My Time in Morocco

Delicious Morocco

I love the food here! I’m definitely going to miss the incredible food and the cheapness of it. One of the major french influences still remaining in Morocco is the cafe culture. There is one street near my house that has 5 on the same block! The cafes are deeply ingrained in Moroccan culture as the men often go there to have Moroccan tea, fresh mint leaves and lots of sugar, or rich coffee which resembles espressos. My favourite thing about the cafes is almost all of them serve freshly squeezed orange juice made with Moroccan oranges (one of the top exports). I don’t think I will ever be able to go back to concentrate! These cafes also serve crepes with Nutella on top! This country is obsessed with Nutella! Every cafe will have some sort of pastry/dish with Nutella. The pastries here are incredible! Canada has not been doing it right! The croissants here are amazing and I often enjoy getting the chocolate ones for breakfast. They also have cake! These beautiful rich chocolate cakes that would only find a slice of for 20$ in Canada! Here they are 15-20 Dirham which is like 2-3 CAD! I have two favourite cafes here in Morocco right near my apartment and the NGO office. The first is called La Martina and they have the most incredible lunch options. I love getting this croissant with chicken slices, lettuce, cheese, and tomato for only 12MAD. It’s a light healthy sandwich to get for lunch and I try to get it every time they have it. I also love their muffins! They have these big fresh muffins and I get the nut and honey one so often that the ladies at the counter give me a knowing smile when I look at other things but then decide to get the muffin again. It’s a great filling snack that I absolutely adore. The second place is a bakery called Maison Charouk and it has the most incredible dessert options. They have theses incredibly flaky and rich chocolate croissants for less than a Canadian dollar. They also have the widest cake selection at the best prices. I try to widen my horizon and try different kinds but my favorite is always the triple chocolate one. It has three layers of smooth, creamy, moist perfection (I am making my mouth water just thinking about it!). This is just the pastries! I haven’t even gotten to the Moroccan dishes yet!

One of our favourite restaurants here is Yamal Acham which is a Syrian restaurant with the most incredible Shawarma. I haven’t always been a fan of it but since trying theirs, I can’t get enough of it! They make most of their food in house like the incredible flatbread that I love to watch them toast until golden brown and a bit crispy or their hummus which is to die for. I always leave there feeling as though my stomach is going to explode! 

The traditional Moroccan dishes of pastilla, Moroccan salade, tagine, and couscous are also out of this world. Pastilla is a pastry like a chicken pot pie except it has a sweet sugar and honey crust which creates this incredible mix of sweet and salty flavors. The Moroccan salad is cucumber, tomato, parsley, vinegar, and salt and pepper. It is a perfect entré since it is a cool light dish perfect for a hot summer day and perfectly balances the more heavy and hot main course meals. The tagine is the most incredible mix of spices and the best ones have tender meat which practically falls off the bone. You eat with your hands using fresh bread to scope up the meat and the sauce. it comes in these beautiful ceramic dishes and it is always piping hot. One restaurant I went to brought it out while it was still bubbling! Most people patiently wait for it to cool but I love hot food and often dive right in risking my tongue getting burnt. Couscous is a grain-like mixture that resembles quinoa or rice. Moroccan families often serve it in huge portions with everyone eating out of the same big ceramic dish. The couscous is soaked and cooked in a mixture of spices with veggies and tender meat as well. It is traditionally only served on Fridays at lunch right after the midday prayer. This makes it even more special since I can only get it once a week during a three hour period. It creates a strong feeling of togetherness even in restaurants with everyone eating separately because everyone is eating and enjoying the same incredible food with friends and family.