Essaouira, Morocco: and a drunken, delicious tale at Val D'Argan

There were six of us who headed out that weekend to Val D'Argan, the lovely winery just 20 minutes from Essaouira, Morocco.  

Oh, the vineyards stretched as far as the eye could see....  a reminder of the bottles and bottles of wine soon to come. (Please don't ask how many -- I'd be too embarassed to tell.)

And just as memorable as the wine, was the food!  It started out with the most charming handmade Moroccan dishes.

The darling girls in the kitchen made all the starters and sides.  Peppers, lentils, beets, tomatoes and everything delicious.  Yum! 

 And the rest of the meal...............oh my, epic.   (Did I mention that there were three smart aleck-y foodie types from the Four Seasons in Marrakech in our motley little band?  They did all the cooking. We provisioned ourselves appropriately in Essaouira right before. )

There were fresh sardines, grilled to perfection. 

And tender shrimp, quickly sauteed.

The hugest lobsters.  Oh!


And truly, the most beautiful fish.

Dessert made by the accomodating Val D'Argan staff:-)

Oh, the food never stopped that weekend.  And, cough, neither did the Val D'Argan wine.....

The perfect setting for naughty stories and raucous laughter:-)

And so I lift my glass and say Bravo to the Val D'Argan! And Bravo again to the moonlighting chefs! (Shh...this one is secretly the Four Seasons Marrakech Hotel Manager.  Ahem, don't tell his boss. )

The Val D"Argan (contact@valdargan.com)

Don't miss it if you're heading towards Essaouira, Morocco.  For lunch, dinner, and spending a night or two.  I'll see you there.

Mirleft, Morocco: and a tale of a Summer evening

It's almost over but I'm still trying to hang on

                                                                       to Summer evenings.

Please, oh please

        don't be over yet.

Le Studio Restaurant: or a tale of where to dine in Marrakech

A languid, hot Summer night in Marrakech.  Just like so many before them.  But this one was different because girlfriends headed out to go to a new restaurant in town, Le Studio.

The atmosphere was cool despite the heat.

French creator of beautiful things, Laurence Landon, looked pleased.  {Of course, the champagne we had at her place beforehand, might have contributed.)

And the uber-talented American designer of Zid Zid Kids, Julie Klear, seemed rather enthusiastic as well.  

Soon Le Studio was packed.  And no surprise because the food was good, really good.

There was gazpacho in glasses.

And foie gras.  Oh yum!

And after the perfect fish, there was dessert.  Because what's a night out without dessert?

I'll have two of these, please.

And if all that was not enough, Le Studio's owners were in love.  Yet one more reason to return.

Maybe I'll see you there next time, at Le Studio restaurant in Marrakech.

Casablanca: and a tale of how it's never too late

I remember being 11 years old, living in New England.  The winters were  long and snowy, and all my friends knew how to ski.  But not me.  Why don't we send you for ski lessons, my mother said.  No, I said.  I can't, I said.  But why? my mother asked.  Because I'm too old, I replied.  

And I believed it.  

But of course, of course, I was wrong.  Because really, it's never to late. For anything.  {Did I mention that my 78 year old father is leaving for Cambodia? He's going on an expedition to retrace the journey of the explorer who rediscovered Ankgor Wat.}

The big and small.  The simple and sublime.  It's never, never too late.

Ah, oyster shooters, this Summer. For the very first time.