town with all the charm of Brugge but only half of the crowds.

What I didn’t love for the most part was the food in Ghent.

For my first meal I went straight for the mussels and they were surprisingly underwhelming.

While forcing myself to eat average mussels I noticed everyone ordering ribs. Thinking it is probably a popular thing I decided to later look into it. Later on I happened to walked by this rib place that looked like it was popular.

Amadeus

So I returned and got those ribs and they were very good.

And that potato, I don’t normally love baked potatoes but there was something magical about that curry butter.

I might have stepped into a tourist trap but I walked out happy.

Did I mention it was all you can eat? Unfortunately I couldn’t finish my first serving since ribs tend to be filling.

So I had one good meal and you can’t go wrong with beer though. They do have so good Belgium beers all over. I’ve heard beers can be a meal replacement?

I want a salad

What is wrong with me?

I am in the land of awesome tapas and I keep thinking about how I want a salad or vegetable dish.

My first attempt at ordering salad at a nicer restaurant resulted in a plate of tomatoes and some burrata. While good, didn’t exactly meet my vegetable criteria.

Finally I find a restaurant with this masterpiece….

Goat cheese salad with beetroot dressing

It sure did hit the spot. Things you take for granted in your non-traveling daily lives – like easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables.