restaurant al-fassia

restaurant al-fassia
Originally uploaded by CokeeOrg

Taken during my trip to the Kingdom of Morocco.

Restaurant Al Fassia, in the Palais Jamais Hotel. It offers stylish restaurant offers Moroccan cuisine and has a fantastic terrace overlooking the medina.

Diffa, this multi-course feast is usually served during a “moussem” or tribal festival held in honor of a local saint, or to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Seated under a large, billowy tent, on plump sofas around low, round tables, the meal stretches for hours as guests savor a succession of courses, ranging from exquisitely spiced salads to tagines (exotic stews) and couscous, Morocco’s national dish.

Some of the finest Morocco has to offer is prepared in Fez, widely recognized as Morocco’s culinary capital. The ancient city’s labyrinthine “medina” (old city) has changed little since biblical times, and the Fassis (inhabitants of Fez) pride themselves on the authenticity of their local cuisine. One of the best places to sample it is at the lovely Al Fassia restaurant inside the world-renowned Palais Jamai Hotel. At the Al Fassia, the menu always features an assortment of deliciously seasoned salads of cooked or raw vegetables. Cumin-scented roasted peppers, grated carrots sprinkled with orange juice and cinnamon, or tender beets sprinkled with cumin are among the most requested. The restaurant’s rendition of bastila is widely recognized as one of the country’s best. This Fez specialty, the crowning dish in Morocco’s extensive culinary repertoire is an exquisite blend of shredded chicken (pigeon is sometimes used in Morocco), cinnamon, saffron, and herbs encased in a flaky, filo-like dough.