Where in the world? Part 1 - Rocking the Kasbah

In under 3 weeks I've flown to Africa and back. Asia and back. Tomorrow I'm flying to the US. 5 days later I'm back in London. Two days later I'm back in the US. And so on and so forth...

Even though I've literally worn out the wheels on my suitcase and slept twice in my bed over the past few weeks, I wouldn't trade my recent adventures for anything in the world.

Part 1 - Marrakech.

KC and I took a cheeky long weekend to Morocco (Marrakech) for a few days of eating, not much drinking, and relaxing. Mission accomplished on all three fronts.

Highlights?

1. Discovering how much I love mint tea, particularly when served in silver teapots and accompanied by Moroccan sweets oozing with chopped peanuts, honey and coconut. NB: Discovering the tradition Moroccan sweet made with Orange Blossom was NOT a highlight. It was exactly what I'd imagine soap or hand cream might taste like if I was so inclined to give them a nibble.

2. Ordering the vegetarian dips 'appetiser' only to be served up 2 meals worth of deliciousness such as smoked roasted aubergine, carrots with cumin, pumpkin, mushrooms, courgette - each delicately prepared and tasting in their own right like they should be on centre stage.

3. Giving in to the pushy food sellers in Djemaa el Fna (I've never felt so loved by the attention I was receiving). So what if it was mainly because they wanted me to eat a kabob from their stall? I may not know who she is, but being told I look like 'Donna from East Enders' MUST be a good thing no? We may have passed on the silverware they gave us to use - doing it up old school with our fingers and bits of bread, but it was still an amazing experience - and one I'd suggest for those that aren't obsessed with cleanliness.

Discovering Le Peche Mignon

I interrupt whatever you are doing to inform you of a special news bulletin.

I’m officially a dummy.

It should be clear by now that anything of the artisanal / gourmet / foodie variety makes me very, very happy. I don’t haggle over prices, worry about depleting bank reserves or even question my sanity when occasionally spending more on food than rent (ok, a slight exaggeration). I think about food every day and map out meals days or even weeks in advance. And a little secret that’s probably not so secret, that ‘dream job’ that everyone has? I’m torn between hosting my own cooking show (yes, I’ve auditioned on two different occasions) and ultimately having my own sweet little bakery / cafe full of the best baked goods, signature salads and sandwiches and a few other special surprises that would make it oh so very Dana.

So, last week when I discovered Le Peche Mignon, a stylish little French delicatessen, serving a selection of soups, sandwiches, pastries and other take-away delights (Italian figs covered in white chocolate anyone?) I was blown away. LITERALLY it's a 4 minute walk from my flat (2 doors down on a side street from my dodgy GP on the shady stretch of Holloway Road). How was it possible I'd missed this little bijoux? It wasn’t new, it had been there for the 3 years I've been living right around the corner! How this had happened is actually beyond me. Maybe it's that when I walk that stretch of Holloway Road I try to get through it as fast as I can, not stopping to look left or right down those pesky side streets.

There’s a clear shady north London and cool hipster north London divide right about where I live. I think I’ve officially found the demarcation line in Le Peche Mignon.

The lesson learned is that even sweet little cafes needs good PR. Can you even imagine what they would have made off of me alone if I'd been tapped into this 3 years ago?