Cafe Clock Moroccan cooking class in Marrakech

Marrakech cooking class with Cafe Clock. In November I went to the city of Marrakech with a group of girlfriends. We knew the first thing that we wanted to do was try a Marrakech cooking class. After a bit of research, we came across Cafe Clock which offered a traditional Moroccan cooking class. It was easy and straightforward to book online from the UK with just a small deposit. The reason we were so attracted to this experience is that not only did you get to cook but you also got to shop in the local market or souk.

Travelling to Marrakech as a group of girls we were a little wary of the souks. So the chance to go shopping for fresh ingredients with the chef really appealed. Our Riad was near the main square in the old town of Marrakech where many of them are located. It took around twenty minutes to walk to the cafe and cooking school. Which is located at the top of the main street that runs outside the Saadian Tombs. On our first morning with busy roads and many people sitting around it was a little unnerving. But by the time we walked the same route on our last day we had settled into the culture. This is how we got on with our Moroccan cooking class experience.

Arriving at Cafe Clock

When we arrived we were invited to sit upstairs in the cafe’s open bar and drink coffee and mint tea. While we waited for the other people in our class to arrive. I liked that there were only small groups, eight of us in total in the Moroccan cooking class. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other and swap some travel stories. As a group, we got to choose what Moroccan cuisine we wanted to cook from a selection of different Moroccan meals. There was lots of choice on the full menu but we all needed to agree.

What we decided to cook at Cafe Clock

• Starter – Zalouk which is roasted aubergine with spices and Harira which is a traditional hearty Moroccan soup.
• Main course – Seksou T’faya Couscous Boohaloo which includes almonds, caramelized onions and raisins. Tagine djaj m’kalli made with chicken preserved lemon and olives. As well as my favourite a B’stella b’djaj which is a chicken pastilla. We struggled to decide on the main dishes as there was a lot to choose from.
• Dessert – Ghriba d l’3sel which are honey Fassi macaroons

Buying our ingredients for Marrakech cooking class with Cafe Clock

Once we had decided on what we were going to cook. We took a short walk into the souks to buy the ingredients for our Moroccan dishes. The local chef came with us and took us to little store fronts that many of the local community were using. Acting more like a local guide at each stop he explained the process and how things are done. We stopped to buy meat, pulses, and vegetables and talk to one of the chicken sellers. Our chicken had actually been brought on a previous day due to the way the meat is prepared. It was by far a better way to experience the souks.

I found it fascinating seeing various different cuts of meat held up in front of the butcher by metal hooks. The tubs of different pluses and little clear acrylic boxes of spices. Not how you see them in the tourist souks all piled up into pyramids. Naturally, you got a chance to buy some if you wanted. The vegetables and fruits were all brightly coloured and there was no packaging in sight! The short visit was a great way to explore the medieval medina and understand Moroccan culture better, it really added to the culinary experience.

The cooking itself – Moroccan kitchen

Once back at the cafe we were each given a menu and a recipe sheet so that we could write down any notes. Like all good chefs, amounts are done by taste more than measure. There was plenty of room in the kitchen for the eight of us. We each had a chopping board and an apron. Different tasks were divided. We started by prepping all the different veg along with cooking and peeling the aubergines and peppers. Before moving on to adding spices and herbs to the meat. Our traditional Moroccan chef explained the different cooking techniques used in preparing Moroccan food.

There was a lot of banter in the group and everyone got stuck in. Mixing and chatting over the food. Our chef was very good at explaining everything as we went along and there was time to scribble down notes if needed. We had a break mid way through for coffee and Moroccan mint tea. Before heading back in to make the macarons and put the pastilla together.

The best part – the eating…

By the time we had all the dishes ready and dished up the sun had come out. So we were able to eat on the terrace. We had cooked enough to feed an army! You really don’t need to eat anything else for the day. So I would not book a restaurant for the evening. As we eventually finished eating around 4 pm. Which meant our private class pretty much lasted the full day. It was very satisfying knowing that you had cooked it all yourself.

I really enjoyed the aubergine starter, delicious tagine with preserved lemons and the pastilla. All are served with Moroccan bread. By the time it got to dessert, we could not eat anything else. So instead we took our sweet treats back to the Riad in a little foil box.

My conclusion on our experience

We really enjoyed our unique experience with Cafe Clock and our time spent learning about traditional Moroccan cooking. If I am ever fortunate enough to find myself in the red city of Marrakech again I would not hesitate to go back. They even do private cooking classes where you can have children under the age of 12. I know Charlie would love it, he still talks about the cooking class we took part in while in Crete. The cooking course was definitely one of our highlights. Entertainment for the whole day and as much food as you can eat for 60€ it is very well priced. I would definitely recommend this great experience. You can find out more and how to book on the Cafe Clock Website.

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• Jardin Majorelle YSL Garden Marrakech

• Tips for visiting Marrakech

Have you tried a traditional cooking class on your travels? Let me know about any cooking workshops you have been on in the comments below.

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Marrakech cooking class with Cafe Clock