“The airports of the world are increasingly similar to each other,” Ignacio Izquierdo, a photographer and intrepid traveler who has traveled half the world with his camera, tells us with a sigh. His response when we asked him about delicious things that he has eaten and bought in airports perfectly summarizes almost a dozen of them repeated by friends and fellow journalists who were asked the same thing. Ground zero of expensive food to avoid, we have set out to find exceptions that confirm the rule. It has been very complicated.
Although service areas are often talked about as the perfect example of places with captive customers to whom you can sell whatever you want at absurd prices, airports also perfectly represent that business model. We all assume that we will have to pay too much for something that is not especially good and, more or less willingly, we accept the robbery that is usually evidenced in the price of bottles of water.
Buns in Bilbao
With this panorama and even at the risk of falling into Bilbao as the capital of the world also when it comes to eating well at the airport, the truth is that Loiu airport is almost something exceptional. In fact, until not too many years ago there was a cafeteria with decent coffee and butter scones at normal prices.
That disappeared to make way for soulless chains and cafeterias, but instead the Arrese pastry shop opened a branch, with its corresponding butter buns, always a safe bet.
Although the closure of Arrese made those of us from Bilbao who live outside suffer and who took souvenir buns with us, it was a false alarm. The place was taken by Leku-Ona, the Mungia pastry shop that can boast of having one of the best butter buns in Bizkaia and, therefore, in the world. At 2.20 euros a piece -the last time we went there- they are cheaper than some in the city center.
The best airports for foodies
Pretending to eat decently at an airport or find appetizing souvenirs is something more common than you might think. So much so that there is even a ranking that chooses the best in the world for foodies. Singapore is the clear winner. Asia and the United States occupy the majority of positions and among the top 20 there is not one from Spain and only one from Europe: Amsterdam.
There are no clues as to what criteria are used to compile this list, but there is one detail that should not be overlooked: those who travel a lot to have an opinion on the matter will surely also have a frequent flyer card with enough status to have access to airport VIP lounges. So they have more or less resolved the issue of what to eat.
But the fact that Changi Airport in Singapore is always pointed out as the best in the world is not by chance. For years its cleanliness and offer of shops and food have stood out, but the recent opening of the Jewel terminal plays directly into another league.
More like a shopping center than an airport, it is one of the few that we can remember where you can eat really well. And where -as those who live there explained to us on our last visit- people go to spend a few hours, even if they don't have to travel.
Also the options when buying edible souvenirs are very wide, almost as much as the diverse and interesting gastronomy of this city-state. A recommendation? The pandan cake, a green cake, very fluffy and unknown outside the region. It holds up very well on a long trip and is a perfect gift to buy just before boarding.
Ensaimadas and Italian coffee
We turned again to Jorge Guitián, who gave us very good clues when looking for gas stations to stop at to eat or buy. With airports things are much more complicated, he admits. In any case, the coffee at Italian airports -in general better and cheaper than in Spain- and the Sicilian sweets that can be found as soon as you land in Catania are two good clues to keep in mind for future trips.
A combination of coffee and pastries that leads us to think of Portugal and the Lisbon airport where, a few years ago, we remember having a good coffee loaded with pastel de nata to bring back as a souvenir. Cakes that, by the way, the TAP airline offered as a courtesy on their flights and that they invited to say that thankfully we have Portugal left.
Speaking of sweets, there is less luck with the subject of ensaimadas at the Mallorca airport. Solved the conflict with Ryanair that tried to charge a bonus for hand luggage to those who flew with this typical product, now the problem is to find a good one in Son Sant Joan, Palma de Mallorca airport.
We are not saying it, several Mallorcan sources consulted say that they have even threatened to withdraw our greeting for asking such an absurd question. Each one defends that the best ones on the island are in a certain pastry shop in Palma or in a small town, but they strongly recommend buying them outside the airport.
It is true that the Horno Santo Cristo is based there, a chain of pastry shops specializing in ensaimadas, with several locations in Palma and a certain prestige. But, in view of the comments we can read, those sold at the airport are not up to the standard of those in the city.
From Barcelona to Tokyo
So, when doing the last-minute shopping at the airport, a good artisan sobrassada, olive oil or Mallorcan wine can be good and more original ideas. We will pay more than outside the airport, of course, but in the case of oil and wine it will be the only way to carry it with you.
In the same line of betting on the classics, Lucía Díaz Madruga -a journalist who collaborates with National Geographic and with many accumulated flights- recommends alfajores, Fernet and dulce de leche at the Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires, where she is now traveling.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is not only the largest in the United States, but also the busiest in the world. What to buy as a souvenir in the city of Coca Cola? Ángel Jimenez de Luis, a journalist for El Mundo, has lived in Georgia for many years, so this is his main airport. His advice: beef jerky. These strips of cured and dried meat are very traditional there, not expensive and a most exotic product for those who travel abroad.
In Tokyo, the exotic options are innumerable. In fact, the airport stores offer an infinite assortment of cookies, mochis, snacks... All prepared in boxes that are perfect for giving away, although it later turns out that there is more packaging than product.
In any case, to spend just enough and look good, nothing like Kit Kats with strange flavors, from wasabi to red beans. The list is very long, it varies according to the season and, even the rarest, almost always everyone likes it because it is still crunchy chocolate with a touch of flavor to something.
And in Barcelona? Beyond the nougat that always tends to triumph among visitors from South America and Asia at any Spanish airport, vermouth can be a good idea and with a price that, no matter how inflated it is, cannot be very high.
Another idea applicable to any national airport: Iberian ham. Although, be careful, taking into account the limitations when traveling to some countries with pork if we want to avoid scares on arrival.
Enrique Tomás's sandwiches -the restaurant is always very busy- are always a good option at Barcelona airport. They also sell packaged ham in all possible formats and, in fact, the success is such that they have just inaugurated new vending machines where you can get everything from sandwiches to packets of ham instantly and without having to wait.
