Your own Moroccan palace

Posted by Staff in Luxury Monday, Morocco

When visiting the entrancing city of Marrakech you are faced with the decision to stay in either a hotel or riad (former mansion turned into a B&B)…if you are looking to relax your stay away poolside with a cocktail in hand, I would go the hotel route…but if you are longing to experience the real Marrakech, definitely stay in a riad.

Once that decision is made then you are faced with the painstaking task of picking which riad you want out of the hundreds Marrakesh has to offer.  Luckily you have me to guide you to the perfect one…Amirat al Jamal.

Set right in the heart of the medina (oldest part of the city), next to the cities most famous landmark, the bustling plaza Jemma el Fna, Amriat Al Jamal is found down a nondescript alleyway.  At first you will be cursing me and wondering why I took you down this dirt floored alley full of stray cats…but don’t judge this alley by its grunge…this area is actually home to some of the cities most stylish residents like Richard Branson.  At the end of the rustic (to put it nicely) alley you will happen upon the riad’s door and once inside you will be in a completely different world, one that is decadent yet authentically Moroccan.

The riad’s Californian owner, Peggy Ward Engh, and her adopted Berber family, instantly make you feel at home with a greeting of mint tea. After being memorized by the beautiful courtyard, more magic waits in Amirat’s five unique guestrooms, each decorated in a different style and full of antiques. 

Once you are ready to venture out of your newly found palace-home, Peggy helps you organize your day and gives expert advice on how to navigate the streets of the medina…and best of all she reveals the secrets to expert Moroccan-style bargaining. Peggy and her staff can also arrange amazing day trips…and if you have the time, they can even organize spending the night with a Berber tribe who live in the Sahara.

At the end of a long day of haggling with vendors, Amirat is the perfect place to relax as the riad has an actual pool in the center courtyard…not one of these bathtub-sized “dipping pools” that most riads have.  There are also two terraces on the roof to rest in…and make sure to have dinner one night on the roof; the view of the Koutoubia Mosque’s Minaret is breathtaking. 

Although Amirat offers super luxurious accommodations, the rooms are in the “affordable luxury” category with prices starting at $200. For more information visit amirataljamal.com

How not to say…shukran

Posted by Staff in How not to say, Morocco

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While in Morocco, if I want to say “thank you” I say “shukran” (arabic)….click on the audio above to hear how not to say….

Don’t fear Ramadan

Posted by Staff in Culture, Morocco, Tip of the Week

When booking this last trip to Morocco, I did not realize that the holy month of Ramadan was taking place until after I purchased my non-refundable airline tickets. For those who do not know, during the month of Ramadan, muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

At first I was panic stricken when I discovered we would be in a Muslim country during Ramadan.  Would we starve?…..how could we last in 100℉ without a drop of water all day?……would we be looked down upon if we did eat?

I then launched a full-fledged online research mission to see what others who had crossed the line had to say.  Comments I found were mixed, but tended to lean on the side of “don’t go during Ramadan.” But at this point, the trip was booked and I had no choice…..so I stopped researching and hoped for the best.

As it turns out, going during Ramadan was a blessing instead of a curse.  The normally jam-packed streets of Marrakech are a bit calmer due to the fact that many tourists are scared-off by Ramadan and many Moroccans use this month to vacation elsewhere.

Moroccans are very respectful of other cultures and understand that westerners do not fast, so eating during the day was not a problem.  But in all actuality, we found that with having a big breakfast in the hotel we were fine waiting until sundown for the next meal…..and as Moroccans tend to over-feed, it was good to have an empty stomach for dinner.

Above is a Moroccan Berber preparing mint tea for us in a small village outside of Marrakech.  Although he was fasting he was eager to share his culture with us and quench our thirst on a hot Moroccan afternoon.

Kefta Tagine – Moroccan Meatball Stew

Posted by Staff in Morocco, World Recipes

My favorite tajine I had in Morocco was the kefta tajine, which is a meatball in tomato sauce tajine.

Ingredients
 for the kefta (meatballs)
:

1lb ground beef


1 onion, very finely chopped


3 garlic cloves, crushed


1 tsp ground ginger


1 tsp ground cumin


1 tsp coriander


1 egg


small bunch of parsley, finely chopped


salt and black pepper