La Maison Arabe Marrakech Offers Gourmet Walking Tours & Tastings

Following the recent release of his successful cookbook, "Morocco: A Culinary Journey with Recipes from the Spice-Scented Markets of Marrakech to the Date-Filled Oasis of Zagora," food author Jeff Koehler will embark on a series of Marrakech Gourmet Walking Tours and Tastings beginning in October. In collaboration with La Maison Arabe, a boutique luxury property in the Medina of Marrakech, Koehler will lead participants on private walking tours through Marrakech's narrow streets and lanes to learn how ingredients come to create, even define, one of the world's greatest cuisines followed by a traditional, multi-course tasting menu at the legendary hotel's restaurant.

The first of Koehler's three Marrakech tours, which grew out of his wildly popular Barcelona walking tours and tastings, is scheduled for October 17-23, 2012. The second and third tour dates are December 10-16, 2012 and January 16-22, 2013, respectively. The five-hour gastronomic excursion which begins at 10:00 am each day is limited to private groups of up to four people and costs a total of $1,200. The fee covers transportation in Marrakech, snacks, lunch with wines and a copy of Koehler's cookbook. Designed specifically to offer participants an inside look and education about the city's culinary soul and the relationship between food and culture in Morocco, the tours will provide participants the opportunity to sample date varieties from the Sahara and small, pointed almonds from the High Atlas, as well as have a ras al hanout spice blend designed exclusively for one's tastes. Other highlights include shopping for unique kitchen items, sampling ornate pastries and savoring the unhurried, multi-course tasting menu specifically created for the tour by Koehler and Fatima Mouzoune, La Maison Arabe's executive chef. Mouzoune has appeared many times on Moroccan and French television and was chosen to represent Morocco at a recent international food festival in Belgium.

Beginning with stuffed savory appetizers and a wide selection of fresh and “cooked” salads, guests will savor Moroccan flavors at their finest while learning from Koehler how these dishes are prepared and their role at the family table. A sampling of four different tagines -including a sublime one with lamb, candied orange peel, and saffron threads from the book -as well as two types of couscous, a Friday staple in every Moroccan home, will be part of the menu as will traditional desserts, pastries, and, of course, mint tea, poured high from above the table. Each course will be paired with top Moroccan wines from the hotel's extensive wine cellar. Upon parting, each guest will receive a signed copy of Koehler's book which features 80 recipes reflecting his wide-ranging travels throughout the country and the ingredients and flavorful dishes that define this intriguing and ancient nation.
For additional information and reservations, please contact La Maison Arabe at +212 5 24 38 70 10 or reservation@lamaisonarabe.com or Jeff Koehler at www.jeff-koehler.com.

About: La Maison Arabe