New Food Love

As many of you know, I am pretty resistant to trying new foods. I generally like to stick with what I know which can truthfully be quite limiting at times. But Sunday night I threw caution to the wind and discovered some FABULOUS new (to me) cuisine. B and I joined some friends of ours for an evening out to celebrate Heather's birthday. She and her hubby chose a Moroccan restaurant in downtown Seattle called Marrakesh. I have never had Moroccan food before and was a little hesitant at first. But then I decided what the heck - it's her birthday, it'll be a fun night out and we get to leave the munchkin at home with the sitter!

I had no idea what to expect and opted to keep an open mind. When we arrived, I was immediately entranced with the decor of the restaurant. Flowing fabric draped from the ceiling combined with colorful rugs hanging on the walls and low lighting from the ornate iron and colored glass lanterns made you feel like you'd instantly slipped into another time and place. I could easily imagine myself stepping into a large beautifully decorated North African tent. There were several low tables ringing the room and we had the choice to either sit on low cushioned benches with backs or one of the many circular cushions scattered around the table on the floor. The men all opted for the round seats while we women lounged on our elevated benches.

We decided to dine family style so that we could all get a taste of the many fabulous dishes offered. The waitress poured water over our hands at the table and then began serving us our feast. And don't forget, tradition states that you eat the entire meal with your fingers - no utensils needed. We first enjoyed a Moroccan salad with bread and lentil soup. After that we had B'stilla Royale which is ground chicken cooked with almonds wrapped in phyllo pastry and topped with powdered sugar. Oh, so delicious! And then we began the feast! We had eight different dishes that we all passed around the table several times. They included chicken, lamb, veggies, and cous cous. I could not get over how amazing all this food tasted!

And during our meal, we had an extra special treat - a belly dancer came in and performed for half an hour. She danced with a scarf, the finger cymbals, and even a sword. Best of all, she pulled up Andrew and B and taught them a few moves in honor of Heather's birthday! We all had a great laugh watching them dance, and B earned a $1 tip for his moves. :D

We finished up our feast with milk pudding and mint tea. Our waitress also splashed orange blossom scented water on our hands which smelled divine.

All in all, it was a most fabulous night out. I am thoroughly in love with Moroccan cuisine and can't wait to go back for another meal there! Thanks Heather and Andrew for introducing us to such a great place!!