Jamila, the manager, housekeeper and chef at the riad we are staying at in Marrakech, has been our go-to girl to this magical Moroccan city, providing us with local tips, insider advice and helpful directions each day we head out. It’s not our first time in Marrakech but it’s our first time staying in this atmostpheric part of Marrakech, deep in the medina, and we love it.
Born and brought up in the kasbah of Marrakech, Jamila, 35, tells us she’s the daughter of a businessmen and a mother who by all accounts is absolutely beautiful. Jamila has run things at Dar Rocmarra since she began working at the beautiful riad we are staying at in Marrakech just over a year ago. And she runs a very tight ship!
A multi-tasking marvel of a woman, Jamila might be baking trays of Moroccan biscuits one minute, as she was when we went downstairs to photograph her for this Local Knowledge guide to Marrakech, and supervising an electrician the next, as she was last night when the stove broke under the pressure of her impressive output.
While most cooks would freak out at a stove not working when there are guests to feed, Jamila improvised and a gas burner became the source of some of the finest Moroccan dishes we’ve tasted. Dar Rocmarra may be an intimate property, but this is a woman who is happy to make individual three-course menus for every guest – for lunch and dinner, if they choose – rather than churn out the same set menus night after night found even in the city’s best restaurants. And Jamila’s dishes are all exquisite!
When Jamila has time, her favourite non-Moroccan cuisine to cook is Thai food, which she learned to make from a French chef in her last job. Her favourite Thai dish? A green chicken curry – “for the rich flavour,” says Jamila.
Local Knowledge Marrakech – Meet Jamila from the Marrakech Kasbah
Q. What do you most love about your work as a riad chef and manager?
A. Everything! But I really love meeting people.
Q. Why should people come to Marrakech?
A. To really discover the city, to see somewhere really different, and to discover Moroccan food, culture, people and places.
Q. 3 words to describe Marrakech?
A. Romantic, charming… fantastic!
Q. And the Marrakech locals?
A. Hospitable, friendly, honest, and sincere. That’s four!
Q. Top three recommendations for visitors for things to do Marrakech?
A. People must visit the Royal Palace, they must spend time on the main square Djemma al Fna, they should explore the Marrakech souks, and they must eat Moroccan food.
Q. Best memento from Marrakech?
A. A Moroccan carpet of course!
Q. Must-do eating experiences in Marrakech?
A. People who stay here must eat my food, and they must also eat on the main square, Djemma al Fna.
Q. Most essential thing to learn in Marrakech?
A. People need to learn how to get a taxi in Marrakech because it’s something that can be stressful for foreigners if they don’t know how.
Q. Most important phrase to learn in Arabic?
A. There are so many… but when foreigners say ‘shukran’ (thank you) it makes Moroccans smile.
Q. Other advice for travellers to Marrakech?
A. People should try to be a patient and tolerant and accept Marrakech and Moroccan people for what they are and they will have a better time here.
Click through for more tips from locals we meet on our travels in our Local Knowledge series of interviews with local experts and insiders around the world.
Shukran for a lovely post. I agree with Jamila’s point on the most essential thing to learn: hailing a taxi. On a few rides from the Mellah (Bahia Palace) to SupraTours bus station, we’ve paid anywhere from 12 Dirhams (from a driver who used his meter) to 60 Dirhams. And even though we’ve been harrassed by a bunch of hierarchichal pre-teen and teenaged kids on the street near our 2nd riad (who seem to be working the streets ‘gangster-style’ for money), we’ve learned to be patient and tolerant and accept Marrakech the way it is ;)
Hi Jen – Shukran jazeelan! Sorry we missed this comment! Glad you agree with Jamila. We also had a tough time trying to get a taxi who would accept a fair (local) price if we were hailing them from near the Koutoubia or near our riad. But if we went to the opposite end of Rue Bab Doukkala, which is pretty much locals only, or caught them from a back street in the new town, they would pretty much assume you were ‘local’ and knew what you were doing so we could hand them a 20 dirham note and there were no problems. Anywhere else and they had the hide to ask for 50 or even 100 dirhams! You are absolutely right about the kids too – we noticed teams of them working together – even the police warned us not to listen to them or take their advice. It’s a real shame. Thanks for dropping by! :)