Eating Our Way Through Morocco

There was a lot to love about our visit to Morocco.  The weather was beautiful.  The culture was rich and vibrant.  The people were very nice.  But the food was the star of the trip.

The French influence on the culture has created a land where the bread is plentiful and delicious.  The Arab culture and spices create dishes that are fresh and savory.  The most amazing meals we ate were the meat and chicken tajines.  Tajine is a stew like dish cooked slowly over a grill in an earthenware pot on a bed of oil, with piles of vegetables and spices.  I had one every day we were in Morocco and every one was awesome. 

And then there are the pastries.  We sampled some delectable treats this morning while sipping fresh squeezed orange juice and amazing coffee at a little place in the Medina here in Casablanca.  Sitting in the along the cobblestone street watching people flow past on their way to the market was one of those “can you believe this” moments.  I wish I could describe just how cool it was and just thinking about it is making my mouth water.

Add in the snacking on street food that included some of the best olives I’ve ever eaten, some nuts coated in a glaze and topped with sesame seed and great pizza and it’s easy to understand why I feel like I have a “dinner baby” right now.   I should be swimming to Spain just to be able to fit into my jeans.

Snack Attack

A few months ago I blogged all about the various snacks we had eaten on our voyage.  Kelly and I are snackers that is for sure.  Since then we have been spending the last of our remaining currency from whatever port we are in on snacks for our cabin or treats during our day excursions.

Here is what we have come across since our wasabi seaweed wraps in China.

My delicious sundae and Kelly's Vietnamese coffee from the Cafe Blue in Saigon.  We had gone there back in 2006 and were hoping to have lunch but settled for these instead to escape the heat.

We picked up a large bag of these prawn crackers in a shop in the Little India section of Singapore.  They did taste fishy but, since there were 15 little bags, we ate them all to keep us going on our day trips.  I would pick something different next time.

We found these in the Scott Market in Yangon.  There were three buns in the package filled with pudding inside.  It seemed weird but we needed a snack and it was cheap.  They were actually pretty good.

Snack Time

Kelly with a pea snack that was covered with a breading we got in China.

One of the best things about traveling around the world is getting to eat different food that we don't get back home.  We had some really good meals in Japan.  China was hit or miss but though we did get some dumpling type food at the Big Buddha that was tasty.

In addition to actual meals, one of my favorite things to do is go to the local grocery or convenience store and stock up on exotic snack foods.  We like to keep some for our cabin during the days we are at sea but we often eat them right there on the streets.  Here are a few tasty treats we have had in Hawaii, Japan and China. 

Cola flavored Mentos we picked up at the airport in Shanghai.  They tasted just like a fountain drink.

We still aren't sure what these deep-fried sticks were but they were salty and pretty good.  We got them while we walked around Japan.

These are turnovers we bought at the Hilo Farmer's Market.  One is curry beef and the other is taro pork.  They were like a Hot Pocket only really, really good.

I found these pieces of seaweed flavored with Wasabi at a grocery store in Hong Kong.  They are individually wrapped packages and have a bit of a kick to them.  It reminds me of eating a piece of sushi only without the rice and fish inside.  I like them.  

A Taste of The Burgh

If a city can have a taste, Primanti Brothers would be what Pittsburgh tastes like.  The often imitated, never duplicated Primanti sandwich is as synonymous with Pittsburgh as Iron City Beer or the Steelers.

The Primanti sandwich consists of some type of grilled meat, an Italian dressing-based coleslaw, tomato slices, and French fries between two pieces of Italian bread.  The original location opened in the Strip District of Pittsburgh in 1933 and has since expanded to 17 different locations throughout Pittsburgh and 3 locations in Florida.

About ten years ago they even turned the McDonalds I worked at throughout high school into a Primanti's but I've never felt comfortable going to a suburban location.  Yesterday I went down to the South Side location for my sandwich fix and it was everything I hoped for and more.

Why is everything piled onto on sandwich?  Simple, when the first location opened in the warehouse and produce district, people had to eat fast and often with one hand.  Simple solution, pile it high, wrap it in sandwich paper and out the door you go.

The menu is full of different types of sandwiches, from the Capicola ham to the "#2 Best Seller" Pitts-Burgher Cheese Steak, every one is delicious and worth the roughly six bucks.

And if you are wondering, the #1 seller on the menu is the beer.