Food of Morocco-Family Dinner

Evening of day 3 was hosted by a private family in their spacious apartment.  The grandfather and patriarch of the household is quite liberal by Moroccan standards, and really wanted to expose his children (and now grandchildren) to different people and cultures, and thought preparing home-cooked meals for tourists would do just that.  The family was gracious enough to schedule our meal a day early, as the weather in the Atlas Mountains was deteriorating rapidly and we thought we may have to leave very early on day 5.  While the food did not suffer in the least (it was amazing!) it may explain the rather awkward interaction (or lack thereof) with most of the family members, who were quite absorbed by a football (soccer) match while we ate.  We did end on a lovely note with the requisite mint tea and gorgeous pastries with our host, his wife, their daughter, and occasionally granddaughter, who would poke her hand through her mother's arm to grab a cookie.

 Somehow they fit all 20 of us in three different seating areas in their apartment!

 I got everyone's faces and no one is blinking!

 The Moroccan meal always starts with bread and a multitude of cooked vegetable salads, served cold, warm, or room temperature.  And olives!  You can't forget the olives marinated in spicy harissa.

 Our tagine of chicken with sauteed onions, preserved lemon, and olives.  I had this dish four times in two weeks, and it was never the same, but always delicious!

 Fruit is always served at the end of the meal.  This simple preparation of oranges and bananas with cinnamon and a simple syrup was divine.

 We all gather for mint tea and sweets both prepared by and served by our host's daughter.

 Mint tea varies from one part of the country to the other.  Fes is middle of the road with a healthy amount of mint in the glass, but farther south you practically get the entire plant in your glass!

 Moroccans certainly have a sweet tooth.  The tea is served quite sweet, and there are always sweet pastries at breakfast, for snacks in the markets, and after the fruit course.

A coconut cookie, a tiny tartlette, and a chocolate-covered biscuit.  Yum!