Marrakech: and a tale of a Moroccan wine tasting at Peacock Pavilions

 oh, we were having a Moroccan wine tasting at Peacock Pavilions in Marrakech!

Talented Chantal whipped up some appetizers in the kitchen.  Goat cheese & homemade onion chutney.

And then guacamole in shot glasses, served with Chantal's *famous* cheese straws. Yum.

  
 and mini quiche wedges served on vintage metal etched Moroccan trays.  The bougainvillea straight from our garden.

 
And well, of course there was Moroccan wine.  Umm, plenty of it -- 9 different wines were being tasted!  We had covered up the essentials so no one would know what they were tasting!  We love secrets around here.

 
We set up in the outdoor tiled pool cabana at Peacock Pavilions. Expert wine explainer (and ahem, taster) Alex was all set to extoll the virtues of Moroccan wine.

  

There was gazing, and swirling, and sniffing, and finally tasting.  There were even score cards to fill out so that you could remember all your favorites. 

And later, all was revealed.... (oh so you loved the Moroccan wine, Eclipse?  Me, too. )

 
The sun had set by the time that the Moroccan wine tasting was over.  But in our tipsy state, there was still time for more 1 more glass!  

 
Coming to Marrakech? Peacock Pavilions does Moroccan wine tastings for parties of 10 or more, followed by dinner in our Moroccan embroidered dining tent.  Please write if you would like to inquire. (infoATpeacockpavilionsDOTcom)  It's a memorable evening:-)

PS Check out darling sponsor, the Soulbird blog -- she has a super cool tribal modern flair, with plenty of Moroccan mixed in. (Yowza!)

A tale of buying and loving: the perfect coffee pot

So nice to have that first cup of coffee in the morning.  I bought these for Peacock Pavilions, our Marrakech B&B.

Frieling French press. $78.95 right here.
Frieling milk frother. $29.85 right here.

What gadgets are you owning and loving?

Moroccan decor: and a tale of Peacock Pavilions in Marrakech

Thought I might share a little of my own home-grown prettiness.

 Peacock Pavilions guest house in (where else?) Marrakesh.  Made with love from scratch.

Ceiling hand stenciled to spec by *amazing* Melanie Royals and the beloved Peacock Painters. Based on a Kyrgyz embroidery design. Vintage bedspread from Rajasthan India with added blue velvet border, vintage Moroccan rug from Taznakht. Medina Pavilion.

Great room in the Peacock Pavilions Atlas Pavilion. This has an amazing Cleopatra style pyramid roof that Architect Husband Chris and his crew wrestled to build (so worth it!).  It also has a super cool catwalk with hand embroidered low seating.  Hand drilled lanterns from Egypt, Moroccan poufs made from groovy vintage blankets, patchwork carpet bought in Istanbul, lacy sculpted enormous plaster fireplace filled with vintage glove molds (Hands are believed to fight off evil genies in Morocco, who love lurking in fireplaces).  Oil paintings by Moroccan and Iraqi artists.  Vintage decorative Moroccan metalware from Fez. Red molded plastic furniture from Morocco's hipster 1960s. Down filled couch.  Coffee table made from an old Moroccan window grill.

Beautiful staircase designed by Architect Chris, inspired by blowing grass.  Stairs stencils of Moroccan henna designs by the uber-talented Melanie Royals and executed by the wonderful Peacock Painters .  

All images by former Peacock Pavilions intern Sarah Winward (We miss you, Sarah and husband Dave!).  See more pictures of Peacock Pavilions right here on Sarah's lovely blog.

PS Check out my new stock of Moroccan wedding blankets and Moroccan Beni Ourain carpets right here.  Dreamy.

Marrakech: and a tale of a fabulous adventure that awaits *YOU*

Get out your pencils...........here's today's quiz.  

I love beauty: Yes/No

I love shopping: Yes/No

I love travel: Yes/No

I love (delicious) food: Yes/No

I love pampering: Yes/No

I love adventure: Yes/No

One last one............

I deserve to treat myself (I work hard!): Yes/No

Time to tally up your answers!

If you found yourself answering Yes more than No, maybe it's time to head to..............Marrakech. 

Peacock Pavilions (ahem, yours truly) is organizing a retreat filled with everything fun this May: 

*Amazing shopping in the souks, guided by me!  

*Moroccan wine tastings!  

*Candlelit dinners in the Peacock Pavilions embroidered tent!

*Visits to Kashbahs & palaces!  

*Henna parties and cocktails!  

*Expert talks about Moroccan interior design & shopping!

*Movies in the private outdoor cinema!  

*Belly dancers, camel rides, snake charmers........

*And of course, lodging at Peacock Pavilions, a boutique hotel made from scratch with love by, umm...me (and the sweet architect husband, of course.)

This  is a trip you will never forget (I promise!).  Very affordable and lots of surprises.  Talented Angela Ritchie of AceCamps is helping organize and this shiny girl is coming along to help.  

Don't just dream about it, make it happen!!!  See all the details right here.  Spots are already filling up!:-)

Image by Alkaline Sisters