ZiryBlog: Culinary Inspirations

So you’ve booked your Barcelona trip, and are ready to go shortly. All your bags are packed, and your documents settled, and the hotel room reservation’s stamped in—however, you feel a nagging concern in the back of your mind. About.com resident Spain travel expert Damian Corrigan sums that up with these words: Continue reading “Vegetarian Tapas in Barcelona: Authentic Treats You Can Nibble On”

A tour around Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without heading to a bar for tapas, and, of course, a glass or two of good wine. If you want a true taste of the Spanish lifestyle, get to know these mouth-watering treats and dig in. Continue reading “Indulge in Fusion Tapas in Barcelona for a Taste of Two Rich Cuisines”

It is commonly held that pizza—that iconic flat dough of bread baked with an assortment of toppings—and all other pizza-like foodstuff, originated in Italy. The famous all-around fare, as it turns out, is embodied in other cultures, as well, with variations in dough recipe and toppings, but still echoing the elemental simplicity of the form. Spain, for instance, has its own local version of the pizza served as part of a popular tapas in Barcelona, and other popular culinary hotspots in the country. Tapas are small appetizer delicacies—finger foods or canapes—some of which are best served hot, and others cold. As the LA Times’ Regina Schrambling notes: Continue reading “The Coca Flatbread: A Popular, Pizza-like Tapas en Barcelona Delicacy”

When you vacation in Barcelona, you’ll no doubt be visiting attractions like Placa Reial, Montjuic and Las Ramblas to soak in the city’s rich culture. That being said, one of the best ways to get to know a city is by sampling the food it has to offer—and Barcelona has no shortage of scrumptious dishes to try out. Continue reading “Eating Tapas in Barcelona—a Fun and Healthy Dining Experience To Try”

Spain is always known for its variety of traditions. Its history of assimilating various cultures is one of the many reasons this country has a unique and colorful identity. With respect to its food culture, Spain can be identified through its mixtures of various cuisines, often resulting in one-of-a-kind delicacies that people around the world enjoy. Such is the case with Spanish tapas.
Continue reading “Tapas in Barcelona: Experiencing Spanish Tradition with Every Bite”

Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain, is known for its modernist architecture, live music venues, exquisite art, and of course, unforgettable food choices. One food that is practically synonymous to the city are the tapas. These are appetizers or finger-food which come in different forms, shapes, and colors.

“Spaniards don’t eat when you normally do. Lunch is from 2 p.m. onward, and dinner comes after 10 p.m. If you’re hungry in between or can’t reset your body clock, there’s help — tapas and pintxo bars (pintxo is the Basque equivalent of tapas) open around midday and again around 7 p.m. In some bars, a snack still comes free with a glass of beer, sherry or wine, but some places now charge.”

As the CNN blog mentions, the eating habits of Spaniards significantly differ from that of the US as well as in other countries. Should you wish to visit the city and you find yourself hungry after a long and tiring day sight-seeing, then let the great-tasting tapas in Barcelona come to the rescue. Since we they come in different forms and varieties, why not go for something that is more unique and stands out from the rest.

Go for fusions

Keep yourself busier by embracing the challenge of finding restaurants that offer fusion tapas and have a more fulfilling meal. Fusion tapas feature combinations of different tastes and elements, usually of different countries and cultures. By going for fusions, you will be able to experience traditional forms like croquettes, ham and cheese, fish, seafood, bruschettas, and other selections, but with a different twist that sets them apart from the usual tapas.

You can taste a variety of tapa fusions that are created for cheese lovers, vegetarians, and people who have sweet tooth. Additionally, these tapas are served with different alcohol choices like red and white wine, or gin, whisky, or rum, depending on your preference and on what matches well with the tapas you ordered. Restaurants like Ziryab offer fusion tapas en Barcelona characterized by a mix of Catalan flavors and the rich and spicy taste of Arabia.

By going for unique kinds of tapas, you are also exploring its vast gastronomic offerings which complete your trip and make it more memorable.

(Article Excerpt and Image from 11 things to know before visiting Spain, CNN, October 1, 2013)