One of the best things about traveling is the opportunity to interact with people of different cultures. During our trip to Morocco, we had the opportunity to spend an evening with a local family. The family prepared dinner for us and talked to us about life in Morocco. It was an enlightening and enjoyable part of our trip. While I don't want to go into too much detail about the family, for their sake of their own privacy, I will share the dining experience. It began with sweets. We learned that Moroccans often take their sweets before the meal, rather than after. In the title photo, you can see a variety of pastries and dates. They were delicious.
After eating some sweets, we were brought a giant bowl of lentil soup, served on the table. The soup was a thick vegetable soup that had a variety of other vegetables rather than just lentils. It was a hearty soup that was substantive enough to have served as a main course. The flavor was exceptional, which I don't always find with lentil soup. Some are flavorful, others tend to be bland. This one was different than others I have had, because of the variety of vegetables. I seem to recall carrot, although I can't recall for sure which other vegetables were in the soup. You can see the thickness of the soup in the photo below.
After the soup, we were served an attractive and interesting selection of meat pies. I didn't try the fish pie, but the meat pie was strangely delicious. It was powdered on top with a combination of spices (cinnamon) and powdered sugar. The combination of sweet and savory struck an amazing balance. This family could easily sell these at a restaurant. The pies were so attractive, I hated to eat them...but am glad I did. They were delicious.
After warming up with the soup and small meat pies, we were introduced to the main attraction. We were served a vegetable tajine dish that was nothing short of exceptional. The vegetables were meticulously arranged, appealing to our eyes as much as our bellies yet again. I didn't miss the meat. The dish was hearty and filling. And attractive. If you eat with your eyes, this meal was surely an optical feast.
I noticed that Moroccan meals often end with fruit. Oranges were in season during our visit, so we had plenty of oranges that were ripe and sweet. This meal was no exception. The bananas and strawberries were also sweet. It was apparent the fruit was not picked green as we often find in the United States. When fruit is locally sourced and picked ripe, the flavor factor seems exponential. I was so stuffed, that I shared and orange and banana with my wife and ate a strawberry or two.
Our hosts were amazing and friendly. They served us an exceptional meal and talked to us about life in Morocco. It was a nice introduction to Fez, where we spent the next day exploring the massive Medina with our guide. I didn't want to take too many photos inside their home, so I limited my photos to the food. I would love to share a photo of the family, but respect their privacy. I feel fortunate to have spent the evening with them and am happy to share the experience with my friends. Even if it is only the food.
All photos are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.
Looking so yummy Dishes Huhaha. And God bless you with your family
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