Leather-bound journals and fountain pens to record your journeys - real or imagined - along with binoculars and globes, Barcelona, Spain.
Today's armchair travel destination: Morocco!
The books: Lulu in Marrakech by Diane Johnson. You may remember Johnson as author of "Le Divorce," on which the movie starring Naomi Watts and Kate Hudson was based. Johnson's latest book is a fanciful tale of double standards and double agents.
A House in Fez by photojournalist Suzanna Clarke, is the story of Clarke's family restoring a riad in Fez to "its original splendor, using only traditional craftsmen and handmade materials." Haven't read it yet, nor had I seen her blog until today. Visit The View from Fez here.
The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah. This is the lively story of a family buying Dar Khalifa, an estate in Casablanca and the trials and tribulations involved in the renovation. It is excellent; I read the entire book on Eurostar during my last trip to London. An excerpt:
"...There was an official-looking Arabic document on the desk. The lawyer ordered me to read it through.
"I don't know Arabic," I said.
"Then you'd better just sign it," he replied, glancing at the Rolex on his wrist. He handed me a Mont Blanc. I signed the paper as instructed.
The lawyer stood up and slid a hefty iron key across the desk. "You are a very brave man," he said.
I pause for a moment to look him in the eye. He didn't flinch. I lifted the key. As I did so, I was knocked to the floor by the force of a violent explosion. The windows blew inwards, shattering with spectacular energy, sending a hailstorm of glass through the office. Deafened, covered in broken glass and confused, I struggled to my feet. My legs were shaking so badly that I had trouble standing. The impeccably dressed legal man was crouched beneath his desk, as if he had previous experience of some kind. He rose silently, dusted the glass from his shoulders, straightened his silk tie and opened the door for me to leave."
Read the book! You won't be disappointed. I'm looking forward to reading Tahir Shah's next book Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams (due in March).
Then there's the food. This recipe for "John & Katie's (not too) Spicy Chicken Couscous is scrumptious! It's from the popular London restaurant "Leon," and is featured in their new cookbook "Leon: Ingredients & Recipes" by Allegra McEvedy. Last night, the chef whipped it up in no time. Here's the recipe, which serves six:
4 chicken breasts, skin off, cut into big chunks
2 teaspoons dried chili flakes
a few hefty pinches of ground cinnamon
8 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
About 8 tablespoons of olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons good curry powder
About 8 handfuls of couscous, or around 300g
2 heaping tablespoons butter
2 handfuls of raisins or sultanas
500 ml chicken stock
salt
pine nuts, mint leaves, coriander and lemon, to serve
Garlicky tomatoes:
6 ripe plum tomatoes, cut in halves
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
"Put the chicken pieces into an overproof dish. Mix the chili, cinnamon, garlic, salt, half the olive oil and curry powder together, coat the chicken with it and leave for 20 minutes or so.
"Preheat the oven to 220 celsius/430 Fahreinheit/gas mark 7. Mix the garlic and oil for the tomatoes together. Lay the tomato halves on a thick-bottomed tray and annoint with the garlic/oil mix. Season liberally.
"Meanwhile, put the couscous and sultanas into a bowl and stir with the remaining oil, so that the grains are well-coated. Cover with chicken stock. Lay a tea towel over it and leave for five minutes are so.
"Mix the couscous well into the chicken, pushing the sultanas below the surface (they can burn), dot the tob with knobs of butter and cook on the upper shelf for 25 minutes, putting the tomatoes in beneath them.
"Toast the pine nuts to scatter on the top with chopped mint, coriander and a squeeze of lemon. Serve with the roasted tomatoes."
The films: Couscous. This touching film is about a laid-off shipyard worker who opens a restaurant and the family upheavals that result. Couscous received numerous awards, including 4 Cesars for Best Film and Best Director and a Special Jury Prize for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival.
Caramel won recognition at the Cannes, London and Toronto film festivals for its wonderful, intertwining storyline about five women, three of whom work together in a beauty salon. It is delicious and I urge you to rent the DVD. Enjoy!
For tales of an American family's adventures in building a guesthouse, Peacock Pavilions, visit Maryam at My Marrakesh.
Go here to toss your name into the hat for a celebratory giveaway.
Merci, mon ami! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 28 January 2009 at 16:49
What delightful armchair travels! Those recipes sound delicious - and what a fun idea to actually have the cuisine to go with the region you're reading about...Love it!
xOx
Posted by: tinker | 28 January 2009 at 07:20
Anjie, thank you! Miss you too and hope to see you in San Fran at some point in the spring. Will email you soon and a package is on its way to you and the adorable Alesia/Peach (got your card w/ the new address - merci)! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 21:16
i just watched casablanca for the umpteenth time the other day....and i've been devouring my new design book on moroccan style. so your post really resonates with me. also, You resonate with me. i miss you. sigh ~ what incredibly blessed, busy lives we lead. i remain affectionately yours, anjie
Posted by: studio wellspring | 27 January 2009 at 21:03
Merci, dearest V! That phrenology bust is great, isn't it? And apparently you can find one in the US - one of the readers saw one in Rhode Island. But I expect you won't have to go that far to find one.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 10:44
Speaking of the same wavelength, I also have Theroux's book. I have most of his books, as I appreciate his insights and observations as a traveler.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 10:43
Thank you, Relyn! I'd like to go back to that store and buy some journals and pens. But I have so many journals still waiting to be written in...must keep that particular obsession in check. This morning I was in a stationery store, looking at journals. And as tempting as they were, I walked out without buying any! :)
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 27 January 2009 at 01:02
This is a completely wonderful post. You've forgotten nothing. Books, recipes, websites, intriguing beauty... Just perfect. I bet you know which bookmarks folder this post is going in. As far as wish shopping goes, I'd like two of the larger journals and the phrenology bust.
Posted by: Relyn | 26 January 2009 at 23:51
I really enjoyed The Caliph's House when I read it and also recommended it to friends. I just picked up a copy of Paul Theroux's "The Great Railway Bazaar"
last night so obviously we are on the same wavelength here.
I'm especially fond of the Madras curry powder. I first bought it for the tin but now I really appreciate the flavor.
Posted by: tangobaby | 26 January 2009 at 21:06
More evidence that the world is getting smaller? :)
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 20:38
Appropos of nothing, I was in a store in Providence last night and saw that same phrenology chart bust.
Posted by: Erika S. | 26 January 2009 at 20:33
Pam, isn't it fantastic to see positive change we've longed for begin to unfold??!!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 13:14
Christina I knew that you, the chef, would know about the variety of curry powders. I don't, but luckily, my "chef" does.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 13:13
Hope you enjoy the recipe - it will surely warm you up!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 26 January 2009 at 13:11
I can understand the "good curry powder" my grandfather had that written on all his recipes that called for it. There are so many different curries. Hot, mild, sweet. Then of course the different regions that curry can come from. YUM!
Food and books... Bliss.
Posted by: soul aperture | 26 January 2009 at 05:21
Hi Tara! I don't eat meat, but my friends will love this recipe! I can adapt it too.BTW: I am a happy camper since there's a new Pres in town! Yahoo
Posted by: pam aries | 26 January 2009 at 04:16
Worldly exotic wonderment!!!! Yummy, I love the food and the reads and the visits!!! ;) xoxoxo
I think I need that bust with the cranium info ;)
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | 26 January 2009 at 03:44
Thanks for the great new recipe, Tara. Will hope warm my chilled midwestern bones. Bon Appetit!!!
Posted by: jappwinter@aol.com | 26 January 2009 at 00:34
The books are good, especially the Tahir Shah one. When Maryam gets PP up and running, we're there! Do try to have that dish soon - it's fantastic! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 25 January 2009 at 23:19
Isn't it a great shop - a tiny one, but bursting with beautiful things. Yes, the plane is attached to the small globe. Am laughing about your curry powder comment. As the restaurant owners and recipe writers are English - and London is full of curry - there is a difference in curry powder. :)
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 25 January 2009 at 23:17
Gosh, I'd love to go out and get all those books right now.
And if there weren't an angus roast with yorkshire puddings in the oven right now I'd make those garlicky tomatoes and spicy chicken couscous.
Mmmmmmm.
Me loves Morocco!~ Let's go there! Call Maryam! :)
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 25 January 2009 at 23:07
I am so drawn to the "je-ne-sais-quoi" quality of the composition in this shop. Not so neatly displayed that one is fearful of disturbing it. I would kill for the wrapping paper hanging on the back wall, the little ink blotter, and the cast airplane (is it attached to the globe?).
My favorite part of the recipe is that it stipulated "good curry powder" because there is nothing worse than bad curry powder :)
Posted by: dutchbaby | 25 January 2009 at 18:03
Barbara, I like fountain pens too, although sadly rarely do I take the time to use them. I always see beautiful old ones at brocantes in France and Spain, which still work just fine. "The Caliph's House" is well worth a read. And of course, I'll toss your name into the hat for the giveaway.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 25 January 2009 at 13:31
Oooh, I love fountain pens. They're all I use. The title of this post reminds me of Alice Hoffman's "The Accidental Tourist", the one that Geena Davis won an Oscar for in ... oh, l-o-n-g ago! I'll have to read it again. Thanks for the book titles. "The Caliph's House" sounds like a keeper. Oh, would you toss my name in your chapeau, s'il vous plait?
Posted by: Barbara | 25 January 2009 at 13:11