Morocco: Calling all gourmet lovers

Yes, yes, I KNOW that this is a house/decorating blog but aren't houses just something you have in order to create that restaurant atmosphere at home?  (Can you guess what the most important room is in my house?) So with that in mind, I offer you a Moroccan recipe.  I warn you however, that you might need a bit longer for meal prep since this dish requires that you paint your dining room walls a deep rich red to create the necessary Moroccan ambiance...(You say that you think that is a bit of an extreme measure, just in order to enjoy one meal?  I would like to remind you that if you prepare your dish in adequate quantities,there will be leftovers in which to partake the following day.  And so you need not roll up your sleeves until the third day to paint your way back to your dining room's original tasteful eggshell color.) 

You might not know that Moroccan cuisine is legendary in the region where I live, and some think that it is rated among the best in the world.  Aromatic and rich in spices, dishes often include cumin, coriander, saffron, chili, ginger, cinnamon, and paprika.  Also harissa is a staple in the kitchen - harissa is a paste made of of garlic, chili, olive oil, and salt, and makes for fiery dishes that stand out among the milder recipes that are more the norm in the Mediterranean. 

In any event, Moroccan cuisine is nothing short of delicious -- my waistline is proof;-)

This Moroccan Braised Chicken recipe from Williams Sonoma is as good as what you what you might eat in my home in Marrakesh.  And perhaps you might even serve it on this lovely, glimmering Marrakech dinnerware from Crate&Barrel. 

So what are you waiting for?

Image from Williams Sonoma, image from Crate&Barrel