Archive for the ‘restaurants’ Category

Moroccan Sweets and Pastries, North African Deserts & Recipes

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

 

Moroccan Pastries, Sweets and Deserts

Moroccan Pastries, Sweets and Deserts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuffed with almond paste, dusted with confectionery sugar and flaking with each bite, Moroccan pastries are reserved for special occasions. Cooking is regarded as an extravagant art in Morocco and in North Africa. Large meals are prepared for births, circumcisions, weddings, celebrations of the days of the profit and various other typical and Muslim specific holidays. Moroccan pastries and deserts are usually offered along with Moroccan Mint tea before the first course of a meal. When touring Morocco make sure to not miss out arriving on time if you are invited into someone’s home as this serves as the perfect opportunity for you to allow the sweeter part of the meal to linger.

As a Guest

Moroccan cuisine traditions are an essential learning experience that can also be provided on a Tailor Made Tour through Cooking with a Daada Chef and bread baking with the Berbers.Travelers that have the opportunity to stay with a Moroccan family will experience a breakfast made for the kings. The host family traditionally will serve a variety of pastries for breakfast: Rghaif (flat buttery Moroccan pastries), Sfenj (Moroccan doughnuts), French pastries (croissants), along with Bayd (eggs, cooked with cumin and sesame seeds), orange juice or coffee.

Moroccan Sfenj, Fried Doughnut

Moroccan Sfenj, Fried Doughnut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pancakes

Pancakes are a traditional breakfast food as well as a sweet treat in Morocco. On holidays they are adorned with honey, icing, sugar, butter or a rich almond paste. Baghrir pancakes are fried in hot oil, with dot-like air craters on on side.

History

These succulent Moroccan sweets were once only served to the sultans, Islamic leaders, and the elite. When spices were as prized as gold, lower classes were rarely able to partake in such indulgences. Now, when neighbors and friends come together during their afternoon break they enjoy the company with a pot of mint tea and pastries.

Souks

The smell of fresh pastries linger through the city streets. All throughout the maze-like souks vendors sell a wide range of Moroccan sweets. A savory dish, native to Morocco, is bastila, a multi-layered pastry filled with shredded chicken or pigeon meat gently and brushed with a lemon-onion sauce and covered in almonds, cinnamon and sugar. Other flaky croissants are served with warm honey, apricot or other jams.

All Shapes and Sizes

Moroccan deserts and pastries come in all shapes and sizes, generally pastries are light and healthy often made with nuts. Some are long and thin, others round- filled or hallow. Gazelle horns, a crescent shaped treat is of the most famous Moroccan sweets. Check out the recipe below!

Recipe: Kaab el-ghzal (gazelle horns)

serving size: 16 pastries

bake until lightly golden at 350 degrees F

1 3/4 cups of flour

2 tbsp. melted butter

2 tbsp. orange flower water

2 large egg yolks, beaten

A pinch of salt

Icing sugar

Almond Paste:

2 cups of finely ground Almonds

1 cup icing sugar

2 tbsp. orange flower water

2 tbsp. melted butter

2 egg yolks beaten

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients for the almond paste in a bowl, stir until smooth- divide paste into 16 pieces.

Take each piece and roll it into small cylinders (7cm long)

In another bowl, combine flour and salt, melted butter, orange flower and one egg yolk, add cold water to form a soft dough. Kneed for ten minutes, roll out into a thing rectangle- then cut into strips.

Place the almond paste on each pastry, spacing them 3 cm apart. Fold in half to seal the paste. Moisten both sides of the pastry with the remaining egg yolk and a small amount of water. Cut each pasty into a crescent shape, place on a buttered and floured baking sheet.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Top 10 Places To Eat When Traveling To Marrakech

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

Marrakech is a hot spot for Moroccan cuisine, serving all types of traditional dishes with Asian, French, and Italian influences. Each of the Top 10 restaurants has a distinct and alluring atmosphere all with there own unique signiture styles.

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Dar Moha

Tables are delicately set with rose petals and candlelight under the vibrant green banana palms. The Dar Moha is a unique restaurant with distinguished dining beside the crystal blue waters of a small mosaic tile pool, and a Majorelle blue wall amidst the greenery.  For nearly ten years the Dar Moha has been set apart from other fine Moroccan dining, set in Pierre Balmain’s former home.  Inside the rooms feature an Asian art decor. The chef, Mohammed Fedal offers a great menu that includes vegitarian dishes. The wait staff also speaks English.

dar-moha

Catanzaro

This restaurant in highly acclaimed for its thin crust pizza baked over a wood fire. With a cozy atmosphere Catanzaro is one of Marrakech’s most popular restaurants. Along with serving pizza, the Catanzaro offers other fine Italian dishes. Adding a cultural flair to the quiet streets on the outskirts of Marrakech, the Catanzaro also has great affordable prices.

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Dar Yacout

Located in a medieval mansion the Dar Yacout is so grand it even has fireplaces in the bathrooms, mosaic floors, chandeliers and fountains. While costumers wait to be seated, they can sip drinks on Yacout’s rooftop terrace. Guests can enjoy the panaramic view of the Koutoubia mosque, while sprawled out on a sofa. Known for their lemon almond chicken tajine, and tasty desserts the Dar Yacout is a bit pricey, but it’s hard to find a more luxurious restaurant.

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Djemaa el Fna

Although the Djemaa el Fna is more of a marketplace, it is rated one of the Top 10 places to eat in all of Marrakech. The square is pulsing with culture filled with fresh orange juice vendors, and a variety of food stands. The square comes alive in the afternoon with Berber story-tellers, snake charmers, musicians and other forms of mystical entertainment to make a great atmosphere with great prices.

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Le Comptoir

Le Comptoir lures a feisty crowd with its belly dancers rhythmically carrying plates of Morocco’s traditional cuisine with French and Asian influences. Le Comptoir is a mix of a lounge and boutique with an upstairs bar, lounge cushions, and deep red walls.

Rights Managed

Le Marrakchi

Le Marrakchi has it all. Great food, moderate prices, candlelight, dancers, great music, intricate mosiac walls and best of all a Panaramic view of the Djemaa el Fna. If you call for a reservation at Le Marrakchi you can request a table by the window to watch the rich Moroccan culture below. At Le Marrakchi you can also try out the local beer of Casablanca and some of the finest local and imported wines.

 

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Le Foundouk

Le Foundouk is a Morroccan restaurant with a French twist, offering both countries traditional cuisine. Dining on the rooftop terrace makes for both a lovely sunkissed lunch and a peaceful dinner under the stars. The terrace has breathtaking views of Marrakech.  Lantern guides lead costumers in and out of the restaurant and through the narrow streets of the medina.

le-foundouk

Al Fassia

Al Fassia has a distant view of the Atlas Mountains, and also overlooks the Aguedal gardens. There is just something about the atmosphere that is beyond majestic. The meals are A la Carte, and served fresh by Al Fassia’s team of cooks.

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Chez Chegrouni

Chez Chegrouni has box seats out infront of the restaurant for the Djemaa el Fna, but is not to be mistaken for a tourist spot. Inside the restaurant lacks all the frills and decor of some of the other Top 10 spots, but the locals and the tourists divide for some classic Moroccan cuisine.

Courtesy of

Jnane Tamsna

A calm get-a-way from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Marrakech, the Jnane Tamsna is a great dining experience with Moroccan-Mediterranean cuisine made from the organic gardens of the villa. The Jnane mission is to blend with local culture and provide a fresh perspective.

 

 

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.