Fes: Sights and Sensations from a Day at the "Clock"

My second day in the country's cultural capital was spent learning how to cook Moroccan dishes at one of its newer attractions, Cafe Clock.  Run by a couple of wild-eyed foreigners for the past few years, the Cafe Clock is centrally-located near the old medina's main entrance and serves a mix of local and foreign dishes.  

I wanted to learn how to cook and was joined by a small group of American tourists - and new friends - for the day.  Beginning mid-morning, we picked our dishes from a large menu and started the day.  Beginning with a shopping tour of the market, we spent about eight hours between the streets of the souq (market) and the kitchen.  By the end of the day, we prepared and enjoyed zalouk salad, harira soup, vegetable tajine, chicken couscous, almond cookies and cheesecake (ok, we didn't make the cheesecake).  After eating some of the tajine, my stomach said "no more," but my eyes said "not a problem" and I left about five pounds heavier than I arrived!  

Below are a few pictures with some of their accompanying sensations.

 The Cooking Group: Inviting, Lively, Humorous, Gracious

The Tour and Jleel (our interpretor for the day) with a bowl of "milk:" Smart, Funny, Prankster

The Mixing Shop (nuts and meat): Traditional, Clean, Foreign

The Butcher: Haj (religious), Halal (culturally acceptable) 

The Rose Water Kiosk: Fragrant and Under Young Management 

The Olive Shop: Fresh, All-Purpose, Confusing 

Lunch (part 1): Unaware, Foolish (fly away!) 

Lunch (part 2): Quick, Painless, Boiled, Fresh 

 The Camel Butcher (note the head): Aromatic, Salty, Busy

 The Souq: Busy, Noisy, Multi-Cultural

The Vegetable Market: Open, Warm, Sunny, Organic 

Our Vegetable Stand: Cheap, Hassle-Free

Bab (gate) of the Kasbah: Prohibited, Historic 

 The Fish Market: Seasonal, Ripe, Caught Today

"Mul Hanut" (shop owner) of one of the Stands: Hard Bargainer, Furry, Course Tongue 

 Peeling Potatoes for the First Time in my Career: Confused, Private

 Our Chef, Shadiya: Professional, Great Smile, Helpful, Allows Clients to Spoil their Appetites

 The Kitchen from Above: Fragrant, Cool, Organized

 Mixing Dough for the Cookies: Sticky, Messy, Should've Oiled Hands Beforehand...

 Can't...Clean...Hands...

 Couscous Steam and Cookies: Vegetables, Warm, Spicy

 The Public Furnace (in go our cookies): Hot, Communal, Ancient

 Waiting for the Cookies with Abdullah, Raheem, Jalal, Nori and Abdul Raheem

 Skipping out on Duties with Max: Lively Co-Owner who rode the "Marrakesh Express" more than once in the '70's

 Jan (Michigan) Wondering how any of us could have room to eat the Vegetable Tajine: Spicy, Wholesome, Filling

The Cheesecake...Extra Belt Adjustment please!  Rich, Delicious, Fruity

You have my apologies for not including pictures of the Zalouk Salad

Hareera Soup

or the Couscous.  

Please accept the substitute pictures as appropriate stand-ins!