Cooking lessons in Morocco?

[vicuna123]

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Morocco this summer and we both love to cook so we're looking to do some kind of cooking lesson or excursion. I've heard that these exist in Fes but that they're ridiculously expensive and too touristy. Any suggestions for something more reasonable and a little more off the beaten path? Thanks!

Cyndi and Larry

[syosef2006]

I live in Morocco and I actually get this question a lot. Yeah, the ones in Fes are a definite tourist trap. The best couscous I've ever had was made by this women's association just south of Fes . We were on our way to the desert in the South in a rental car and stopped in Khoukhate for this 1/2 day cooking lesson. These women make really amazing couscous by hand and we got to help them and then learn how to cook couscous Moroccan-style. I think they finally have a website up: www.associationennahda.org
Definitely one of my favorite side trips from Fes...it's gotten pretty well known in the expat community, but they're super accommodating to any size group. Definitely look them up...good luck Cyndi!

Sam

[jenniferlprice]

I just returned from a trip to Morocco two weeks ago and my friend and I took a one-day cooking class in Marrakesh and had a great time.

It was 90 Euro each for the class and 90 Euro a night to stay in the riad where the class was taught, which I thought was pretty reasonable as that included all the ingredients for a delicious breakfast every day, a big lunch and huge nighttime feast as part of the class, a tagine to take home, a pair of locally-made slippers to take home as well, and very much attention from the riad owners/employees.

I really liked that we designed the whole menu ourselves that morning based on dishes we wanted to learn or try--it wasn't set for us. We then learned a few words in Arabic and headed off to the market to buy our ingredients (ourselves, in Arabic, from some very patient marketmen--it really was fun), then spent the whole day prepping and cooking, including cooking our lunch in the local "community oven" and a trip to a local spice trader.

I was a bit put-off at first that it was taught mostly by an Australian expat, but she quickly charmed us and showed that she knows what she's talking about. (She also has a couple of true Moroccan helpers that assist throughout the day.)

The website for Riad Merdoudi is http://www.riadmerdoudi.com/ and there's a good description also at http://www.responsibletravel.com/Accommodation/Accommodation900699.htm I believe she also offers a trip into the dessert for a cooking class there, but we didn't persue that.

I wrote a post about some of the things I learned at my blog: http://journeysandadventures.today.co...

Enjoy!