A Moroccan table

Again, and as I mentioned in previous posts, food always has this “magical and beautiful way of bringing people together”

This time we are in the house of a Moroccan couple.

About the guests and food. 

A Modern version of the Amazigh Tajin. 

The wife invited me and a lovely Pakistani middle aged woman, who brought along 4 of her daughters, for lunch at hers. She had already prepared most of the dishes the night before. So we -the guests-  didn’t really contribute much in the food making. We enjoyed watching her fix the last dish – Tajin –  which was meant to be served hot straight from the stove, though.

 The host made sure to put a protecting plaque between the hot plate stove and the Tajin in order to avoid direct heat contact and prevent the clay Tajin from cracking. Normally It wouldn', but just to be on the safe side. 

PS:This is no ad for coke.If anything I'd advertise fresh juice

She prepared a stew of minced meatballs marinated in a delectable combination of spices. Then, she put the whole in a Tajin and placed it on the electric stove. The Tajin was made of clay and designed with lovely patterns, brought directly from Morocco. We could feel the authenticity of dish. Mmm

Once the stew was fully cooked, she fried some chips and decorated them on top of the meatballs. According to her, that was how that dish was consumed and degustated back home.

The salad and its dressing were swiftly but kindly taken out of the fridge at the time of serving. It was beautifully decorated and looked delightfully fresh and appetising. 

She also made another kind of salad as a side dish that was typically and traditionally Moroccan according to her. The main ingredients were: green pepper, tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil and something sour I believe was either vinegar or lemon juice. 

As for dessert, the host had already prepared a delicious apple pie before we got to her place. I wish I saw how it had been prepared, as I tend to be an audiovisual learner when it comes to giving flesh to a recipe. 

Apple pie by Moroccan hands

Traditional table manners. 

The couple were born and bred in France. Having said that, they still kept their identity and traditions to a certain extent despite the differences in culture of both countries.

For example, when the lady served the food, she was prouder to display the Moroccan way of 'treating guests' and 'eating manners', despite growing up in a country (i.e. France) where etiquette and eating manners strictly dictates that one uses cutlery, sits upright at a table, and uses napkins excessively. Unlike the French custom, we sat on a carpet -cross legged- on the floor, surrounding a square low table in the living room. Though the host did have a proper dining table that could fit all of us, and enough sofas in case we asked for more comfort,  she preferred to simulate a Moroccan atmosphere as the one they have back home. Once comfortably seated,  the host invited us- the guests- to use our hands to eat as the tradition instructs in Morocco. She did that by extending her hand first to the food, grabbed a loaf of bread, shredded a piece and dipped it into the Tajin stew. With a slow curved motion, she sandwiched a piece of minced meatball between the piece of bread and her thumb, picked it up and ate it. That was to show us how easy and simple it was. It was an interesting demonstration.

Luckily, we were all familiar with such way of eating. The Pakistani family said they ate the same way at home. And I, being from Numidia was very familiar with using hands on food, too. The Islamic teachings, also, reported that the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him- ate using his hands that way. It’s been an Arab tradition, too, until very recently. One would only eat from the closest side of the dish opposite him/her. It is not right to grab food from the middle of the plate, or another side randomly. One's also encouraged to eat with the right hand according to one’s best ability. (unless a condition dictates otherwise)

Therefore, Muslims across the world are encouraged to eat that way as it is said to be tastier as well as healthier. a few scripts mentioned some digestive benefits. Of course, one is also free to do otherwise.

Although one of the traditional as well as Islamic eating etiquettes recommend we do not chit-chat while eating. We couldn’t help but throw compliments and praises about the food and talk about other cultures and traditions.

The whole experience was positive Alhamdoulillah and the atmosphere was very cosy.

September 2012 was the first time ever for me to try a Moroccan table, and I sure was not disappointed to say the least.

Alhamdulillah
... and many thanks to the host.