The ultimate Moroccan cooking holiday has the smell of spice in the air; discover the fusion of influences from Africa, Arabia and Spain, which create the distinctive cuisine that Morocco has gained worldwide respect for.

This Moroccan cooking holiday is a twin-centre tour where you will experience mystical and alluring Marrakech before travelling through argan countryside to the authentic coastal town of Essaouira.

Highlights:

• Shop for ingredients in the souks with professional chef
• 1 night in a luxury riad in Marrakech
• 2 night stay at an organic farm
• understanding spices lesson and creating a famous Fassi dish
• outdoor class cooking a tagine with a twist
• Moroccan patisserie workshop with Dada
• 1 night in seaside foodie town, Essaouira
• Private driver and vehicle at your disposal

More About Marrakech             More About Essaouira

Here we go!  Day 1: Pick-up from Marrakech Airport & transfer to hotel

We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation which is a luxury restored riad with pool, situated in the ancient medina. Depending on your time of arrival we may be able to visit the Majorelle Gardens. These striking botanical gardens, previously owned by Yves St Laurent, are set over 12 acres and contain the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech.

Tonight you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the city from the tranquil rooftop restaurant of your riad or head to Jemaa el Fna. This is the most famous square in Africa, which transforms as night falls into a huge open-air restaurant, crammed with stalls lit by gas lanterns, and the air is filled with wonderful smells and plumes of cooking smoke spiralling up into the night.

Moroccan Cooking Holiday Day 2: Marrakech Culinary Souk Tour 

Today you will be joined by a professional chef who will guide you through the famous souks in order to explore and learn about the city from a food perspective.

Place des Épices, more commonly known as Spice Traders Square, is the most vibrant part of the medina.  Buzzing with energy and high-voltage colour, the market is crammed full of mysterious herbalists and spice traders selling their fascinating wares. Here you are as likely to find snakeskins and rose petals as cumin and thyme. You will learn about ras el hanout (the famous Moroccan spice blend) and the different herbs used in the ubiquitous Moroccan tea.

Leaving behind the heady smell of spices in the air, you will be able to try from a confusing variety of olives and nuts whilst choosing the ingredients required for your cooking lesson tomorrow. Then, when you’ve worked up an appetite you will stop for a light lunch where you will have the opportunity to try some ingredients which will be found no-where else on your journey.

After lunch you have two options:

• Stay in Marrakech for a guided tour of the historical and cultural sites of the city

Or

• Travel with your chef to her organic farm in the foothills of the mountains, under an hour outside of the city. Here you will learn how to prepare the spices you have purchased to flavour pastilla, a dish typical of the Fes region of Morocco.

Moroccan Cooking Holiday Day 3: Organic Farm Cooking Workshop

Today you will enjoy your time at this unique organic farm.  The gardens are full of roses and olives, herbs and jasmine and your cooking lesson will take place over hot coals, outside by the pool.

This is a high quality yet informal and fun cooking workshop with one of Morocco’s top chefs. You will prepare a Moroccan tagine with a twist and there will be plenty of time to cool off by the side of the pool before relaxing in your own private courtyard adjoining the bedroom designed with huge fourposter beds and eclectic furniture.

Moroccan Cooking Holiday Day 4: Essaouira + Pastry Class

We will collect you from the farmhouse this morning and make the 2.5-hour drive through lush valleys filled with orange groves and ancient olive trees to Essaouira.

On the way, we will stop at an argan oil cooperative where you can watch the entire process and have the opportunity to buy some high-grade pure argan oil products which are used for both cosmetic and culinary purposes. If we’re lucky we will also see the amazing spectacle of goats climbing the argan trees to reach the fruits.

When we arrive in Essaouira, we will provide a short tour to point out landmarks and help you get your bearings before taking you to your accommodation. There will be time for a light lunch before your Asian Pastry Workshop. Here, you will share the traditional mint tea ceremony and discover the well-kept secrets of Moroccan pastries and sweets: gazelle horns, ghoriba, crêpe baghrir, or msemen…

This evening is at your leisure and as this town is a foodie’s paradise, with several unique and quality restaurants to choose from, you should be spoilt for choice.

Moroccan Cooking Holiday Day 5: Essaouira to Marrakech.

This morning you can enjoy pottering, the souks are hassle free in comparison to Marrakech and are renowned for their rich and varied handicrafts. There are zocos (markets) all over the city filled with textiles, jewellery, ceramics, musical instruments and handmade wooden items. Art galleries and small boutique shops are nestled between an abundance of café’s where you can chat with the locals while sipping mint tea and chilling out. We suggest that you explore the fish markets where countless species of fish and other marine creatures (sea urchins, oysters, sea snails, limpets, etc.) are brought in by the local fishermen fresh each day.

Then we will transfer you back to Marrakech airport in plenty of time for your connection.

PLEASE NOTE ALL ASPECTS OF THIS TOUR CAN BE CUSTOMISED TO SUIT YOUR FLIGHTS AND PLANS

The guide price for this Morocco Cooking Holiday is £995 pp (guide price only, based on two adults in mid-season.)

Inclusions:

• Airport transfers.
• Full availability of private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle including fuel for the duration of the trip.
• Experienced English speaking driver.
• Souk tour with professional chef.
• 4 night’s accommodation. (1 Marrakech, 2 Organic Farm, 1 Essaouira)
• Breakfast daily, one lunch and two dinners.
• 3 Culinary Workshops.

Some of our favourite recipes:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/moreish_moroccan_food

https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/lamb-and-apricot-tagine