Daniel Boulud’s Marrakech Chicken Tagine

This recipe for an elegant North African stew comes out of the kitchen of Boulud Sud, Daniel Boulud’s sophisticated Mediterranean French restaurant in New York. It is a dish steeped in the flavors of North Africa, but also of France. Chicken serves as the protein, bathed in a blend of North African spices — cinnamon and coriander, turmeric, ginger powder and cardamom — combined with tomatoes, saffron and a little stock. Preserved lemons and olives added at the end provide bite. Tagines are often cooked with root vegetables and dried fruits. Boulud, who famously grew up on a farm, in Lyon, uses cauliflower.

Marrakech Express

The chef Daniel Boulud has a long history with tagine, the North African stew that takes its name from the elegant earthenware pot in which it is cooked. Thirty years ago, he said recently, he tasted a tagine cooked by a Moroccan magician and cook named Baby Dahane. The taste lingered with him. “I loved the soulful, Berber-style delicate preparation,” he said, “the crossroad of spice and flavor and the smell, the taste, the combination of spices and vegetables.”

10 Places For having Fun in Marrakech

TOP 10 Marrakech Attractions:

1. Maison de la Photographie, 46 Rue Ahel Fes Medina, 5 24 38 57 21

2. Jemaa el Fna (Place of the Dead)

3. Bahia Palace, Beyond Place des Ferblantiers

MARRAKECH’S BEST VIEWS

The top 3 Marrakech Best Views You shouldn't Miss:

A Rustic Hideaway In Marrakech

So the name of the Beldi Country Club is a giveaway: everything at the beguiling, 27-room hotel amidst fields of roses - from the earth-based pise walls to the sackcloth bags gardeners gather blooms in - is done as it was centuries ago.

Marrakech Jamaa el Fna, Second Best Night Market in the World

Ranked third most beautiful square worldwide in a rating made by travel website Lonely Planet last year, the square is featured by the travel-lovers app Adioso as the second best place for spending a wonderful night in “open-air food stalls, snake charmers and a healthy dose of chaos.” Djemaa el Fna is a high-touristic square in Marrakesh that draws more than a million visitors who come to attend the lively shows provided by the snake charmers, monkey trainers, storytellers, musicians and other popular artists from early evening until the call for dawn prayer.

An oasis of relaxation in the heart of Marrakech

Enjoy a game of golf on a nearby course at the foot of the Atlas Mountains or practice on the Resort’s pitch & putt course. The Children’s Clubs take your little ones on a journey to the land of the Arabian Nights. Experience Moroccan specialties and hospitality at the ‘El Kebir’ restaurant

Discover the souks of Marrakech with our regular shuttle service.

Branson, Famous Resident of Marrakech Explains

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

As the fifth edition of the Marrakech Biennale comes to a close, MRRKCH ( MARRAKECH MAGAZINE)  had the opportunity to sit down with Vanessa Branson, founder and president of the Marrakech Biennale, and discuss the events of the past month. Mandy Sinclair reports.

Take A Breath of Fresh Air Just Outside of Marrakech

A preferred destination for Marrakchis looking to escape the heat, this artificial lake (created thanks to a dam put in place less than a century ago) is the perfect escape from the city.

An unusual place with a surprising story

Just a half hour from Marrakech is a long lake in the middle of the plains. Residents of the imperial city often seek refuge here, particularly on Sundays, with a family picnic and cool off in the lake. After all, Lake Lalla Takerkoust Lake provides the one thing that’s missing in Marrakech: a natural place to swim.

The Fobe House, A Dream in Marrakech

The Fobe House in Marrakech, Morocco, is strikingly contemporary. At first glance, it’s all starkness and contrasts, a cascade of sharply-angled white structures speckled across an arid landscape. Infinity pools, floating terraces, and a mysterious neon glow are all present, each detail adding to the disparity between modernity and the home’s surroundings—really nothing, save the Atlas Mountains at the horizon.

The Restaurant At The End Of The World

IN 2008, PAULA WOLFERT’S BOOK, COUSCOUS AND OTHER GOOD FOOD FROM MOROCCO, WON THE COOKBOOK HALL OF FAME AWARD, TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION.

At the time, Mo­roccan cuisine would probably have seemed pretty exotic. These days fancy food trucks and posh catering carts may be blocking the highways in Europe and the US, but Morocco’s biggest street food heaven hasn’t moved in a thousand years.

Jmaa el Fna, The Place of the Dead, The Mosque at the End of the World, North Africa’s most vibrant and exotic square, the ancient heart of Marrakech, where snake charmers, storytellers and acrobats entertain the passing crowds.

Traveling the Marrakech Medina Markets

Most travelers don’t think about the wild markets of Morocco while planning a trip to Europe. However, considering it’s close proximity, every European bound traveler should consider it! If you’re planning a trip to Europe, consider making a quick trip south to the northern tip of Africa: Morocco.

20 great things to do in Marrakech

The ultimate checklist for things to do in Marrakech – follow our insider tips for stunning mosques, fascinating crafts and luxury living:

Insider’s Guide to Marrakech Morocco

For many travelers, the ancient, bustling city of Marrakech (Marrakesh) is the first stop on a journey through Morocco and a “must see” destination. Marrakesh is a metropolitan oasis pieced together with ancients souks combined with an endless array of shops, cafes, and museum. Even the scooters and motorcycles weaving past pedestrians and donkeys is a sight to behold. Unlike much of the rest of the country, tourism is nothing new in Morocco (or in Marrakech for that matter). For centuries, Moroccans, foreigners and traders from around the world have been coming here for business, pleasure and a taste of the exotic.

Like most cities in Morocco, Marrakech is divided into two parts: the ancient medina (“old city”) and the new city (“ville nouvelle” – often referred to as “Gueliz” after the name of one of the more popular neighborhoods). In the last few decades, the city has become a tourist hotspot and a top destination for many Europeans; many who have purchased vacation and retirement homes here. Even the famous designer Yves Saint-Laurent spent the latter half of his life in Marrakech. And, recently, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy purchased a home here. In Marrakech, expats wander alongside the locals through the medina streets of the famed “Red City.”

Sparkling kaftans hit the catwalk in Marrakech

Wearing dazzling traditional kaftans, models took to the Marrakech catwalk this week to showcase the latest local and international designs at the 18th edition of the most prestigious traditional fashion show in Morocco. The two-hour long event was held this year under the theme of 'Splendours of Empires.' Fourteen established fashion designers and two newcomers presented their creations at the show, taking their inspiration from the world's great empires.

Happy cause we're from Marrakech

The storyteller of Marrakech

Storytelling in Marrakech is a practice with ancient roots, thought to date back to the 11th Century. But has it been superseded by modern life? The Cafe de France in Marrakech is something of an institution. It is the oldest and most famous of the slightly louche establishments that surround the main square, the Jemaa el Fna. Dating back to the days of the French protectorate, it sometimes feels as if its decor and staff haven't changed since then either.