Culinary Caravan

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  Portfolio Selected clips from some of Deb's national and regional magazine articles
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  Menus See the wide range of menus that you can experience with Chef Deb's 'Occasions' cooking service
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  Recipes Sample some of Chef Deb's recipes. Check back often for updates!
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  Fez 2008 Chef Deb's Culinary Caravan to Fez, Morocco, the gastronomic capital of the universe!
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  Occasions Find out about the Occasions and Events where you can see Chef Deb in the coming months
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  Chef Bio Find out more about Chef Deb; learn about her influences and her love of cooking

Chef Deb's Morocco

the gastronomic capital of the universe!

Chef Deb's love of the exotic drew her (again!) to Morocco last November 2008. Hooking up with her foodie friend Anita Breland, they ate their way from Fez to Essaouira to Agadir and back again. To whet your appetite for all things Moroccan, check out www.darborjdahab.com, www.mosaikphotography.com, www.riadzany.blogspot.com, www.fescooking.com and by visiting www.argan3.com for information about Morocco's incredible "argan oil," prized for its culinary and holistic properties.

Your Accommodations...
Hidden behind high walls and a discreet doorway, Riad Ibn Battouta — located near the Batha Museum and Fez el Bali's gateway into the medina, Bab Boujloud — Riad Ibn Battouta is a magnificently restored maisons d'hôtes. Undoubtedly, you will be seduced by the terrace of Riad Ibn Battouta, which provides a unique overview on the Fez Medina and the hills of the Middle Atlas Mountains.

Containing seven suites — two of which have their own private terrace — each room is decorated to commemorate Ibn Battouta's (Morocco's most famous traveller) life, through a remarkable combination of oriental and occidental embellishments.

Whether you leisure in its traditional hammam or massage room, grace its terraces, or meditate near the fountain in the patio, the riad is yours to discover.

• DAY 1: Sunday November 16
  • Transfer from Fez's Saïss Airport or Ville Nouvelle train station to four-star Riad Ibn Battouta in Batha District.
  • Welcome mint tea reception upon check-in.
  • Meet'n greet, itinerary orientation, and welcome traditional Fassi dinner. Rest up; you're going to need it!

• DAY 2: Monday, November 17
  • Following breakfast we will shop for the ingredients for today's first cooking lesson back at Riad Ibn Battouta.
  • Tour the Batha Museum in the afternoon. Return to the Riad for a rest or continue on your way to Bab Bou Jeloud, to where Fez el Bali's longest and most evocative street, Talaas Kebira—a shopaholic's mecca—begins. Best buys are babouches (traditional leather slippers), silver Berber jewellery, world famous blue-glazed Fassi ceramics, delicately hand-sewn linen and cotton embroidery, culinary Argan oil, saffron, spices, hand hammered brassware, and of course Berber carpets of every imaginable size and pattern. Don't forget to bargain; it's a Moroccan national pastime! You might well get lost but do not fear. Soon you'll come across a main street, or a friendly local who will point you in the right direction.
  • Dinner at Riad Ibn Battouta.

• DAY 3: Tuesday, November 18
  • After breakfast, we make our second sojourn into the medina to fetch the ingredients for today's cooking class back at Riad Ibn Battouta. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to discover this amazing city. Whether you continue your discovery of Fes el Bali (Old Fes), saunter over to Fez el J-Jdid (new old Fez), or catch a petite taxi to Ville Nouvelle (9Dh), be mindful of two things: "Fez Neck Syndrome" (a curious condition brought on by looking skyward while dropping one's jaw in amazement) and when you hear cries of "Andak!" or "Balek!" This is your queue to get out of the way to let a heavily laden mule, a donkey or a man with a heavy cart pass by.
  • Dinner at Riad Ibn Battouta

• Day 4: Wednesday, November 19
  • After breakfast, we make our way to buy the ingredients for our final cooking lesson back on Riad Ibn Battouta. Spend the balance of the day further discovering the medina or book a Riad Ibn Battouta traditional Hammam spa treatment (€45) or an Arabic calligraphy workshop (cost TBA) with one of the staff at the front desk.
  • Dinner at Riad Ibn Battouta.

• Day 5: Thursday, November 20
  • After breakfast we join our official English-speaking guide for a historical tour of Fez el Bali, including a four-star medina lunch and photo opportunities galore. We'll stop at medersas (theological colleges), funduqs (caravanseries) and various souks where men still embroider caftans by hand, tan hides, chisel wood and hammer brass trays. Bring your wallets and credit cards as great deals abound!
  • In the evening we stroll to La Maison Bleue (billed as one of the most romantic hotels in the world), Batha District's most famous Fassi nightspot for an all-inclusive traditional Moroccan meal complete with local wines and live Gnaoua music strummed gently in the background.

• Day 6: Friday, November 21
  • After breakfast at the riad, you'll transfer to the airport or rail station for your return home—or to continue on with your visit to Morocco.

PROGRAM COST PER PERSON: $1975CAD

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ADD: $300CAD

Early booking special: Discount $100 per person
If booked on/by July 15, 2008

GROUP SIZE LIMITED TO 8 COOKING PLUS 4 NON-COOKING PARTICIPANTS.
FOR NON-COOKING PARTICIPANTS DEDUCT $100CAD

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Passports MUST be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into Morocco!

INCLUDED:

• Transfers to/from Fez's Saïss airport or train station in the Ville Nouvelle.
• FIVE night's accommodation-based on twin occupancy-with private facilities at four-star Riad Ibn Battouta.
• THREE English-speaking authentic Moroccan hands-on cooking classes at Riad Ibn Battouta.
• FIVE full breakfasts and FOUR full dinners at Riad Ibn Battouta.
• English-speaking guided walking tour in the world's most ancient medina.
• Visits to the medina's finest farm-to-table fruit, vegetable and spice souks and strolls through the country's best purveyors of organic meats, poultry and fish.
• A four-star lunch in the medina.
• A colourful sojourn to the textile, leather, pottery and copper souks.
• A tour of the Batha Museum.
• A gala farewell dinner hosted by Chef Deb at La Maison Bleue.
• A copy of Lonely Planet's Fez Encounter, the quintessential users' guide to the medina.
• A Culinary Caravan apron.
• All taxes and gratuities.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfare
• Items of a personal nature, eg: laundry, telephone calls, wine/alcohol (unless otherwise stated in itinerary), meals other than those outlined above, etc.
• Optional excursions.
• Riad Ibn Battouta services, eg: hammam, massage, additional workshops, etc.
• Cancellation, lost baggage and hospital/medical insurance.

For complete terms and conditions, click here to contact Chef Deb.