 |
|
|
Learning & Special Interest Vacations
Cooking
An increasing number of travelers are combining their loves of cuisine and culture. Moroccans take great pride in their culinary skills, as well as their reputation as exemplary dinner hosts, and are always eager to share their kitchen knowledge. In the past, however, the language barrier proved a difficult hurdle for English-speaking travelers, but recently a few select options have begun operating in Fes and Marrakech. Clients are exposed to the other side of the kitchen, joining the cook as he or she visits the local produce souk, butcher, spice seller, and others. This is followed by hands-on instruction in the kitchen, after which you can sample your labor of love in a sit-down meal. Besides the operators listed below, some maisons d'hôte in Fes and Marrakech offer 1-day cooking lessons exclusively to their guests, such as Dar Roumana in Fes and Dar les Cigognes in Marrakech.
Fes Cooking (tel. 015/866144; www.fescooking.com) is operated by Lachen Beqqi, a young Fes-based chef who has quietly built up a reputation as a superb culinary guide. His English is as good as his humor, and clients rave about his culinary knowledge and his love for his country. Courses offered range from a single day lesson to a weeklong "Culinary Adventure," which includes visits to a Meknes winery and the Middle Atlas Berber village of Azrou.
The International Kitchen (tel. 800/945-8606 toll-free or 312/467-0560; www.theinternationalkitchen.com) is based in the U.S. and has been providing cooking school vacations since 1994. It offers a range of itineraries to France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco, where its 7-day tour is based in Fes. Cooking lessons are intermingled with tours of the city as well as visits to nearby Meknes and Volubilis.
Rhode School of Cuisine (tel. 888/254-1070 toll-free or 252/790222; www.rhodeschoolofcuisine.com) is a well-respected specialist gourmet holiday operator offering tours in Italy, France, and Morocco, where its Moroccan cooking school is based in a top-end maison d'hôte in Marrakech's palmeraie. It offers weeklong tours that cater to both culinary and gourmet guests, the former for those who wish to be in the kitchen, the latter for those who don't.
Souk Cuisine (tel. 073/804955; www.soukcuisine.com) is a cooking school based in a riad within Marrakech's medina. Operated by English-speaking Dutchwoman Gemma Van de Burgt, the 1-day cooking classes are a great way to get to know Marrakech a little better and are very reasonably priced. There are also multiple-day options in conjunction with staying at a nearby maison d'hôte.
Language Programs
One of the best ways to learn more about both Islamic and Moroccan culture is to enroll in an Arabic language program. Although Moroccans speak their own unique dialect, courses are also conducted in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which is used throughout the Arabic world. Additionally, Morocco is also a good place to learn French, as it is still used widely in the country, especially in business and tourism.
For learning Arabic, the best-known language school is the Arabic Language Institute in Fes (ALIF) on the eastern edge of the ville nouvelle at 2 rue Ahmed Hiba (tel. 035/624850; fax 035/931608; www.alif-fes.com). It offers small-group courses in all levels of MSA and colloquial Moroccan Arabic throughout the year. Most courses consist of 6-week (120 hr.) sessions, though there are special content-based courses (3 weeks) and private or specialized lessons can also be arranged. The current costs (excluding materials, accommodation, and living expenses) are 5,200dh ($650/£325) for 3 weeks, 9,400dh ($1,175/£588) for 6 weeks, and 200dh ($25/£13) per hour for private instruction (discounted rate for two or more students). Located in a large Moorish-style villa, ALIF also shares its classrooms and grounds with the American Language Center, providing a good place for meeting young Moroccans. In addition to their courses, they also offer a range of cultural and social activities to students.
In Rabat, the highly regarded Center for Cross-Cultural Learning, Avenue Laalou, Derb Eljirari, 11 Zankat Elhassani (CCCL) (tel. 037/202365; fax 037/202367; www.cccl-ma.com), is located in a 19th-century riad within Rabat's medina. It organizes a variety of cultural and educational activities, including courses in both MSA and colloquial Moroccan Arabic. Its "semi-intensive" (4 weeks/60 hr.) and "intensive" (6 weeks/90 hr.) programs are great for visitors. As part of their partnerships with various U.S. educational institutions, they also offer study abroad programs, as well as adult programs that combine language lessons with field trips, excursions, and cultural performances.
DMG Arabophon (tel. 035/603475 or 035/749893; www.arabophon.com) specializes in Moroccan Arabic, but also offers lessons in MSA, Berber Amazight, French, and German. Along with standard Moroccan Arabic courses of 4 weeks or longer, they also offer a series of traveler-friendly introductory courses including a half-day Curious Explorer. The main office is in Fes, and they have branches in Casablanca, Rabat, and Meknes. Institut Français (www.ambafrance-ma.org/institut) has cultural centers located in most of Morocco's major cities, and offers French-language courses along with various cultural activities. Projects Abroad (tel. 888/839-3535; www.projects-abroad.org) is headquartered in New York and has a local office in Rabat. It offers Arabic- and French-language courses, and places you with a local family who converses in the corresponding language. Sixty hours of private, one-on-one tuition is included each month, and participants choose the length of stay.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
|
|
|
