Meet
Chamsi
Chamsi says that coming to Morocco can be overwhelming – in a good way! The sounds, the smells, and the local culture can be a mystery to visitors and meeting Chamsi is the perfect way to dig beneath the surface and connect with local life in a more personal and meaningful way. Chamsi is an Algerian-Canadian, married to a Moroccan. She and her husband have lived in Casablanca for nine years and in that time she has come to love the local way of life. Of course, food has been central to her experience! She learned the ins and outs of Moroccan cooking from the best home cook she knows – her mother in law, Lala Naima. They believe that true, authentic Moroccan food is best when prepared at home and she is excited to share her recipes with travelers.
Chamsi is a professional photographer and has a great sense of color and texture, which means her food is both delicious and pleasing to the eye! She lives in a beautiful, newly built home with a large kitchen that is perfect for entertaining. Chamsi has a young son who might be home during your visit.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal:
(1-20 guests)
Join Chamsi and her family for an authentic Moroccan meal at their lovely home. Chamsi prepares typical home-style dishes that are seasonal and often feature Casablanca’s local seafood. You might try lamb tagine with seasonal vegetables or marinated and grilled seafood or Moroccan lemon chicken with olives or camel burger, couscous, tchackchouka (roasted bell pepper salad) or zaalouk (eggplant salad) with homemade bread. You will conclude your meal with a dessert such as milk pastilla or oranges with cinnamon or Moroccan cookies.
Chamsi can prepare a wonderful vegetarian meal, meat is halal or can also buy kosher meat, so be sure to ask if you have any special dietary requests.
Cooking experience:
(1-8 guests)
Join our immersive Moroccan cooking class in Casablanca and learn to prepare traditional dishes using fresh, local ingredients. Experience the rich flavors and vibrant culture of Morocco in a hands-on, fun environment. Learn to prepare a Moroccan meal with Chamsi in her beautiful open-space kitchen. Be ready to roll up your sleeves and help prepare an authentic Moroccan meal. You’ll cook together for about an hour before sitting down to enjoy the dishes you helped prepare. Some preparation for your meal might be done in advance.
Market visit:
(1-4 guests)
Meet Chamsi at her home in CIL, an upscale neighborhood in Casablanca. After a refreshing drink and getting to know each other, head out to visit the local market. Chamsi will help you navigate the market, which can be overwhelming to explore on your own. She’ll show you where she buys her fresh produce, take you to the meat market (not for the faint of heart but a true, local experience!), and show you the spices that are on offer. Chamsi can help you do a bit of shopping if you’re searching for a certain ingredient. Once your market experience is complete you’ll head back to Chamsi’s home by car to get cooking!
Please note that since Friday is a prayer day, the Friday morning market might not be as active as usual and some stalls might be closed. The evening Friday market tour is not offered.
Notes:
This is a family friendly experience, children are welcome!
Fridays: Please note that Friday is a holy prayer day in Morocco. The market may be quieter than usual, and some stalls may be closed.
Important notes for experiences during Ramadan:
Break the fast with a Moroccan family and experience Iftar the traditional way. Join us at the table for a warm, family-oriented evening filled with authentic Moroccan dishes, homemade recipes, and time-honored food traditions. It is less a formal dinner and more like a generous, convivial brunch shared at sunset, where conversation, hospitality, and culture are served as abundantly as the food itself. Market tours will not include tastings at the market due to fasting hours. Instead, Chamsi will guide you through the market to purchase ingredients, and you’ll return to her home to continue the experience and enjoy the food there.
Languages spoken:
English, French, Arabic, Spanish (beginner)
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
This experience was definitely unforgettable! I'm so happy my boyfriend and I decided to try this out. Chamsi and her family are lovely hosts with such open hearts and kind spirits. Overall, we were surprised at the eloquent lifestyle of this area in Casablanca. It's definitely different than the rural parts of Morocco we saw in the rest of our trip! Chamsi and her family showed us a real, authentic perspective and were happy to answer any questions we had about Morocco.
It's hard to say what my favorite part of the experience was, but some of the highlights were definitely spending some nice quality time with locals and getting to see all the markets. I'm also very happy to bring home some new cooking ideas!
Cristi and Christians, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
We had such a fantastic experience cooking (and eating!) an authentic Moroccan meal at Chamsi's home in Casablanca. My wife and I were visiting from the US and we were looking for a real, genuine, home-cooked Moroccan meal and the cooking experience with Chamsi did not disappoint. We learned a ton from her and her family about Moroccan food, culture and customs, with a delicious meal on top of it.
-
greg
January 26, 2026
What an amazing experience!! Chamsi is such a warm and welcoming person with some mad cooking skills. We started at the market and were able to select what we wanted to cook. The cooking was so fun and the conversation even better. Don't miss out on this one!! Thank you, Chamsi. It was so great to meet you and your family!
-
queen
December 31, 2025
Book it. I was on an 11 stop/24 day cruise and this was MY FAVORITE experience. Chamsi, my host was beyond gracious. We went to an incredible market. There of course was a limit in what I could carry home! I'm still crying. But I did buy wonderful items. Then to this fancy French/Moroccan bakery! It was so good. THEN the main event! Cooking together at her beautiful home. Welcoming, relaxing & stimulating with conversation. We had a feast. Wedding chicken (so good - i have recipe) also a beautiful smoked eggplant & tomato spread. Plus plus plus other wonderful local accompaniments. Bravo & thank you so much Chamsi!!
-
Michell
December 01, 2025
We had the pleasure of spending half a day at Chamsi’s home for our team-building activity. The entire team truly enjoyed the experience. Chamsi welcomed us warmly, making us feel instantly at home. It was a genuine delight to learn local recipes and share a meal together in such a cozy setting. Without a doubt, this was the best team-building experience we’ve had.
-
Jammie
October 28, 2025
Chamsi was a wonderful hostess (for 2 of us) and we had a truly fabulous afternoon with her and her family - learning about Moroccan life, traditions for Eid and the special recipes that are made by the family to celebrate. The markets were closed, so we spent the afternoon helping prepare the dishes and chatting with her family over a very extended lunchtime.
-
Justin
June 26, 2025
Read More
