My first time in Africa

I realize how delinquent this post is but considering that I began it in February 2006 and have barely touched it since, I think this is as done as it will get. Perhaps, some day, I will complete the culinary recount of my nine days in Africa but until then here it is...

February 2006:
I just travelled to Morocco and it's not surprising that many of my memories and some of my pictures are of the food I saw and ate there.

Day 1: Upon arrival in Casablanca, I was whisked away to a friend's friend's apartment where they were having a sleepover for the girls at their school. They had prepared french toast--unfortunately there was just enough for the girls. But luckily, they had coffee and I had brought them some New York bagels, which I'd bought prior to my flight. We cut them into quarters and the teachers and some of the students, who'd been in Morocco between one year to several more, partook and were pleased by the chewy bready goodness.
We then went to my friend's apartment, wolfed down some leftover pizza hut (Moroccan style pepperoni sticks & spinach and mushroom) then caught the train to Meknes, where we stayed with another friend's family in the medina. It was a great experience and gave me my first real, homecooked Moroccan meal of the visit. A wonderful roast chicken topped with french fries and eaten with homemade round bread, which you tear and dip into the warm, garlicky sauce and eat along with the chicken and fries--what a wonderful end to my first day in Africa.

Day 2: The next morning we were served coffee and baguettes with laughing cow cheese and apricot jam--delicious start to the morning. After a half day visiting the ruins at Volubilis/Oualili, we returned to Meknes and had another lovingly prepared meal--kofta (I'm guessing lamb), again with the round bread--so yummy... And the hospitality and generosity of this family was so amazing that it only made the meal more enjoyable.

I also visited the food and spice souk (market) and saw some great things there, including the live rabbits and chickens, the hanging slabs of meat, and piles of spices, olives, and sweets. Things were almost too pretty to disturb.

My most memorable meal during my nine-day trip to Morocco, however, was the camel meat I feasted on. I was out shopping with an American who'd been in Morocco for five years--around lunch time she asked, "Would you like to try camel meat?" How could I pass by the chance? We ventured out a bit from the main shopping area and came to a row of outdoor stands, all selling some sort of meat, mostly camel. We bought the raw, ground meat and brought it over to a little stand where they formed and cooked kofta (meatballs) for us. They served it with round bread, grilled tomatoes and onions, and salt and spices on the side. It tasted like beef but had a subtler flavor. I don't think I'd rush out to seek camel meat again but I'm glad I tried it, even if it did make me feel a little bad for the camel I rode a few days later.