When we got a chance at a 10 euro flights to Fez from Milan Italy we jumped in with both feet. We jumped online to find a place to stay at I-ascape.com and found a Riad in the medina. The couple that owned and restored Riad she was from Denmark and he was Iran and they specialized in food and cooking.

Prefect for us. The restoration of the Riad was amazing. As I would lay in bed I would think about the doors for our room as they had stood there since the 14 century. I would wander what they have seen in their lives for me it was a crazy thought because a house from where I grew up was old if it was from the 1950s.

This was my first time in Africa and a mostly Muslim country. I was taken by the beauty and the ceremony. This was made more evident by the fact that we were in the medina a place where it felt like time had stopped or at least slowed to a crawl. Every day was a history and cultural learning experience for me.

I love the spice shops they and the places people buy food they are all ways my favorite locations I like to visit when I travel to new places. It lets you see and be around the people of the place, most people do not have money to eat out like we do in the US. They shop and cook at home. I remember David Byrne in the Knee plays said “ I thought that if I ate the food of the area I was visiting That I might assimilate the point of view of the people there As if the point of view was somehow in the food. “ I know is a crazy thought but it has haunted me for years, we are our daily rituals. I feel as Mr Byrne might have poetically expressed something we can see in reality as he dose often. That idea has definitely influenced my thoughts of travel and interactions with the people I meet. I always ask people what they would have or like not what they would think I would. It’s a small defiance in thought but big difference in in outcome.

There was not a lot of alcohol drinks in this conservative city but our hosts keep the vintage refrigerator filled with beer for us. The beer of choice was stork. The best part of our Riad was the casual cooking lesson nightly. I love hanging and helping out some in the kitchen and after the meal was made. We would have a family dinner with all the hosts and all guest with good food and conversation. Those open conversations gave us some insights on their lives in Morocco and the perceptions of the people that were also visiting too.

I am always taken with the hospitably of people we meet when we are traveling. I have learned that if you’re open to new things and you are curious, people will be happy to teach you. They love to share themselves and their culture. I have found no matter how much you read you never know a place till you have been there and the longer your there them deeper your knowledge.

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless lamb, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
1 cup green olives, pitted
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat some oil over medium heat.

Add the lamb and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

Add the onion, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper and cook until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.

Pour in the broth, apricots, prunes, olives, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Stir to combine, then cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Remove the lid and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and the lamb is tender.

Serve over couscous or rice, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Enjoy this delicious and comforting Moroccan-style lamb and apricot tagine, perfect for a cozy dinner at home.