Marrakesh, a City Tasting Tour

Although couscous, a dish made using steamed semolina seasoned with spices and accompanied by meat (usually chicken, lamb or mutton) and vegetables cooked in broth, is not a uniquely Moroccan speciality as evidenced by the couscous festival held annually in Sicily, tajine is the traditional Moroccan dish par excellence.

Tajine, of Berber origin, is a dish braised in a special terracotta vessel (which is also called tajine). The Moroccan tagine recipe consists of meat – chicken or lamb - in a spicy sauce, sometimes accompanied by various dried fruits and vegetables, usually potatoes, carrots and olives. In Marrakesh you’ll have no trouble finding a good tajine to enjoy. But to ensure that your pleasure is complete, have a seat at Les terrasses de l’Alhambra, a restaurant that occupies an entire corner in Jemaâ el – Fna Square. There, late in the day, you’ll feel as if you were in the land of a Thousand and One Nights.

Before you enjoy your relaxing break there, you will most likely have checked out the Medina, Marrakesh’s souk, or bazaar, looking for some handcrafted souvenirs, or wandered through the city checking out its architectural wonders. And throughout the day, on street corners and at outdoor cafés, you’ll be served mint tea. Don’t leave without experiencing this thirst-quencher, the Marrakeshis drink it all day long.

If you’re having it at tea time, be sure to try the sweet speciality known as gazelle horns. So-called for their shape, the Moroccans call them kaab al ghaal. These super-sweet pastries made with almond paste and orange water perfectly offset the bitterness of the mint tea. La pâtisserie des Princes, a few steps from Jamaa el Fna Square, will undoubtedly add to your pleasure.

For those not into tea, there’s always a chance to have some Moroccan coffee, enhanced with spices: cardamom, cinnamon, powdered ginger, black pepper, fennel seeds and star anise. The outdoor Café des Epices in the heart of the Medina will certainly enchant you as it has many celebrities.

In Marrakesh you will inevitably spend an evening at Jamaa el Fna Square. At dusk the square is transformed into a stage for performances blending light, music and the intoxicating fragrances of food made on the spot. There, at one of the countless cheap restaurants, you can sample kefta meatballs or lamb brochettes marinated in a sauce called charmoula made with fresh herbs, olive oil, onions, garlic and spices.

If you’re not tempted by street food, you can always go for a Moroccan gourmet tasting; try the Moroccan pastilla or a méchoui of lamb or mutton spit-roasted over the embers of a wood fire; little triangular pastries filled with meat or fish called briouats, and end with a cinnamon-dusted orange salad. For a fun evening, head for the Palmeraie. There you’ll find a great many restaurants, including the one at Les Jardins d'Ines hotel, where the menu was created by Chef Christophe Leroy.

And, if you want to pursue your exploration of Moroccan cuisine when you return or wish to start your trip now, check out our mint tea recipe as well as our selection of Moroccan recipes to try at home.