maison de marrakech

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

Dar Seven, hippy boutique hotel

Hello Marrakech, Morocco lovers!! Another wonderful Riad I want to introduce to you today. It's also always good to get interior ideas from these riads too!
Dar Seven in Marrakech feels like an elegant home fit for royalty. Pots of olive trees, huge blonde antique doors and a dining table in the open-air courtyard look set for a glamorous interiors shoot. Cream-coloured linen abounds; cubbies of elegant cream-upholstered sofas and dark brown wooden furniture create a colour palette more Ralph Lauren than Moroccan riad. Utterly tranquil; magnificently chic.
Rooms are from 150EUR (double room). Very convenient price for an elegant holiday.
If you are interested in staying at Dar Seven, the address is:
Derb ibn Moussa, Kaa Sour 7, Marrakech, 40000

Jad Mahal...

I realised there are so many places you could go and chill out in Marrakech. It's amazing, in such a small area, there are so many beautiful, exotic bars, restaurants and clubs, it's heaven to party goers.
And the crowd there are normally very relaxed and posh. You don't feel pushed or feel that it's too loud.
It's all just nice and cozy...
Another hidden jem spot is Jad Mahal.
They have combined the exotic Moroccan with the Indian style.

The moment you set foot at Jad Mahal, the whole experience is magical. From the entrance to the tone setting, its mystic waterfeatures, lighting, everything about Jad Mahal is sensual, exotic and magical. You have got to go there!

Not only that, whilst you are invited to their very moroccan & international cuisine, you will be seduced by the various shows they present to you: fire eaters, musicians, belly dancers to name a few...

If you want a night to remember of, here's where you can get it...

You'll be awed by the combination of the Indian collection and the Moroccan Collection! So exotic...

So cozy...imagine a dancer and show entertaining you here...

It's really like living the 1001 Nights (Alf leyla wa Leyla)!

Je pence au Japon...

Today, I am still shocked of what happened in Japan... Being a Japanese, although I live in London & Marrakech, my heart will always belong to Japan. It's my motherland and will always be special to me. I usually post Beautiful moroccan interior homes, but today, I would like to post some of the beauty of Japan, to tribute this to the people in Japan.

Thinking of their recovery...

This weeks recipe...Chicken Pastilla !

MMM-!! Whenever I am in Marrakech, I long for some nice Pastilla. For those who are not familiar with Pastilla (Moroccan Pastery), go check out Pastilla.
Although it's quite sweet, Moroccans consider this as a formal dish, not a dessert.
The ingredients are mainly chicken (traditionally they use pigeons), sugar, almonds, cinamon, eggs wrapped up in a pie. The mixture of flavour is just gorgeous! I recommend you try when you've got time...Just the flavour bring you to an exotic world.

And here's the recipe...

☆Ingredients☆

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

salt &pepper
1 bunch fresh parsley
ginger
6 eggs, 1 egg beaten
2 cups almonds, blanched, browned on the stove

12 phyllo pastry
1 cup sugar
cinnamon

1.In a large pot, put chicken cut into quarters with salt, pepper and ginger along with enough water to cover. Cook on heat heat until chicken is soft and falling from the bones. Remove from liquid, skin and debone the chicken, and cut meat into small pieces and set aside.

2.In same large pot, add the six eggs one by one, beating as you go. When all are beaten in and almost set, remove mixture and let cool, dividing into two parts and discarding any liquid. Chop the browned almonds and divide into two.

3.In a 9x12 inch baking dish, begin the assembly by placing four sheets of the philo dough, brushing oil over each sheet before placing the next on top. Next, place in 1/2 the egg mixture and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on top. Place two more philo sheets (with oil between), and place 1/2 the chicken. Sprinkle this with sugar and cinammon too. Next Place 2 more philo sheets (with oil between), and place 1/2 the almond mixture in, sprinkling with sugar and cinammon on top. Cover this with 2 more philo sheets, and start this assembly process again. Two sheets philo, almonds, two sheets philo, chicken, two sheets philo, eggs, two sheets philo.

4.Brush the top of the last sheets of philo with beaten egg. Bake at 350 degrees until golden, 25-35 minutes.

Happy cooking...
Bon appetit, Bismilla...

Dar Darma-A Hidden Charm

It's tuesday! And it's the day to introduce another beautiful ryad from my favorite city, Marrakech...The ryad is called Dar Darma. Read the info below...
Dar Darma was built in the XVIII century and is situated in the old quarter of Moqf in the heart of the Medina. A few steps from the Museum of Marrakech, the Koranic school Ben Youssef and close to the famous square Jemaa El Fna, the riad is the ideal starting point for discovering the beauties of the city.

It covers an area of approximately 1,200 m2, offering absolute privacy and an atmosphere of great elegance.
Dar Darma has been restored preserving the valuable elements decorating the interiors as the hand-painted wooden ceilings, the delighful plasterwork and the precious ancient portals.
At guests' disposal 4 luxurious suites and 2 apartments: rooms with fireplace, one or two bedrooms with private bathroom and all comfort. The spacious rooms, the traditional hammam, terraces with shaded lounges, swimming pool and a spectacular view of the city complete the offer of the dwelling.
Faithful to the architectural tradition Moroccan Dar Darma features a patio with central bath and a shaded area of green plants, located in the two central parts of the building.
Dar Darma is not a traditional hotel, rather a private palace that offers a personalized service and never formal. Out of standard and full of personality, is an ideal place for the most demanding travelers looking for exclusivity, privacy and comfort.

For those who would love to book the hotel for a special occassion:
Address: 11/12, Trik (rue) Sidi Bohuarba, 40000
Marrakech - Morocco
Tel: 00212 5 24 38 07 08
http://www.dardarma.com/

This hotel is full of details and designs...full of inspiration...

Classical yet Bohemian....it's a magical atomsphere..

Beach Caftan Wear...

I was flipping through a magazine and just found a really nice caftan collection for summer, especially as a beachwear... You think it's still ahead, but it's almost April, and soon summer is just a corner away!
These are from Ropa Pemmaraju's collection. She is a famous indian designer. You can see subtle touches from the Middle-east, and the Orient.

You can see the gorgeous stones/diamonds at the edges...Very Oriental there...

Imagine wearing this for your holiday...Pure Goddess!

See you next week, and have a wonderful weekend,

Azar Marrakech-Lebanese cuisine

Situated in the heart of Gueliz, the Marrakech foreign quarter, Azar brasserie proposes a refined Lebanese cuisine in its purist tradition. It also combines the food with an exotic Moroccan Atmosphere. From the archtecture to the interior design, this restaurant is true to its perfection of sophisticaton. It's purely fabulous!
The restaurant offers a mezzanine where one may enjoy lunch or dinner, thus offering two atmospheres. The Azar nightclub, with live music and a DJ, is open from Thursday to Sunday.

For more info, visit their website
http://www.azarmarrakech.com/
Address: Rue de Yougoslavie
Gueliz, Marrakech
+212 524 430 920