Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
April 19, 2008

Cost-of-living index up 3.2 pct in Morocco due to food price hike.
RABAT, Apr 18, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX)

Morocco's cost-of-living index for March rose 3.2 percent in comparison to the same month last year mainly due to food price hike, the Rabat-based High Commission for Planning (HCP) said on Friday. Food prices have augmented 5.5 percent, while prices of non- food products have also risen 1.2 percent, HCP said in its monthly report. Compared to February, the cost-of-living index in March also increased by 0.9 percent due to the 1.9 percent rise of food prices and 0.1 percent rise of non-food prices, according to the HCP report. Last week, the Moroccan government said it will not change local food prices in order not to undermine the population's purchasing power. The government cut taxes on the import of soft and durum wheat, and took the decision to subsidize soft wheat in order to maintain the price of bread at 1.2 Moroccan Dirham (about 0.16 U.S. dollars).
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1394831/
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Morocco adopts measures to rationalize subsidies, benefit population concerned.
Washington, Apr. 14

Morocco is devising the appropriate measures to rationalize price subsidies by granting direct assistance to underprivileged populations, said Minister of Economy, Salaheddine Mezouar. Prices subsidies in Morocco take up 40% of its GDP said Mr. Mezouar at a meeting of the African Consultative Group with the General Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss Kahn on the impacts of the surge in oil and food prices in African countries.

Mr. Mezouar who participated in the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF (April 12-13) noted that the price hike has a "structural aspect" and heavily weighs down on the budget and trade deficit. According to the Moroccan minister, the impact of this surge will not be the same on the countries of the world. Poor countries are the ones to suffer the most, as they face issues related to survival and threat to stability.

Mr. Mezouar also pointed out to the lack of price regularization, adding that offer and demand mechanisms are not enough to explain this phenomenon. The Moroccan official stressed on the international institutions’ responsibilities to manage globalization, and avoid speculation in the world economy. In the same vein, Mr. Mezouar told French-speaking magazine “Jeune Afrique” that the government endeavors to ensure a better distribution of wealth based on offering direct assistance to the unprivileged.

He also added that the government is to carry out a series new policies to avoid the negative impact of imports, including boosting local production and creating new economic centers in the different cities specializing in outsourcing, port activities, tourism, mining, advanced technologies and agribusiness.

Speaking on the occasion, director of the Moroccan treasury, Zouhair Chorfi called on the World Bank to create innovative mechanisms to help middle-income countries face the surge of oil and raw material global prices. The World Bank needs, among other measures, to contribute in funding large-scale infrastructure projects in these countries, and help them face natural catastrophes. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_economy/morocco_adopts_measu/view
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Rural electrification rate reached 93% in 2007.
Rabat, Apr. 17

Rural electrification rate reached 93% in 2007 up from 18% in 2005, said, here Wednesday, Energy Minister, Amina Benkhadra. Speaking at a House of Representatives' question time, Ms. Benkhadra said some 31,700 villages have been connected to the electrical grid since the launch of the Global Rural Electrification program (PERG), benefiting some 767,000 households.

With the aim to improve the rural population's lives, PERG is part of a regional development strategy, based on a global vision, which revolves on three axes, namely generalizing electricity over the territory; integrating available techniques; and mobilizing all financial resources possible in a participative and contractual approach.

Morocco has recently turned towards renewable energies for the production of electricity. The north African country is planning to install 40,000 sq meters of solar collectors per annum, to reach 400,000 sqm by 2012 against 160,000 currently. It has also set up a plan to diversify energy sources and develop renewable energies. The plan would provide services of sustainable energy in the rural world, equip 150,000 houses, build 1,000 energy houses, and efficiently manage energy consumption by the industrial sector.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/rural_electrificatio/view
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Food price hikes could trigger 'serious' social problems if not addressed, Minister
Washington, Apr. 15

Moroccan Finance Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar warned on Sunday that the food price hike are likely to cause "serious social problems" if assistance systems are not established. The situation requires a financial assistance from the international community to help the most harmed countries face the surge in global prices, Mezouar said before a meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund development committee held in Washington.

Mezouar called on international organizations to shoulder their responsibilities by re-directing efforts to support weakened economies with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. To this end, they need to adapt support mechanisms to exterior shocks, and respect their commitments regarding public assistance.

The challenge today is to restore the trust in and credibility of the globalization process, he insisted, adding that the reinforcement of the flow of public assistance to development is a requisite for fighting poverty. In order to lighten the weight of price hikes on poor countries’ economies, Mezouar suggested the creation of an oil trust fund and compensatory opportunities.

The role of States in this action is to fundamentally reform the production and consumption manners in order to attenuate the effects of price surge. Morocco, he said, has fully assumed its responsibility, and has already launched the required reform projects. The North African kingdom has lately announced projects to create different economic centers across the country that will specialize in fields ranging from tourism to new technologies, and from out-sourcing to mining and agribusiness.

The economy of the non-oil producing country has sustained heavy blows because of the unprecedented surge in global oil prices. Past January, the bill rocketed 92% compared to a year before to reach USD 340Mn though the volume only progressed 18.9%. As to cereal imports they have more than doubled in 2007 to stand at about USD 1.8Bn, including USD 1.2Bn for wheat alone. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/food_price_hikes_cou/view
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Government earmarks USD 1.3Mn to support education of disabled children.
Rabat, Apr. 16

The Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity signed, on Wednesday, USD 1.3Mn partnership agreements with associations working in the field of education to support disabled children from poor families. The initiative is to benefit some 1,301 children, including 467 girls and 834 boys. It includes 43 specialized centers spread over Morocco’s different regions. Under these agreements, the Ministry commits to bear the costs of education for disabled children from needy families during 2007-2008 school year. Speaking on this occasion, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli, said that the signed agreements aim at ensuring more suitable education and rehabilitation for children with disabilities to guarantee their integration into society.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/government_earmarks_1/view
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Study reveals disparity between political message and image of women in Moroccan media.
Rabat, Apr. 15

A study on "the image of women in the Moroccan media: situation and prospects", deplored the existence of a disparity between the political message and the image of women in these media. Some media, particularly the print press, ignores the pioneering role of women and reproduces stereotypes of women as victims, consumers or housewives, according to the results of the study, conducted by the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity.

Speaking on this occasion, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli, called for recognizing the culture of gender equality in the media, taking into consideration the reality of female gender and not overlooking the success of some women who actually contribute to the development of society.

Morocco has undertaken a series of reforms, strategies and plans to provide the necessary support to women and improve their status, Mrs. Skalli said. The themes relating to violence against women and sexual harassment are not sufficiently publicized by the press, revealed the study noting a male dominance on political, economic and sports issues.

On the other hand, the authors of the study found that the new generation of directors and scriptwriters present a different picture about women as they try to demonstrate that they are keen on improving research, explaining their ideas, justifying and developing them.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/study_reveals_dispar8860/view
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Experts hail Morocco as model emerging market nation.
By Sarah Touahri -- 2008-04-13

Finance and trade officials from 18 countries attended the first African Emerging Markets Forum in Rabat from April 7th-9th. Guests discussed the development experience of various nations, as well as opportunities for further regional co-operation.

The first African Emerging Markets Forum, held in Rabat from April 7th-9th, brought together officials and experts from 18 countries. Hailed as the first major event of its kind, the forum provided an opportunity for exchange and dialogue between government leaders and world-renowned specialists.

Economics professor Salim Karroumi told Magharebia that major events of this kind encourage foreign investment and stimulate the job market: "It's very important for Morocco to host this kind of meeting since it will raise the country’s profile in the eyes of investors. It will also have a tangible impact on the national economy, which will become better able to cater to jobseekers." Due to the high profile of participants, the forum was more than a mere meeting, economist Noureddine Sefrioui noted. "The discussions attended by Moroccan representatives will help us benefit from the experiences of developed countries and will therefore have an impact on the growth of our economy," he added.

Moroccan Economy and Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said Morocco has advanced in three areas to help maintain the country's socio-economic growth: democracy and freedom, openness and social development. "Our country has defined its distinguishing features and the assets on the basis of which it can build a strong and attractive economy. It has therefore chosen to take advantage of its strategic geographical location, its highly qualified workforce, its natural resources and its openness by means of free trade agreements. Morocco now offers greater visibility to economic operators, which makes it more attractive in terms of investment and business," he said.

Calling a united Maghreb a "strategic imperative" as well as an economic opportunity, Minister of Foreign Affairs Taieb Fassi Fihri insisted on the need for regional co-operation. He deplored the fact that the Arab Maghreb Union, created in 1989, is the "least developed" such body on the continent. He said that while nations have made advances in bilateral relations, economic integration at the regional level is essential for further progress.

Several attendees at the forum hailed Morocco for its development experience. Former Swiss President Joseph Deiss said that for an emerging country, Morocco is advancing at a steady and well-managed pace: "Morocco, which has considerable potential, including its significant human resources, is on the right track with a solid institutional framework and stability which is highly conducive to development."

Michel Camdessus, Honorary Governor of Banque de France and former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said Morocco is consolidating the basis of its economic growth but is also seeking to do so by means of regional exchange with other countries.

Ahmed Zerhouni, a third-year political science student, was delighted by the attendance of a variety of leading political, financial and business figures including former heads of state, ministers and officials from major financial institutions. "I followed the proceedings and I think the forum will make a difference, not only for Morocco, but also for African co-operation," he said, adding that Morocco was held up as an example for emerging African economies.

The meeting in Rabat was a prelude to the annual meeting of the Emerging Markets Forum scheduled to take place in Hanoi in June, the latest meeting under a global initiative led by the Centennial Group, a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Washington DC.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/04/13/feature-01
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Moroccan legislators approve anti-corruption measure.
2008-04-13

Morocco's House of Advisors, the upper chamber of the Moroccan parliament, began its spring session on Friday (April 11th) by adopting unanimously five laws on declaration of assets, MAP reported. The move, which aims to combat corruption in all its forms, applies to members of the Constitutional Council, the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament and the High Court. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2008/04/13/newsbrief-03
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Less than 23 % Internet users in Morocco, minister .
Rabat, Apr. 15

Only 22% of Moroccans use Internet, as few as 3.4% have a computer, only 2000 Moroccan schools are equipped with ICT and only 10 companies make use of e-commerce, revealed, here Tuesday, Moroccan Industry, Trade and New Technologies Minister, Ahmed Reda Chami. Calling this situation "alarming" and the strategic basis of the country "very fragile", the minister announced that his department has devised a priority plan of action in the short term (2008-2009) aimed at promoting Morocco's competitiveness in the field of ICT. It aims to raise the number of Internet users to 32%, the number of people with a computer to 4.6% and the number of schools equipped with ICT threefold. As to companies using e-commerce, it is hoped that their number will reach 50%.

The plan is designed to place the north African country, "which ranks in a lower position" in this area, in a better position at the international level and bridge the digital divide between it and its main rivals. Mr. Chami noted that the plan, to be launched in July, is to be carried out within the framework of a public/private partnership, the goal being to strengthen ties with private groups both Moroccan and international. As part of the plan, a National Information Society Commission will be created and will headed by the Prime Minister. Another commission for coordinating the information society, led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies will also be set up along with six commissions and taskforces.

The minister said the government is devising a strategic plan for the period 2009-2014, aimed at placing Morocco among the information society. The minister insisted that there is a strong correlation between investment in ICT and the economic growth. At the international level, he said, investments in ICT stand at 2.5% of GDP, which rate should rise to 2.8% in 2011. These investments, he went on, generate returns for over one million of companies specialized in marketing hardware and software and delivering services, employing 35.2 million people. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/less_than_23__inter/view
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Moroccan officials, business leaders concerned about cost-of-living increase.
By Sarah Touahri 2008-04-17

As part of an ongoing social dialogue, Moroccan officials met with employers this week to find remedies for workers' financial woes.

A week after holding discussions with trade union representatives on how to boost wages for Moroccan workers, government officials met with business owners on Monday (April 14th) to address the same subject. While the two parties failed to formulate any specific numbers, they did agree on a course of action on how to help employees, said General Confederation of Moroccan Businesses (CGEM) Vice-President Mohamed Chaïbi. Moroccan Minister for Employment and Training Jamal Ghmani also expressed satisfaction with the co-operative effort to protect Moroccan workers' purchasing power.

"The confederation is completely in tune with the government and the unions" to improve private sector employees' incomes through all possible measures, CGEM President Moulay Hafid Alami explained. Still, he cautioned, global competitiveness "requires us to be extremely vigilant". "There are boundaries which cannot be crossed, because beyond a certain threshold, steps can become counterproductive and lead to job losses."

Alami conceded that increasing salaries is very important, but pointed out that higher wages alone cannot reduce the impact of national and global inflation. The CGEM wants the government to lower both income and value added taxes. "People's purchasing power needs to be improved, but solutions on income must be part of a general balanced plan. And that supposes a clear fiscal policy and commitment from the government," Abdelmjid Tazlaoui, who chairs the CGEM’s employment committee, told Magharebia.

Trades unionists, meanwhile, are dissatisfied with the proposals put forward by the government and employers. "An increase in the guaranteed minimum wage of around 2% or 2.5% per year over five years will in no way put an end to the problems of the rising cost of living," said Abderrahmane Azzouzi, Secretary-General of the Democratic Work Federation.

Many Moroccan workers are voicing the same concerns as the union chiefs. Salwa Taqui, who works in a private company, told Magharebia that those suffering the most under the international trend for higher prices are those with low wages. "Even if the minimum guaranteed wage is increased from 20 to 30%, it will not sort out the problem of the cost of living, which is constantly rising. The government and employers are only talking about an increase of 10% over five years. That’s not a solution. Employees shouldn’t expect anything definite to come out of the social dialogue," she said.

Although business owners maintain that any discussion of wage increases must consider the global economic situation, their argument is failing to resonate with workers. "They talk about Moroccan businesses' competitiveness and how it must be safeguarded, but that mustn’t come at the expense of the workers," said bank employee Ahmed Ghadouani. "The fact is that the cost of living in Morocco is too high, and has absolutely nothing to do with living costs in China."
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/04/17/feature-01
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King enquires about results, action program of INDH central Morocco.
Missour, Apr. 12

King Mohammed VI enquired, Saturday, about the results and the action program of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), launched in mid-2005 to fight poverty and social exclusion, and the transverse program for the period 2005-2008 in the central city of Missour. Some USD 7Mn were earmarked to implement programs aimed at promoting socio-cultural activities and access to basic services in the target communes, encouraging income-generating activities, and revamping social centers for the disabled and children in harsh living conditions. As part of the emergency plan (2005), a total of 69 socio-economic projects that aim at fighting poverty in the rural areas were carried out, worth USD 2.7Mn. These projects have benefited some 98,358 people.

Six other projects were implemented to expand the social center for the disabled and build another, along with a center for children in harsh living conditions, worth some USD 800,000. As far as the transverse program (2006-2007) is concerned, 54 projects were implemented to promote socio-cultural activities, targeting a population numbering 28,777 people, for USD 1.5Mn. The king later launched construction works of a USD 200,000-worth multidisciplinary social center in the city. Built on an area of 2500 sqm, the center will be ready within 10 months. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box1/king_enquires_about_1/view
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Morocco to increase per capita by 40 percent.
RABAT, Apr 13, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX)

Morocco is to increase the per capita income by 40 percent in the coming five years to balance the rich and the poor, official MAP news agency reported on Sunday. "With a growth rate of 6 percent, we are aiming at increasing the per capita income by 40 percent, and will do in the coming five years as well as we did in the past decade," the report quoted Minister of Economy and Finance Salaheddine Mezouar as saying.

The North African country's economy has suffered a lot from the global price surge of oil and raw materials which drove the country to the edge of social instability. As raw material prices are rising, the country's compensation system cannot be maintained and would fail to profit grassroots, said the minister, adding that the government is considering direct assistance to these people.

Morocco conducts a compensation fund through which the government supports raw materials which have different domestic price and global price. Due to the unprecedented price hike in international market, experts warns the fund will run out by August 2008. Though the government has increased the funds by earmarking some 5 billion U.S. dollars, up from 2.7 billion dollars set for 2008 financial year, the fund still risks bankruptcy, according to experts.

In addition, the government is to carry out a series new policies to avoid the negative impact of imports, including boosting local production and creating new economic centers in the different cities specializing in outsourcing, port activities, tourism, mining, advanced technologies and agribusiness, he added.
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1355849/
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The road to Morocco.
Vista Farmers Market provides inspiration for food author’s exotic meals
By Linda McIntosh | linda.mcintosh@tlnews.net , Wednesday, April 16, 2008

When Kitty Morse visited the Vista Farmers Market for the first time 20 years ago, it reminded her of the open air markets in Morocco where she grew up. She started coming every week, taking in the familiar sights and smells of dates, cilantro and mint leaves. She bought them and re-created old family recipes. Those first visits to the market inspired Morse to publish her first cookbook, “Come With me to the Casbah: A Cook’s Tour of Morocco,” highlighting favorite recipes from her friends and family.

Nineteen years and nine cookbooks later, Morse is still a loyal patron of the market.“It’s the best part of Vista on a Saturday morning,” she said.
The Vista chef comes not only for the fresh seasonal produce but also for the camaraderie with local farmers.“I like to talk to the people who grow my food, Morse said. The conversations grew into food columns she wrote for a local edition of the Los Angeles Times in the late 1980s.

“There are so many rare food growers here. It’s fascinating,” Morse said. She is taking some of her favorite spring crops and whipping up a few culinary specialties on April 19. She’s planning to use market produce such as dried flageolets beans with Moroccan preserved lemon and exotic baby greens and maybe toss in a few edible flowers, such as nasturtiums. “People are surprised when they see flowers in a dish,” Morse said, “but they add a pretty touch of color and sometimes a d istinctive flavor.”

Morse, author of “The California Farm Cookbook,” and “Edible Flowers: A Kitchen Companion,” is probably best known for her classic, “Cooking at the Kasbah: Recipes From my Moroccan Kitchen,” which won first place in the San Diego Book Awards cookbook category in 1998. “Kitty is a great spirit here at the market,” said Mark Wall, who manages the Vista Farmers Market. Morse’s “California Farm Cookbook” includes anecdotes and recipes from local growers she met at the Vista Farmers Market. “Some of the farmers she highlighted in her cookbook years ago are still here today,” Wall said.

Along with writing cookbooks, she has taught Moroccan cuisine in cooking schools around the country and catered Moroccan-themed parties set in a tent with Oriental rugs and belly dancers. For 23 years Morse has led annual tours to Morocco that included culinary demonstrations in the Moorish-style home of her family in Casablanca.

Morse got into a career in cooking by accident while working on her degrees in French at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “My roommate was in medical school. She brought over her friends, and we were all hungry,” Morse said. Her claim to fame was shepherd’s pie. Later she became known for catering Moroccan-style parties using family recipes.

Now Morse is working on a memoir of Morocco with recipes, but she always finds time to come to the Vista Farmers Market on Saturdays. “Even after 20 years, I can come to the market and find something new,” Morse said.
Reach reporter Linda McIntosh at (760) 752-6756.
Cooking demonstration
WHO Kitty Morse, author of “The California Farm Cookbook”
WHERE Vista Farmers Market, 650 Eucalyptus Ave., Vista
WHEN Demonstration is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Market is open from 7:45 to 11 a.m.
COST Free
INFORMATION (760) 945-3900 or kittymorse.com
http://www.todayslocalnews.com/?sect=lifestyles&p=4974
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Mesmerising Moroccan Cuisine.   
Thursday, April 17, 2008

Moroccan cuisine is one of my absolute favourites, from the presentation of fragrant stews in clay tagines, the billowy couscous, to the perfume of their special blend of tea. The hallmark of Moroccan hospitality is a mint tea comprised of loose Chinese gunpowder tea, fresh mint leaves and sugar.

They make a great show of pouring the tea correctly from characteristically silver teapots at a high angle which is released from the snout in a straight line into the cutest glasses, the liquid amber and bubbling. It is absolutely delicious, and despite the sweetness, incredibly refreshing. Whenever I eat this soul-filling food, I am transported back to the spice markets of Marrakech and Fez. The Kingdom of Morocco is situated in North Africa. It is one of the more liberal Arab nations and is famous for its architecture, furniture, textiles, and fantastic food.

To be honest, I first sampled Moroccan food not in Morocco, but in London with some fellow university classmates at a celebratory dinner. Later on, when I lived in Paris, I became friendly with many Moroccans whose mothers invited me into their homes and taught me the secrets of Moroccan cooking in exchange for me teaching them the delights of Jamaican cookery or bringing gifts of Blue Mountain coffee! I ate Moroccan quite often, and appreciated this cuisine more so during winter, as it is stick-to-your-ribs food. It is also communal fare. You will generally find large groups eating in Moroccan restaurants. Eventually, when I finally arrived in Morocco itself, I felt quite proud of my expertise ordering dishes and felt like a native.

Morocco is an exotic land with a Berber, Arabic and French influence. The food incorporates loads of vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, squash, pumpkin and sweet potatoes, the most popular legume is the chickpea, followed by lentils, meats, especially beef and lamb and its famous pigeon dish pastille. Due to the country being prominently Muslim, you will not find pork dishes. However, they love their sausage, which is merguez and made of lamb, chilli and paprika.
Spices are paramount and when you tour this country, you will regularly view sackloads of spices in the markets or formed in pyramid-shaped mounds in all of their prominent colours such as the rich reds of paprika, chilli and saffron plus the earthy browns of cumin, cinnamon and ras al hanout, a blend of over 50 spices. Herbs such as cilantro, flat leaf parsley and mint are sold in large bundles. Harissa is a fiery condiment which is often added to food, or is offered on the side.

Couscous is a grain more popular than rice. Couscous is also the name of a main dish. You can order lamb, chicken, vegetarian and fish couscous. Basically you will receive a steaming bowl of couscous accompanied by one of the aforementioned proteins alongside a steaming bowl of mixed vegetables in an aromatic sauce.

Tagine are the name of the dome-shaped clay casserole which is used to cook and present food in. Unfortunately, my tagine broke en route to Jamaica when I moved here, so it won't be featured in today's photos. However, many Westerners do not have tagines and can successfully replicate the dishes with a normal casserole dish. The word tagine is also used to describe a stew. I hope you enjoy today's hearty dishes.

Vegetable Tagine

This dish is perfect for a vegetarian main meal or as a side dish for a meat course. It is spicy, hearty and filling. Serve with couscous or brown rice. This recipe feeds 6.

Ingredients:
1 tin chickpeas
3 carrots, cut in chunks
1 small pumpkin, cut in chunks
Handful of dried apricots, roughly chopped
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp hot paprika or regular paprika
1 tsp chilli powder (or 2 if using regular paprika)
1/2 Litre vegetable stock
1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
2 tbsp plive oil
Method:

In a large casserole, heat olive oil, and cook onions over low heat until soft, about 10 minutes.
Add all the spices and garlic for two minutes, then the pumpkin and carrots, give a good stir to coat with spice mixture.
Pour in the vegetable stock and dried apricots and simmer for 25 minutes.
Add chickpeas and cook for a further 5 minutes until heated through.
Garnish with cilantro.

Moroccan-Spiced Stewed Lamb

Lamb is my preferred red meat. It is expensive, so I only prepare it on special occasions. It is quite fatty, so you don't need to use oil, as it will render its own while cooking. Morocco is famous for its lamb stews. The following dish is rich in sauce, serve with flat bread to mop up the juices, or with cous cous. To make this dish more special you can add prunes or caramelised pears (the normal variety, not avocado). Moroccans like to use dried fruits in savoury dishes. This recipe is for 4, double quantities for a larger group.

Ingredients:
500g of lamb, cut into chunks
2 cans of chopped tomatoes
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp Harissa (a fiery chilli paste)
2 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method:

Heat a large frying pan, preferably non-stick over high heat.
Sauté lamb on all sides until a nice brown colour.
Add spices and garlic and stir for a minute or two.
Pour in tomatoes and half the parsley, and simmer on medium heat until lamb is tender, about 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the quality of meat, and the sauce is thickened.
Garnish with the rest of parsley.
Bon Appetit!
Jacqui Sinclair is a Cordon Bleu-trained chef/food stylist & hotelier. She has worked in the world of food photography and film in Europe. A bon vivant, she is passionate about sharing her food secrets with enthusiastic home cooks.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Food/html/20080416T230000-0500_134638_OBS_MESMERISING_MOROCCAN_CUISINE.asp
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A Moroccan model for change: Rory MacLean visits a hotel in the High Atlas mountains to see how responsible tourism is bringing benefits to the local community
This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Thursday April 17 2008.

Kasbah du Toubkal ... a positive model for tourism. Photograph: Alan Keohane

Travellers transform places, for better and for worse. Tourism has ruined miles of Britain and Spain's southern coasts, as well as countless fishing village between Paphos and Ko Samui. At the same time it has revived the fortunes of St. Moritz, Cannes, the Bahamas and, over the last thirty years, many a crumbling Tuscan and Provencal hamlet. We come, we see, we make a place our own.

Although long on the jet-set's radar, Morocco is a latecomer to large-scale tourism. Since the 19th century independent souls have been drawn to north Africa. Flaubert, Matisse and George Orwell were followed in the Sixties by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were photographed by Cecil Beaton beside the pool at the Hotel Es Saadi in Marrakech. Yves Saint Laurent, the Rothschilds and a host of celebs busied themselves house hunting in the Medina. The bohemians, the Beats and the designers - among them Bill Willis, Charles Boccara and Meryanne Loum-Martin - popularised the country, propelling it into our collective conscious and sowing the seeds for its transformation.

Hence parts of old, red Marrakech are today unrecognisable. The Palmeraie has been gentrified. Among its groves at Jnane Tamsna, the original boho-chic Moroccan villa hotel, guests (including of late David Bowie and Brad Pitt) dine on inspiring French, Moroccan and Senegalese dishes. At Vanessa Branson's trendy Riad El Fenn 24 sumptuous rooms are arranged around three mature courtyards, two heated swimming pools and a home cinema. Its rooftop terraces boast one of the finest views of the Medina, towards the Koutoubia mosque and the snow-capped Atlas mountains. At Ministero del Gusto a former Italian Vogue editor and her partner sell glamour and retro furniture from their eclectic art-gallery-cum-design consultancy. Behind myriad Old City doors Morocco's famed artisans are now resurrecting decrepit riads for Paris couturiers and London book editors.

The city continues to seduce visitors with its sunshine, its effortless flair, its palm groves rising from the desert and swallows swooping through the dusk above broad Djemaa el Fna square. In turn, Marrakchis let events unfurl as fate decrees, enjoying the new opportunities, acknowledging foreigners' role in the revitalisation of traditional crafts.

This equitable exchange, so rare in modern tourism, is magnificently illustrated 40 miles out of town at the Kasbah du Toubkal.

Beyond Asni, dusty cumin-coloured hills rise above the Mizane Valley. Berbers in hooded, Hobbit-like burnouses work on narrow terraces above the racing, glacial river. Mule paths cut back and forth across the steep upper slopes. The long, winding corridor opens on to a valley of quince, walnut and wild cherry trees ringed with looming, jagged peaks. Sunlight flashes off the ice sheets. Crevices lie deep in snow. Choughs wheel over Imlil village, above which towers Morocco's most spectacular mountain retreat.

As an eager young British climber, Mike McHugo fell in love with the High Atlas. In 1989, he bought the abandoned summer home of a feudal chief and - in a unique partnership with the local community - transformed it into a secluded getaway. From the outset, his priorities have been collaboration and sustainability. All workmen and materials come from the local Berber community, as do its kind and attentive staff. Water is spring-fed, not trucked in bottled. Towels and sheets are changed only when necessary, not every day. Fruit, vegetables and meat are locally-sourced. A five per cent levy added to all guests' accommodation bills has financed the valley's first ambulance and community hammam, as well as supporting the school and enabling local girls to continue their education in Asni.

Guests are truly welcomed with splashes of rose water, then ushered on to the lofty, many-carpeted roof terrace and guided to simple yet stylish bedrooms. Accommodation ranges from traditional Berber salons, which sleep groups of trekkers and extended families, to the beautiful Garden House, a self-contained, double-level sanctuary with two balconies. All the rooms have been decorated with the utmost care, in rich colours and with hand-carved wooden beams (no power tools were used during construction as electricity only reached the valley in 1997). At night, hot water bottles are secreted into beds, open fires lit and the lamps of the surrounding villages glisten like stars fallen to earth.

As well as the sincere hospitality, it is, of course, the mountains that make the Kasbah so special. Walks range from easy ambles to the two-day ascent of Jebel Toubkal - at 4,165 metres the highest peak in north Africa - and are led by personable local guides. Its remote trekking lodge, with solar-powered under-floor heating and en suite bedrooms, allows guests to stay in comfort even higher in the Toubkal Massif.

"I imagine a project like the Kasbah would not be possible without close and deep local ties", said McHugo recently. "I also believe that by our correct behaviour and respect for the local population, hopefully they have come to respect us and also accept some of our differences."

Travel opens new horizons, for traveller and host alike. Without tourism Imlil would be a poorer place, its Kasbah still a ruin, its girls denied the chance to attend high school, its entire population reliant on subsistence agriculture. The Kasbah du Toubkal has set a standard for responsible, collaborative tourism that is a positive force for change in the region.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/apr/17/morocco.hotels?page=2
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Morocco Exchange.
Thursday, April 17, 2008

I got back home last night from my beautifully eye-opening trip to Morocco. The entire trip was – to say the least – amazing. The IES center booked the trip through a non-profit organization called “Morocco Exchange,” and it’s an extraordinary endeavor. The trip began by taking a bus town to meet the Morocco exchange guide at Gibraltar. Hence, I got to see the famous monkeys and rock of Gibraltar. We then took the ferry across to Morocco, ending up in Tangier. There we toured this great women’s institution, having our first bit of Moroccan tea and a great discussion with Moroccan students about their society and life in general in the city. After that, we made our way to Rabat, stopping along the way to ride camels. THAT was an interesting experience. Afterward, one of my friends described the sounds they made as a mix between a goat and Chewy from Star Wars. It’s true.

Once in Rabat, though, we met our families. There were three IES students per household, so we were all able to experience this unique visit together. Since only a few of us speak Arabic, the principal language of Morocco, we were happy to find that at least one person in the household spoke English or Spanish — whether that person be a nine-year-old schoolgirl or an 87 year old grandfather. In my case, all of my family spoke a little English, with the eldest son and grandson being the most fluent.

While in the house, we were welcomed with more hospitality than I would have EVER expected. Our host parents gladly carried out trays of tea and cookies when we first arrived, and from that point on, hunger wasn’t even an idea in the back of my mind. We got to experience great Moroccan food — like the delicious couscous and Tangene my family served — as well as discuss amazing concepts about cultures and politics while eating with our hands (right hand only, actually, because the left hand is used for, well, something else). Speaking of the bathroom, I had to be sure to take wet wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and bottled water with me at all times. I was, after all, in a developing country. Not all places, however, had a Turkish toilet (which consists of a hole in the ground with two grooved foot pads). My house, for example, had a Western toilet AND toilet paper. Good times.

In Rabat we did many things other than hang out with our families. The one day we met up with students from there, walked around the city to shop, and enjoyed the lovely Turkish baths. I faced a big fear going in there. Why? Because Turkish baths (which are AMAZING) consist of three rooms — luke-warm, warm, as well as hot steam and water. They also consist of you going in topless, wearing only your underwear with the other 50 or so women in there. All of the IES students went. Some kept there tops on, but by the end it was a liberating experience for all. By American standards it’s a no-no. In Morocco, though, women definitely have power and liberty in their privacy. After the bath, we all went back and got henna. So now I have a great floral patter on my hand. The ink, sadly, is fading.

Next, we left Rabat and headed toward Chef Chauen, a great city nestled in between two mountain peaks. On the way there, however, we lunched at this amazing family’s house in the countryside of Morocco. The family was great, and we had the best tea ever. All of the food is made with so much sugar, but it was great.

After saying bye to the family, we completed our journey toward Chef Chauen, reaching the city in time to do some shopping. I bargained like crazy and bought some great souvenirs. We ended the night by eating our last authentic Moroccan meal in a great restaurant and ended the trip by taking a hike up to the top of the hills of the city the next morning. The last day was all traveling back by mini-bus and ferry to Granada. Good times most definitely were had by all.

Pics will come soon. I swear. Things have just picked up so much speed here!
http://www.aa.psu.edu/blogs/blogview.asp?blog_ID=187&blog_userid=amv179&blog_tracker=137
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Morocco to serve the worlds biggest buffet???

Some 5,000 visitors are expected in Rabat to sample a vast number of different dishes to be served on a 300-m buffet - possibly the world’s largest! Themed "together to bring our peoples closer through our cultures", this event will gather the most popular dishes of some twenty countries in a "festival of taste and fondness of good food" is also meant to bring peoples closer through presenting their cultures (gastronomy, folklore and musical heritage) and offers the opportunity to participants to share the friendship. In addition to world dishes, this event will also feature artistic events (paintings, sculpture and traditional arts) of the participating countries, as musical and dancing bands will come from the four corners of the world to perform in the Moroccan capital.
http://www.agoravox.com/article.php3?id_article=8072
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