Dining in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco
Morocco is a country known for the variety and excellence of its food and there are so many excellent restaurants in Morocco (and Marrakech in particular) that it would be silly for anyone to pretend to know which one is the best. In any given year or month, that would largely depend on the particular tastes of each and the chefs who were having a particularly good season. And Morocco is full of talented culinary artists.
In the surroundings of Marrakech there is a particular restaurant made famous by Sir Richard Branson that is so unique that I think it is worth a special visit, a getaway to the countryside outside of Marrakech, going south towards the great mountains of the Atlas to a very special place. hill where Sir Richard has arranged Kasbah Tamadot since he bought it a dozen years ago, when he first saw the castle-shaped complex from above the ground on one of his famous North African balloon rides.
That was in 1998. Kasbah Tamadot The resort reopened five or six years later as part of Branson’s Virgin Airlines franchise. Sir Richard obviously loves this place as it seems to get better every year, clearly the recipient of his personal attention and affection, and his ability to invest in it.
Tea Kasbah Tamadot has one of the most extraordinary restaurants in the world, called Kanoun, serving delicious local and international dishes both indoors and outdoors, with a cozy bar by the fireplace or with stunning views on the terrace, take your pick. Because Kasbah Tamadot has its own vegetable garden, most of the vegetables and herbs that you will enjoy here were picked just a few feet from your table. As always, fresh makes the difference.
I went for lunch there on my last trip to Morocco, I served myself and my guests on the terrace, from which we could see miles in the clear air of the Atlas mountain. I started with a light contemporary dish, a mild red pepper gazpacho, accompanied by a timbale of fresh crab and avocado. For dessert, I chose a very sour mango carpaccio with lime sorbet.
On a previous visit a year or two ago, I remember (because I kept a travel journal, as I always do!) That I had a much more substantial lunch, a feathered cauliflower puree topped with cold pickled cauliflower, followed by a pill. from Chick (a very tiny chicken resembling a Cornish game hen) topped by two crossed chicken legs and a pear poached in wine. The fresh air of the Moroccan mountain always stimulates my appetite!
The most famous Moroccan dish is tagine, a kind of stew that takes its name from the traditional clay pot in which it is prepared. Tea Kanoun The tagine cooks very slowly over medium heat, which gives the meat extraordinary flavor and tenderness. The chef likes a tagine which is not as sweet as the most commonly found in Morocco, and for me, it suits my own palate better. Perhaps it is the best tajín in the country.
As you can imagine, Kasbah Tamadot And it is Kanoun Restaurant They are hugely popular at all times of the year, so it is imperative that you reserve a table before making the 45-minute drive from Marrakech to the gates of the hill. You can call +212 (0) 524 36 82 00 to get a table or get contact information on the hotel’s website.