Traveling from LA on a business trip I had a run-in with my very first Match.com date. AWKWARD. Dating Tip of the week: Never vape on the first date! We all have our vices but it’s terrible idea to lead with them. So, vape master, and I got to talking. He was on his way back from South America which prompted me to share about my impending trip to Morocco. It was a typical traveling pissing contest between two people that never actually dated.
Out of nowhere, this model like creature, floats across the airport at the mention of Marrakech. She was an entrepreneur from Portland who travels there frequently. Her and I quickly became Facebook friends before boarding our respective flights.
There’s an unspoken camaraderie amongst world travelers. In my experience women universally want to help one another out. Months later I left for my trip my majestic Facebook friend’s recommendations became highlights of our adventure.
Up to 30 sheep can be cooked in that hole in the ground.
Enter, Youseph from Marrakech Food Tours. Sarah and I literally ate for 5 hours on his tour, bought spices and authentically experienced the city.
Tangia, a Marrakech delicacy, is similar to tajine. We visited three families who have been serving the city for over 500 years. The restaurants stood a narrow three stories high.
The sheep's eye is usually saved for the eldest man at the table out of respect. Tangia is served with bread. My favorite was the mouth watering sauce the chicken marinates in along with preserved lemons. I regret not bringing home the special seasoned salt used as dipping accoutrement for the sheep’s meat.
Afterwards, we tasted olives before heading deep into the Souks. Souks are the famed shopping mall of Marrakech. It’s such an extravagant maze. They can be overwhelming. The tour provided for a manageable familiarity for when we would go shopping later in the trip. If you’re a nervous nancy, I recommend doing the tour first before venturing out to shop. Youseph knew everyone and the hagglers left us alone.
I don’t have a picture but went on to have huge plate of sweet cous cous with mint tea of course. We were basically in the Marrakech’s exchange market, except for the women did trading of used goods, and apparently are not afraid to throw a punch if need be.
On our way out we stopped by the local bread makers house. Speaking of which, he could give Match.com a run for their money. If you want to get married, he’s your guy. Why? He bakes bread for all the families and restaurants in the neighborhood. He knows who’s single and who isn’t. Cheers to that.
Youseph grew-up in Marrakech, it was there he met his American wife, Amanda. It’s great love story full of scandal, AOL messenger and French. But you’ll have to hear it from him... Eventually we end up at his Mom’s favorite spice guy who grinds the best coffee. Each spice merchant has their own coffee recipe. Youseph surprised us with birthday cake and didn’t seem to mind that the tour went over its allotted time by an hour and half!
Once I got home I immediately started preserving my own lemons, following the advice of Amanda on her blog Marroc Mamma. Wanna learn to cook Moroccan food? Then hop over there and start cooking!