Enjoy Barcelona Hookah Sessions with Friends—Minus Your Smartphone

So you’ve finished your tour of the activity-packed sprawl of Barcelona. After soaking in the sights and sounds for almost an entire day, however, you find yourself a bit tired and ready to relax. A consensus was reached among your group, and you all decided to wind down at a popular shisha bar in Barcelona like Ziryab. It’s not bad to Instagram and Tweet everything you’ve experienced while enjoying a nice, traditional hookah in Barcelona with your friends. Still, you’re missing the big point of what the gathering is all about—actual personal conversation, and not having your friends look at you for hours while you indulge yourself on your smartphone.
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Vegetarian Tapas in Barcelona: Authentic Treats You Can Nibble On

Patatas Bravas – A popular Barcelona tapas made of fried or baked potatoes covered in a sauce made of hot pimentón, saffron, sherry vinegar, tomatoes, garlic, and sugar, Patatas Bravas (literally meaning “fierce potatoes”) originated in Madrid back in 1933, and has stayed strong since. Writing for SeriousEats.com, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt remarks that Patatas Bravas means the same to Spanish tapas bars as chicken wings do to American sports bars. It’s pretty well-known not just in Barcelona or Madrid, but all around Spain for good reason—Patatas Bravas’ simple cooking method allows for limitless experimentation, allowing for different versions at almost every city. It’s also traditionally considered a “social dish,” best eaten with friends and family at local bars.
http://ziryab.es/vegetarian-tapas-in-barcelona-authentic-treats-you-can-nibble-on/

Barcelona Shisha Bar: A Perfect Place to Unwind in the Catalan Capital

With a colourful history and evolution, this European state has now become a melting pot of cultures, which would explain why bars and restaurants like Ziryab feature distinct Middle Eastern influences. Aside from indulging in tapas infused with Arabic flavours, you can delight in an exotic Persian Empire inspired experience through the smooth, fruity flavours and scents of shisha. Take pleasure in Barcelona shisha to loosen up after a long day of touring the Catalan locale. The new experience will perfectly complete your quest for an extraordinary getaway in Spain.
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Indulge in Fusion Tapas in Barcelona for a Taste of Two Rich Cuisines

Contemporary takes on tapas merge culinary elements to make for more unique and interesting tastes, as you will experience with fusion tapas in Barcelona. Fusion restaurants that have distinctly Arabian elements, such as Ziryab, give the traditional appetiser a dash of Middle Eastern flavour. The result is a more savoury and more fragrant feast for the taste buds. Take for instance a luscious pan con tomate platter with a kick of Jordanian zaatar or thyme, and drizzled with the finest virgin olive oil from Palestine. The dried herb (usually mixed with sesame seeds, sumac, and salt) and the premium organic oil combined with other spices render the dish more exquisite, with a highly aromatic flavour. Sweet dates and strong-tasting Halloumi cheese, among many other Arabian ingredients and seasoning, also blend well with Catalan meats and produce. Indulge in these delectable tapas en Barcelona for a culinary experience of a lifetime!
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Barcelona Hookah Bar: Experience the Great Merging of Arab and Spanish

Another strong proof of Arabian influence in Spain is the practice of smoking a hookah in the country’s key cities. Hookahs are basically water pipes (single- or multi-stemmed) used to smoke tobacco through cooled water. The tobacco or shisha is heated in the bowl at the top of the pipe, and the smoke is filtered through the water in its base. The practice of smoking hookahs has earned its share of arguments among those who enjoy them. Essentially, for some individuals, hookah isn’t Middle East in origin. Perhaps they have reason to believe that’s the case since some history records show it came from northwestern India. Whatever its origin may be, in modern-day Arab culture, the practice is meant to be enjoyed in a social setting, which is why Spanish residents and tourists alike are sure to find a Barcelona hookah bar while taking pleasure in the city’s amazing sights.
http://ziryab.es/barcelona-hookah-bar-experience-great-merging-arab-spanish/

The Coca Flatbread: A Popular, Pizza-like Tapas en Barcelona Delicacy

Coca’s most common toppings range from simple ones like strips of red pepper and olives, to more varied or zesty types like the Coca de Recapte (which means anything available in the cupboard is thrown into the dough). At times, canned tuna or sardines in olive oil are added to vegetable toppings. Coca is enjoyed for its seasoning variations according to the local culture, and coques (plural form) are relished in their flavorsome best during fiestas and local celebrations. Coca dough is baked in different ways. It’s often baked open and sometimes closed (folded over). It can also be sweet when enhanced by eggs and sugar, along with additional sweet toppings. Coca can also be savory; with bakers using only the best olive oil, along with topping pairs of vegetable and meat or fish. The almost inexhaustible topping variations contribute to the differences in distinctive flavors among coques baked from different Spanish regions.
http://ziryab.es/the-coca-flatbread-a-popular-pizza-like-tapas-en-barcelona-delicacy/

A Guide to Finding Good Wine to Go with Delicious Tapas in Barcelona

Summer is the peak travel season because the kids are out of school and family schedules are generally free. One of the most popular summer destinations is Spain, particularly Barcelona, because the city has something for everyone.

A trip to Barcelona is incomplete without sampling authentic Spanish food like tapas. Tapas are generally any finger food or bite-size snacks consisting of small portions of meatballs, battered squid rings, tender beef, white anchovies, and others. Delicious tapas in Barcelona typically serve as appetisers and go great with wine. However, tourists and locals alike should know which wine goes best with them, so below is a short guide.

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