Resto 7 - Open Again With Fine Fez Food

Back in March 2013 Resto 7 closed its doors and Fez lost one of its better restaurants. Now, happily, the doors are open again as Resto 7 announces its "chef-in-residence" programme. The grand opening last night was a wonderful chance for Fez locals to experience fine cuisine, great ambiance and the beginning of an exciting new venture

The grand re-opening showcased the skills of chef-in-residence Jerome Waag (pictured below) of Chez Panisse in California.

Jerome is an artist living in San Francisco and co-chef of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley. His work, mostly collaborative, borrows from performance and installation art to create frames for social interaction and collective expression. he is part of the collaboratives openrestaurant, an experimental restaurant that relies on art practices to explore issues associated with the production, distribution, and consumption of food and the citizens laboratory, a platform to engage urban and civic issues.

The chalkboard menu

The evening began with wonderful beet leaves tempura and was followed by a delicious  chilled fresh green almond soup with diced melon and grape leaves. The milky taste was balanced by the freshness of the melon and the addition of the sprinkling of grape leaves was a nice touch. The ingredients came from Leila Miriam's organic farm at Fez Jdid. The one slight quibble expressed by guests was that the bread served with it should have been warmed to freshen it up.

The main course was organic shoulder of lamb served with mixed vegetables and a mint salsa verde. The vegetables were stunning and the lamb juicy and tender. However, both could have benefited from being served slightly warmer.

The evening was rounded out with a nod to the street food of Fez. The beignet with cherries marinated in cognac and served with tasty apricot was a treat although one that could equally well have been served as a snack with afternoon coffee.

Kathy Kriger from Rick's Cafe in Casablanca toasts to the success of the venture

Resto 7 owner Stephen di Renza 

Resto 7 - superb ambiance

Chilled fresh almond soup

Organic lamb and vegetables

A perfect end to a fine meal

Event organiser, Tara Stevens, said that the menu would change depending on availability of produce. The price for the three course menu is yet to be finalised but she expected it to be around the 35 Euro mark. 

It is to be hoped that visitors can also opt for only two courses as several people pointed out that not everyone wants a full meal and would prefer a lighter choice.

The restaurant will be open from 7.30pm Wednesday to Sunday and booking via their website is essential.  You will find the website here: Resto 7  

Jerome Waag

Jerome told The View from Fez that he was excited about being in the Fez Medina and having the opportunity to explore all the possibilities that the souk's provide  "I love the chance encounters and to use local ingredients. I love to keep it simple - food that is heart felt".

“Cooking starts in the streets of the medina, in the oven of the baker, the hot ashes of the hammam, the piles of olives, the sardines trucked in from the ocean, the pickled plums sold randomly in plastic buckets, the dark honey, the sounds and smells of narrow streets lined with herbs and citrus and, hidden in the shade, the bustle of a crowd collecting intense flavours concentrated by the heat of an arid sun. back in the kitchen it will become a three course menu that changes everyday based on what is most inspiring.” - Jerome Waag

Please note that the menu will continue to change. For example for Saturday night Jerome Waag's dinner menu is:

Farah farm lettuce with pickled vegetable salsa and cilantro
Chilled cucumber soup with creme fraiche and mint
Braised lamb with zucchini gratin and stuffed squash blossom
Swordfish with fresh tomato sauce, green beans and roasted peppers
'Around the Corner' beignets with cherries in brandy and apricot coulis

Contact: 

Resto 7
7 zkak rouan
30200 fes medina
reservationsat7@gmail.com
tel: + 212 (0) 535 638924

Further info CLICK HERE

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The Yale Whiffenpoofs Return to Fez

The Yale Whiffenpoofs make a welcome return to the Fez Medina for a concert. The event is free and open to the general public

Photo: Suzanna Clarke

The Whiffenpoofs are a cappella songsters who come from Yale University, Connecticut, and follow a long tradition.

Founded in 1909, “the Whiffs” began as a senior quartet that met for weekly concerts. Today the group numbers 14 and has become one of Yale’s most celebrated traditions.

And the origins of their unusual name? An early member, Denton ‘Goat’ Fowler, was tickled by a joke featuring a mythical dragonfish named the Whiffenpoof, and suggested the name to his companions. They thought the name reflected the light-hearted atmosphere engendered by the group’s gatherings. The name stuck.

The Whiffenpoof repertoire features a diverse selection of songs, ranging from traditional Yale songs to original compositions to hits from every decade. These include the likes of All You Need is Love by the Beatles, Someone to Watch Over Me by Gershwin and When the Saints Go Marching In. There is also the original Whiffenpoof song, which has been recorded by Rudy Vallee, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, and countless others.

The concert has been organized and sponsored by ALC-Fez/ALIF

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Moroccan Photo of the Day - Maciek Piotrowski

The View from Fez Photo of the Day captures the changeable nature of the Spring weather in Fez. From heatwave to cool again, each day differs from the one before. The photos, taken from his terrace, are by Maciek Piotrowski

(Click images to enlarge)

The View from Fez welcomes contributions for our photo of the day series. Our contact details can be found via link at the top right of this page

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Spotlight on Moroccan Documentaries

Young Moroccan documentary makers are the focus of this year's International Encounters Documentary Festival of Fez, which opens tomorrow, May 28 at the Al Houria Cultural Complex and runs until May 31

This is the 8th edition of the International Encounters Documentary Film Festival, which is organised by the French Institute Fez in partnership with the Moroccan Cinema Centre.

This year the films shown will shed light on the current generation of young Moroccan filmmakers, who have chosen to work in this genre, despite small budgets and distribution opportunities. So this festival offers them the opportunity to show their work.

"We chose films that vary in terms of subject, writing and production, not to mention the background of directors, to increase awareness about what is available," said a statement released by the organisers. "The documentary is where the memory of the society is located; this is why the program we present is bursting with young filmmakers who will present their films and interact with the public. "

The public will be invited to enrich the debate. "We also invited French documentaries which are made in or about Morocco, to provide a fresh perspective and so the Moroccan public can discover these directors."

The program for this event also includes a round table discussion, during which the participants will seek alternatives offering other ways to promote the documentaries. Questions will be asked, such as, why are documentaries presented only at festivals and a few TV channels? Why don't theatres welcome documentary films? Why are professional film makers still not able to find alternatives which facilitate the process of production and distribution?

When: May 29 - 3, 5 pm to 7 pm
Where: Complex Cultural Al Houria
Cost: Free
To download the program: CLICK HERE


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Artist Documents Moroccan Diversity

French-Moroccan multimedia artist Leila Alaoui's latest project, The Moroccans, documents the amazing diversity of the wonderfully rich culture of the Margreb. It is a photographic series of contemporary live size portraits, shot in a mobile photo studio across Morocco.

Souk of Boumia, Middle Atlas (2011)

Leila says, "Inspired by Robert Frank’s The Americans and Richard Avedon’s In The American West, I embarked on a road trip across the country to photograph men and women of all ages, from diverse ethnic and tribal groups, Arabs and Berbers, in various regions of Morocco. I encountered many difficulties shooting portraits in a land where people have superstitious apprehensions towards the camera, and often see photography as a tool that steals the soul of people. Nonetheless, I was able to convince many to participate in the adventure, while setting up my portable studio in public places, souks (markets) and other private gatherings.

"The Moroccans is an ongoing project. Its images are an attempt to bear witness to the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Morocco, an archival work on the aesthetics of disappearing traditions through contemporary digital photography."

Chefchaoun, Rif Mountains (2010)

Leila Alaoui is a French-Moroccan multimedia artist working on cultural diversity, identity and migration using video installations, studio and documentary photography. After studying film and photography in New York, she moved back to Morocco in 2008. Her work has been exhibited internationally since 2009 and has been published in newspapers and magazines, including in The New York Times. She now lives and works between Marrakech and Beirut.

Tamesloht (2011)

All photographs © Leila Alaoui. To see more on her website CLICK HERE. 

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A great use for an old Sidi Ali bottle!

Today we came upon this fabulous use for an old plastic water bottle. It is especially useful for those of us who like baking cakes...

PS: We would love a photo of one of our readers using a Sidi Ali bottle in this way!

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A Free Pre-Festival Hamadcha Sufi Concert - to be filmed by CNN

Great news for Fez music lovers who are hanging out for the start of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.  Again this year, The View from Fez is hosting a concert at Riad Zany - and it is free!

The concert will feature the Hamadcha Tariqa (Sufi Brotherhood) who have been invited to Australia at the end of the year to perform for a week at the prestigious Woodford Festival.

The courtyard at Riad Zany  (photo below) is a great venue for an intimate concert 

The evening's ceremony will be filmed by a crew from CNN who are producing a series of programmes on and around North Africa.

The Hamadcha

The Hamadcha ritual, like that of the Gnawa, has a therapeutic function. The Hamadcha were for a long time regarded as expert therapists, and Moroccans looked to them for help because of their knowledge of “medicine of the mind”.

Like all Muslim brotherhoods, the Hamadcha are subdivided into separate groups proper to each town or region. The groups are affiliated with Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch and his descendants. During the moussem, which takes place every year, they gather at the tomb of the Saint in the region of Meknès.

Because of the modernization of Morocco, the future of traditional practices is uncertain, and the Hamadcha, as well as the other brotherhoods, are in danger of disappearing.

The Hamadcha of Fez, led by the master Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi, distinguish themselves by their will to preserve the brotherhood from a possible disappearance. Their thorough knowledge of the repertoire and their remarkable musical skills make them the most renowned and valued Hamadcha of Morocco. They have performed on many occasions, for recordings and at festivals of traditional music.

Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi

Frédéric Calmès  will perform with the Hamadcha

Rachida El Jokh - in charge of traditional incense for the ceremony

Details:

Free concert starts at 8pm on Sunday June 8th.  
Refreshments will be provided.
Venue is Riad Zany (home to The View from Fez)
Any questions? Email The View From Fez the address is here

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Street Food Favourite Expands in Fez

Local Fez Medina residents have welcomed the expansion of Thami's Restaurant at Bab Boujloud. While a few extra tables are usually not something newsworthy, Thami's is an exception. Finding a free table is often a problem due to his popularity and we are talking about a man who a few years ago started with a single table and four chairs 

The new seating also has the advantage of being indoors and out of the sun. There is also a new toilet facility, something in short supply in the medina.

Local identity Richard Lawson discovers the "new" Thami's Restaurant

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Moroccan Photo of the Day - Gate to the Fez Medina

Our photo of the day is taken by Abderrahim El Hassani - an unusual view of Fez's famous Bab Boujloud 

The View from Fez welcomes contributions for our photo of the day series. Our contact details can be found via link at the top right of this page.


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A Moroccan Dreams a "House of Silk"

For the last six years Mouaniss, a thirty-two year old Moroccan living in Fez, has had a dream. His dream would, to most of his friends have seemed fanciful - he wanted to build and run his own guest house in the Fez Medina. His story is a wonderful example of how with hard work, the right attitude and determination, dreams can sometimes come true. The View from Fez sat down and had a chat with Mouaniss about his guest house Dar Sondos - the House of Silk

Mouaniss in Dar Sondos

TVFF: So, what was your first job?

Mouaniss: I left school at seventeen and worked in an antique shop. Mostly I was doing the dusting and cleaning. After that I spent time working on the street, selling souvenirs to tourists.  Following that I started to get work with foreigners who had come to the medina in order to restore houses.

TVFF:  Your English is very good. Did you learn it at school?

Mouaniss:  No. I wasn't taught English, but rather picked it up while working with tourists. Then, when I began to work with foreigners I improved a lot. English is very important now and I was lucky to learn it as most people were still only speaking French and Arabic, so finding work was not too difficult. It is a very good thing for the Medina that there are now a few foreigners owning houses and they all contribute to preserving the Medina. Also for me, I really enjoy my contact with them.

TVFF:  You first had the idea of owning a guest house six years ago. When did you actually start work on the project?

Mouaniss:  Three years ago a friend and I decided the time was right. However it was not an easy thing to do, especially as we didn't have the resources foreigners normally have. The project took two and a half years of work. I ran out of money and even had to sell my motorbike. But  (humdullilah) eventually we got the job done and opened Dar Sondos three months ago.

TVFF:  So what was it like welcoming your first guests?

Mouaniss:  I must admit I was a little nervous, but thankfully there was no problem. An Indian couple from New Delhi arrived with their child and enjoyed their stay. Since then we have had a steady flow of guests. People are happy because the house is so close to the edge of the Medina and easy to reach by taxi with luggage.

Sofia - always happy to help

TVFF:  And who do you have helping you?

Mouaniss:  I am fortunate to have Sofia working with me. She is well educated and speaks very good English, French and Arabic. Guest have all commented on how friendly and helpful she is.

TVFF:  Have you more dreams you would like to fulfil?

Mouaniss:  At the moment I am just content and happy that my dream came true. However, in the future... maybe another riad. Inshallah.

TVFF:  Inshallah.

Dar Sondos can be contacted at dar.sondos@gmail.com
Or visit the website:  Dar Sondos

Photographs: Suzanna Clarke 

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The Carpet Washing Season in Morocco

When the days begin to heat up in Morocco it is time to roll the carpets up and store them away until the cold weather returns. However, they must first be cleaned. At the moment in the Fez Medina there is a wonderful display of carpets being hung out to dry in the sun. The View from Fez investigated this annual ritual

Step one: soak your carpet

Spring cleaning is a universal activity and in Morocco with its warmth and sunshine it is time to wash the carpets. Forget using a vacuum cleaner or even suggesting one. The suggestion that a vacuum cleaner might do the job is met with rolled eyes and ill-disguised derision. No, you will be told firmly, the carpets must be washed.

Washing a large Moroccan carpet is a major undertaking. Traditionally they are washed in a river, but for people in cities the only way of doing the job properly is with buckets of water and scrubbing brushes.

Step two: add washing detergent

Step three: scrub and then rinse and scrub again

Step four: let the carpets drain for the night

Step five: drape the carpets in the sunshine for a couple of days

Meanwhile... in the countryside... 

In the rural areas carpets are still washed in rivers and left to drain and dry on bushes or (as in the photo below) on bridges. Many of the rural women prefer to use hair shampoo rather than laundry detergent and make a distinction between "romi" or "beldi" carpets. The "beldi" rugs are made by the Amazigh (Berber) and highly prized. They are scrubbed whereas the "romi" or modern rugs are treated more gently as they are not as robust and if machine made the colours will often fade with washing.

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