Savouring Moments

Located across the Gibraltar Straight, Tangier is a port city rich in seafood delicacies. On a bright sunny day I went to Le Saveur de Poisson. On a corner of a steep set of steps leading to the Marche Central from the new town I waited for just past an hour. They do not take reservations. Somehow this little restaurant had amassed critical acclaim with no website, advertisements, or marketing from what I could see. It was a very hot day and my mood admittedly got worse as I waited under the scorching mid-day sun.

As I was finally seated the waiter told me that it was a set course for 200dhs which would consist of 9 communal plates. This was perfect as my dining companion was as famished as I was. We were first offered a glass of chilled prune juice. I didn't have high hopes for this but as I sipped the sweet and sour juice I was very pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. The slight linger of the tart juice served chilled on a hot day was extremely refreshing.

Our meal consisted of fresh baked bread with olives and a side of spicy harissa sauce. A steaming bowl of fish soup containing clams was the next course. The mains consisted of a variety of fish cooked in varying ways. There was the grilled hake, monkfish on a sizzling plate, and deep fried red mullet. The service was efficient yet still relaxed. I enjoyed the culinary delights as I engrossed myself in conversation with my dining companion, a young American friend who had spent the last 6 months on Rabat, Morocco. We exchanged stories of home, our hopes for the future and the highs and lows of the current experience travelling as a solo female. It's true what they say, meals are best shared with friends. New and old. I'm ready for my next!