Kitty Morse

13 responses so far ↓

• 1 Alicia // Apr 3, 2008 at 3:26 pm

  I’ve been a quiet fan for a couple years, now I’m coming out!

  It all started with B’Stilla at the Marrakech restaurant when they were on Sports Arena Blvd. in San Diego 25 years ago. Now, The Marrakech is in La Jolla, Ca.

  My Persian supervisor and his wife took me there for dinner in a Moroccan tent inside the restaurant. The fragrant anise bread, the lemon duck, the B’Stilla and especially the cold carrot salad made me love Morocco even though I knew nothing about it.

  It took a Persian Muslim and his American Catholic wife to treat this native San Diegan to a real edible and sensory ecstatic education.

  Learn to create unforgetable, exotic AND frugal feasts:
  Go to Kitty’s book signing and Tagine demonstration at 5600 Paseo Del Norte Ste. #125, Carlsbad, Ca 92008 12-2pm on Saturday, April 5th, 2008.

  I’LL BE THERE, AS WELL

• 2 Kitty // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:31 am

  Thanks, Alicia!

  Kitty

• 3 Sher // Apr 11, 2008 at 6:36 pm

  Hi Kitty. I’m delighted to log onto your website and see so much detail. I have been cooking Moroccan dishes for about ten years
  only a little. My first experience was a trip to Mohammedia to visit my husband’s family in
  1998. I immediately fell in love with the food. The smells and the presentation was just overwhelmingly delightful, and so so delicious. My mother-in-law is a fabulous cook. I learned a few Moroccan words. I fell in love with Morocco and with the people who are just so friendly and happy. My mother-in-law visited us in the U.S. last year for three months and we had a feast every day! It is our plan to go to Morocco this summer and enjoy seeing everyone, sightseeing and the beaches and last but far far from least the WONDERFUL cuisine! I have seen you on Food Network and enjoyed the program so much and I have two of your cookbooks, which I use often, Kasbah and Coucous. I hope to hear from you soon. The dishes you present are very delicious . Sherry

• 4 Kitty // Apr 12, 2008 at 11:43 am

  Sherry, thank you so much for your comments. I always love to hear feedback regarding my recipes! I also cook from my Couscous: Fresh and Contemporary Recipes very often–I LOVE COUSCOUS–it’s really my favorite comfort food!
  Mohammedia is a lovely little beach city-actually not so little anymore. When I was growing up, I used to go to the Hotel Miramar (the new name escapes me) with my grandparents to have tea on Sunday afternoons. There’s a good fish restaurant there, as well!

  Happy trails,

  Kitty

• 5 Victoria Brahma // May 7, 2008 at 2:26 am

  Hello Kitty, after reading one of your articles on Morocco a while back and getting really touched by it, I just found your information and web site again, what a pleasant surprise. I love the way you describe and let one get to know Morocco through your eyes and let me tell you it is exactly the way you had described it - from the little bakeries around the corner to the everyday dishes which seam like a feast to an ordinary american and are acturally a normal thing here in Morocco. I have been living in Morocco for 2 1/2 years now, well on and off between Los Angeles and Casablanca/Mohammedia (it is a small world with one of your other fans having also family in Mohammedia, my family here is also my wonderful mother in law). I could not feel more at home in any other place thanks to the people and just the simple life we get reminded of. My husband, who is from here, and I decided to move definitely to this colorful land 2 1/2 years ago and it took us that long to finally be here definitely, which is one of the best things we have done so far. I love the culture, the warmth and opennes of everyone here - and it is really everyone and the closeness that exists. My mom has now moved here as well, in Agadir, and I have to say she was able to make friends faster than she had ever expected and it all circled around the kitchen pretty much. They cook together, they shop together in the famous moroccan soukhs and I guess that is actually one of the biggest things that bonds people together.
  My husband and I lived in a farm just outside Casablanca (close to Staat) for about a year and it trully was one of the most maggical times of our life here. When I say we were greeted every single time with the freshest bread just out of the oven and the sweetest mint tea upon our visit to a neighbors house, I am not exadurating, but that is who Moroccans are, they were doing this with eveyone who visited them and no matter how many times a day, and trylly out of their hart. They always knew to take a breat from the day and the daily chores and give their whole attention to their guest. I will send you something that I wrote about Morocco in my next comments and would also love to send you some photographs that I have taken, if you would be interested in seeing them. Waiting for your comments. Thank you, your fan Victoria

• 6 Victoria Brahma // May 7, 2008 at 2:52 am

  A bit about my life…… After running a successful business and living the American dream, my husband and I decided that we are becoming way too drained of just working and paying astronomical bills and wanted to be able to experience life and its wonders. In 2005 we sold our house in Santa Clarita, CA and moved to the other side of the world with a month and a half old baby, Zakaria, who is now 2 1/2 years old, and a few suitcases. So there we were moving from Los Angeles, CA to a small village in the middle of nowhere without a real mailing address, and in a place where 90% of the people did not know and did not even wonder to know their birthdays, desparately in need to recharge our dead batteries and our empty souls. It was quite shocking, as you would imagine. It was the most amazing time of our life however, at least for me, because I saw life the way I had never seen before. I saw people who had nothing more than bread and tea to eat all week long, kill and cook for us the only chicken they had. I saw women who were washing piles of clothes by hand, but before that they had to drag them on a donkey, which was ridden by a small barefoot child, to the nearest water well. I saw a closet to be just a single hanger with a few pieces of used old clothing. I saw the amazed eyes of kids and grownups when I was taking pictures with my digital camera or as I would imagine they thought the little magic box they were able to see themselves on – they were simply amazed, puzzled and shocked. Every single time I went to visit a friend or a neighbor I was invited to eat the most tasty, warm hand-made bread just taken out of the stone oven and to drink the sweetest Moroccan mint tea. And that is just how they greeted anyone that came to their homes, not just me because I was a foreigner and somewhat of an interesting object to observe. No, they greeted like that all of their neighbors and friends no matter how many times they came to visit during the week. There were never too many brakes for mint tea or simple home made snacks. They were simply able to drop what ever they were doing and just live in the moment. I saw the most amazing carpet of red poppies and little yellow flowers covering the ground sooooooo very far and far away, where the sky was meeting them in a straight line. I saw the most old looking young faces. I saw the most young looking eyes on the most old faces. I saw the smallest bare feet running on top of the sharpest stones like it was the most natural thing they had been doing all their life. I saw one pair of shoes being owned by a number of people - no matter the gender. I saw a group of 10-12 people eating from the same plate and believe me that in it self is an experience, you have to be part of. I saw the most colorful walls of the most modest homes. I saw the only toys of a 5 year old being an empty bottle and a few stones. I saw the most old-looking young hands. I saw baby birds just being born. I saw goats on a tree. I saw the weirdest extraterrestrial looking bugs. I saw dragonflies chasing each other on top of the bluest waters you have ever seen. I saw the greenest eyes of pure honesty and love. I saw henna being the only beauty tool for hair and skin, for women of all ages. I saw the most beautiful hair on the most incredible faces. I saw the most beautiful sunset. I saw the littlest children of 4-5 waking up in the morning darkness going to work and contributing to the family in such early age. I saw the most hard working man, women and children working from sunrise to sunset just to be able to put food on their tables. And in the mean time I saw the happiest faces and the freest spirits. I saw the most careless people with the most caring souls. ….. I saw the youngest looking eyes on the oldest faces. I saw the cleanest sky. I have taken the freshest breath of air that exist on the planet. I saw the true beauty of the simple things in life and I am so grateful for it! I saw the riches in having my child understand several languages before the age of 2. This is Africa for me Kitty. A place as magical as one could not even imagine, unless they have been here.

• 7 Victoria Brahma // May 7, 2008 at 2:56 am

  Well, This is Morocco through my eyes. I hope I was able to give at least a bit of an idea to anyone intersted in this wonderful and unique culture and country.

• 8 Kitty // May 12, 2008 at 10:03 pm

  May 12, 2008

  Hello Victoria, and Marhaba to my blog.

  Please excuse the delay in answering. I have been busy with writing projects.
  Thank you for such poetic descriptions. You are really recharging your soul!
  Your life has taken quite a different turn with your “emigration” to Morocco.
  I know the area around Settat quite well. We own a home in Azemmour, on the Oum er Rbia (Mother of Spring) river—not too far from there. You must have noticed the little medina overlooking the oued if you have crossed the old bridge into town. My father bought a pile of ruins there in the late 1960’s and restored it over the course of three decades into a lovely riad. My next book is centered around our home, and will include recipes, as well.

  The souk in Settat is quite a sight, especially when they bring in the camels for sale! Did you grown anything on your farm? The coastal area south of Casablanca, is one big greenhouse. I even found tangerines from the Doukkala region in my supermarket in San Diego County one year!

  Mohammedia is a pretty little beach town, now almost a suburb of Casablanca.I used to go to the Hotel Miramar with my grandparents for a Sunday afternoon drive, and have pastries on the terrace overlooking the beach. You should get a hold of the other “blogger” who wrote to me, who is also living there. What a coincidence.

  I would love to see photographs, if you care to send any. Please keep in touch,

  Kitty

• 9 Kathy B // May 16, 2008 at 1:05 am

  Please advise me on Moroccan markets in the San Diego area. I would rather, if possible, purchase locally rather than through mail order. I recently purchased a tagine and your book, Cooking at the Kasbah and am anxious to start cooking! Thank you!

• 10 Kitty // May 16, 2008 at 9:11 am

  May 16, 2008

  Hi Kathy:

  Thanks for your message.

  To my knowledge, there is no Moroccan market in the San Diego Area.
  However, most of the ingredients are available at your local supermarket.

  Morocco has a Mediterranean climate similar to ours, here in Southern CA—so most of the fruits and vegetables we have here are also grown in Morocco. I would encourage you to frequent your local farmer’s market and purchase seasonal ingredients. That’s what Moroccans do!

  If you have my books, you can make your own ras-el-hanout spice blend—or purchase it from stores like Sur la Table, Crate and Barrel, or perhaps, Cost Plus (also by mail order from Mustaphas.com, a website I am linked to. He markets a very nice blend.) The Spice House in Evanston, IL, markets a good blend, as well. Just follow the link I have to their site.

  Couscous is available everywhere these days.

  Dry Dock Fish (www.lemonlady.net) at the Vista, Oceanside and Del Mar Farmer’s markets, sells authentic, salted and preserved lemons.

  I would discourage you from using the preserved lemons available in jars in specialty stores. These are NOT preserved. They float in water or lemon juice, and don’t have the pungent taste necessary for obtaining the depth flavor of an authentic Moroccan tagine. Why not follow the recipe in my books and articles for salted lemons, and make your own!

  Hope this helped! Keep on clicking and you might win another one of my cookbooks.

  Bismillah,

  Kitty

• 11 Victoria Brahma // May 18, 2008 at 10:42 am

  Hello Kitty and thanks for answering my comments. Yes, Mohammedia is a lovely little town, but the Hotel Miramar closed a while ago. My mother in law had mentioned that it used to be a beautiful site.
  I am sure that your riad in Azzemour is a lovely place. We share our time mainly between Mohammedia and Agadir. One of my very very favorite things here in Morocco is the hammam. I fell in love with it on my first visit about 5 years ago and ever since I have always wanted to bring its purifying power back with me to the USA. The thought never left my mind and so while I am a stay at home mom of 2 1/2 yr old Zakaria and an expecting our 2nd child, I am working on developing an Argan Oil based skin care line which will also introduce the hurka and sabun beldi - 2 amazing cosmetics used by the women here.
  I would like to be able to educate American woman the importance of exfoliating their bodies. I also want to share with the amazing qualities of argan oil. So my cousin and I became partners and embarking on a project we truly believe in. One of the reasons I love doing this is that it supports a group of women that would otherwise have no income nor the opportunity for education and a better life. Our company is planning in giving back to those hard working Berber women. Cross your finger for us and send some WOMEN POWER our way!!!I thought I would write you because of your first article I discovered which was called Ardent for Argan published 2004 in the Saudi Aramco World - what an amazing world is the Internet. I loved the photographs taken by your husband and of course your article.
  Take care Kitty,
  Victoria

• 12 Kitty // May 20, 2008 at 11:45 am

  Your idea for exporting sabun beldi or savon beldi, (a product made from the olive paste left over after the oil has been cold pressed) to the US is an excellent one. Moroccan women use it regularly as an exfoliant. I had a call from someone recently, desperate to find some in the US, and I had to direct her to a Canadian site. So, go for it!
  Yes, I am familiar with argan oil and the women’s cooperatives. Producing this unique, hazelnut-flavored oil, and then exporting it, is a wonderful enterprise, and also, the best way to revitalize what was once a dying region. Make sure you know your sources on the ground, however. Argan oil is becoming very popular abroad, which leads me to wonder how the artisanal co-ops located in and around the argan forest can produce enough oil for export. The oil pressed from raw kernels is reserved for cosmetics, while the oil that has culinary applications is made from the toasted kernels. So you have two distinct markets.
  You can check my two articles, one in Saudi Aramco http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200405/ardent.for.argan.html, the other in Gastronomica, in Fall 2003, http://www.gastronomica.org/issues0304.html, for more details and for sources.

• 13 Terry // Oct 2, 2008 at 1:18 pm

  Hi Kitty,

  It’s only a couple of day before we take off for Morocco and it is so hard to believe the time is almost here. Thank you so very much for your graciousness and being available to answer my many questions. Also your website is a gem, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the contributions made by all of your faithful followers. Before I took off I thought I would share a little with your readers about our interest in taking a trip to Morocco.

  My husband and I are off to visit our daughter, Ami, who has been living in the village of Amizmiz not far from Marrakech for the past year. She is a Peace Corps Volunteer and works as a teacher at the local dar chebab (youth center) which offers supplementary education courses for pre-teens to young adults to improve their opportunity for higher education. She teaches English and French as well as designs programs to fulfill the needs of the students whether it be in drama or mathematics. We did not want to miss this opportunity to experience Morocco through her eyes–to see her navigate her way in this new environment where she speaks in several languages (French, Darija, Berber) and has adapted to a new way of life in her commitment to help others.

  As she has immersed into the life of this beautiful little village in the rugged foothills of the Atlas mountains she has shared wonderful stories of new friends she has made, both Moroccan and European, and the many Islamic customs she has come to embrace as her own since her arrival last fall. Being that I have been a food professional most of her life, she shares an appreciation for cooking and the beauty of ingredients; and when she stops to write a letter it often contains a lovely description of a culinary picture of her village whether it is about the local land studded with olive and almond trees, the colorful local souk (open-air market), a meal she has been invited to share with one of the many families who have adopted her or one that she has prepared herself.

  I’m sure I will have many food tales to tell when I return but here is one that I will leave you with that Ami shared with me earlier this year after moving into her own residence in the village.

  “Yesterday, I took a break to bake my bread—it was the first time I’d used my oven and it was emitting a weird chemical smelling smoke. It left silver paint on the bottom of my bread, so my first “attempt” had to get tossed. (Ovens here…look like cabinets. They practically are cabinets only you can hook them up to gas tanks and light them on the inside. To cook something thoroughly, you must first bake it on the top shelf and then finish it on the bottom). Today, I made bread dough again and brought it to the community oven instead. I felt very Moroccan walking down the street with my flat, round loaves wrapped in material and nestled in a grass basket. I quickly explained to the baker at the community oven that this was my first attempt at bread and yes, I already knew I had used a lot of whole wheat flour. He patted my bread and said it needed to rise more, and then told me what time to come back. When I returned for my bread, he told me what was wrong with my dough, but I didn’t understand a word of it. I paid him 1 Dirham for each loaf and took them home to inspect for myself. Indeed, the bread was flavorless and had a very crispy crust. I think tomorrow, I will show up with my flour, yeast, water, salt and kneading pot and have him show me what to do.”

  Needless to say, I’m looking forward to participating in a visit to the community oven with Ami and much more. I’ll report back in November, on overload, I’m sure, with notes about life and the cuisine in Amizmiz and beyond.

  A bientot,

  Terry

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