Morrocco

A long overdue post that I wanted to write about for the LONGEST time :)

So the idea came up randomly. My long time friend Raiman asked me to come out to dinner as a third wheel on his first date (because she's so shy so he needed a buffer girl =me!). She actually ended up not being able to come so we called up another friend and went to eat Mexican food,which is really a treat in Japan. We had such a good time that we got an idea that maybe we should do this once a month as a way for us to make way out of our busy schedules to meet up and enjoy good authenticfood.


Well the entrepreneur that he is, Raiman not only did he make a Facebook page inviting other people, but he also rented out an entire restaurant. And that restaurant was a tiny cozy Moroccan restaurant near Yoyogi Uehara.

Don't you love the atmosphere already?

 


Since we rented out the entire place, it was served in multi-course style and oh my oh my....

Harira Soup - tomato, lentil, and spice soup. A favorite during Ramadan

Mediterraenean-like salad with Moroccan flat bread

Carrot & cilantro salad

 OOoo yes, busting out the Tajine (Eatern African pot)!

 Snatching a glass of Morroccan wine before the main dish arrives...

Moroccan style meatballs..my heart almost dropped after taking a bite.

 The owner, Ayumi was lovely. She studied at a Morrocan restaurant for years before she came back and opened her own! Authenticity is guaranteed.

 Maindish #2: Vegetables and beef stew with couscous. My mouth is already watering as I'm writing this!

The real reason why Raiman selected this place is because this is probably the only place in Japan where you can eat "heaven's pie" or bastilla as it's called. It's such a delicate sweet AND savory pie which is stuffed with cinnamon, almonds, chicken, and other wonderful mix of spices. This elaborate dish takes hours to make and usually only served at weddings or special occasions. He was told that since this is "off the menu",  he needed a party of five and reserved a week in advance. I suppose that's when his lightbulb clicked for this event.






The pie was lovely. It was almost a sensuous taste because it had so much flavor in so many layers. It's definitely worth to come here to eat this one dish!






And how can you NOT end a Moroccan meal with mint tea?

Argan oil ice cream - so rich but at the same time has none of that "oily taste". Very smooth 

    
The event itself was a success since we loosely knew each other through people but were virtually strangers - so it was a good bonding and networking experience. We were so happy and chummy that some of us ended up walking together all the way to Harajuku at around midnight!







 People and food really does make you happy indeed!









Enrique Maruesco

03-3467-1106

3-1-15 Kitazawa  Coop Inage.

Open 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays

*be sure to reserve beforehand!