Maria grew up in a large Moroccan family where helping in the kitchen was a daily ritual, and it was there that she learned to cook authentic Moroccan dishes. She fondly remembers her grandmother teaching her cherished family recipes, including classics like lamb tagine with cardoon during school vacations. Recently retired, Maria now devotes her time to her true passions: cooking, sharing her culture, and meeting travelers from around the world. She lives in Casablanca with her family in a joyful and welcoming home. Her travels have exposed her to diverse cuisines and traditions, deepening her appreciation for her own Moroccan heritage. Today, she is excited to welcome guests and share the flavors, stories, and hospitality that define Moroccan home cooking in Casablanca.
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: (1-25 guests) Maria welcomes you into her modern, luxurious villa in a secure gated community just outside Casablanca. Your experience begins with a traditional Moroccan tea as she introduces you to local life, history, and culinary traditions. After your welcome drink, sit down at her family table to enjoy an authentic, home-cooked Moroccan meal. Your menu may include favorites such as harira (a classic Moroccan soup), couscous and chickpea salad, pastilla filled with spiced meat and apricots, and wild chicken tagine served with warm, homemade bread. You’ll end your meal with a simple and refreshing Moroccan dessert, such as oranges with cinnamon or a homemade cake. This immersive dining experience offers travelers a delicious and personal way to discover the flavors of Morocco in a local home.
Cooking experience: (1-25 guests) For your hands-on Casablanca cooking class, join Maria in her home kitchen to learn her favorite family recipes passed down through generations. You’ll cook together for about an hour, gaining practical skills and cultural insight during this authentic Moroccan cooking class in Casablanca. Prepare two traditional dishes—often a flavorful tagine and a fresh chickpea and couscous salad—while Maria shares tips, techniques, and the stories behind each recipe. After cooking, sit down at the dining table to enjoy the dishes you’ve made, along with additional specialties Maria has prepared in advance. This immersive culinary experience is perfect for couples, families, and corporate groups looking for a unique team-building activity in Casablanca, offering an inspiring way to connect through food and culture.
Market visit: (1-8 guests) For your Casablanca market tour, Maria will guide you through her favorite local market, starting with a refreshing drink as you get to know each other. Navigating a Moroccan market on your own can feel overwhelming, but Maria makes it effortless and enjoyable. She will show you where she buys fresh produce, meat, and spices, explaining how each ingredient is used in traditional Moroccan cooking. You may even sample seasonal fruits or local snacks along the way. If you're searching for a particular ingredient to take home, Maria is happy to help you shop. After your market visit, you’ll return to Maria’s home by car to begin your cooking experience. Please note that while Maria offers evening market visits, the market is most lively and vibrant in the mornings.
Notes:
Maria highly recommends including the optional round-trip transportation add-on when making your booking as city taxis don't drive to Maria's area and other bookable taxis can charge an inflated rate.
Maria can offer vegetarian and halal meals on request.
Languages spoken: Arabic, French, English
Entering Maria's world of cooking is entering the world of Moroccan Classic gastronomy. Her home is well decorated and the food is prepared in a very refined way. The food was presented in an elegant living room and she was very welcoming. During the cooking class, I loved how she talked about her childhood memories related to food and family. We ate a variety of salads and tagines (wild chicken was my favorite!) and fresh oranges with cinnamon. If you want an authentic cooking experience with Moroccan family, I would highly recommend Maria!
Chamsi, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
You were wonderful! Definitely the highlight of our trip was spending time with you and your family."- Chelsea November 20, 2025
I can’t even think of how to include all of the ways this experience was amazing. Maria was a dream host and made us feel so welcome and included. She picked us up from our hotel, showed us some of the city on our way to the market, guided us through picking our ingredients, invited us in to her beautiful home, taught us how to cook authentic Moroccan dishes, and made us feel so welcome and safe. She taught us so much about her culture that I am so thankful for this experience. Learning from the locals is. Ow my favorite way to truly learn about a new place. Maria and her family were the best! I would 100% do this experience again.- Jacky November 19, 2025
I can’t even think of how to include all of the ways this experience was amazing. Maria was a dream host and made us feel so welcome and included. She picked us up from our hotel, showed us some of the city on our way to the market, guided us through picking our ingredients, invited us in to her beautiful home, taught us how to cook authentic Moroccan dishes, and made us feel so welcome and safe. She taught us so much about her culture that I am so thankful for this experience. Learning from the locals is. Ow my favorite way to truly learn about a new place. Maria and her family were the best! I would 100% do this experience again.- Pam November 19, 2025
Maria did a wonderful job hosting me and my friends! She picked us up right on time and took us to the cutest bakery for cookies to go with our welcome tea. Then we went to the market to shop before spending the rest of the day in her home, where we were treated like family. We got to cook alongside her, her sister, and her son. We laughed so hard and learned so much about the culture. Maria’s home is beautiful, and so is her family. Highly recommend!- Chelsea November 17, 2025
Maria was an outstanding host! She assured our transportation, despite some hassles at the cruise terminal. She gave us an interesting car tour and narration of Casablanca’s highlights and history while driving us to the market. The busy market offered a colorful, fragrant, exotic and enlightening experience- free of other tourists. Maria offered great hospitality, inviting us into her beautiful home for our hands-on cooking class. First she welcomed us with a traditional mint tea and wonderful cookies. Then we prepared couscous with vegetables and beef, chicken tangine, and two tomato sauces. Once the cooking was done, we were seated at a lovely table full of all these dishes, plus fresh bread, olives, juice, wine, water. Sumptuous! We are so grateful that Maria offers this Moroccan experience. We recommend this excursion without reservation.- Kim November 10, 2025
Shopping for food at the local market was very informative and fun. We cooked at Maia’s beautiful home. She explained the customs, traditions, ingredients, spices and gave us tips on cooking a wonderful meal. Thank you Maria for a wonderful home experience and cooking lesson!!- Randie October 20, 2025
Maria picked us up on time Took us to a wonderful bakery Showed us the market Wish we could spend more time there but understand why Took many hours to prepare the dishes but well worth it Friendly and welcoming to her home Introduced us to her family It was a great experience Would do again- Sam October 09, 2025
A wonderful Moroccan cooking class. The dishes were superb, delicious, and of excellent quality. An unforgettable experience of traditional Moroccan cuisine. Thank you so much. Carlos Reis Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- Carlos October 01, 2025
Maria was a fantastic guide and chef! We felt very welcome in her home and made some of the most amazing food we have ever tasted. I highly recommend this experience- it’s worth it.- Jesse September 30, 2025
This class with Maria and her family was like spending time with an aunty - they were so welcoming and no detail was overlooked. Her knowledge of Morocco, it’s culture and of course the food was second to none. We’ve learned a tonne of techniques to try in our own home, and can’t wait to make our own tagine and true couscous. I haven’t been in a class this intimate or this deep in detail, it was even better than we were expecting. The market tour was like being a local, and everything in the cooking of the meal was clear and hands-on instead of simply watching someone else. If we had a fridge in our hotel room we would’ve been able to take some of the huge feast home! It was my partners birthday and I mentioned it in the booking, and they went above and beyond. Couldn’t be more grateful to these beautiful people, they made it feel like a celebration with family while we’re on the other side of the world. Hopefully Minu and I can meet Maria and her family again sometime - you definitely should take the chance to.- Dave September 23, 2025
Maria's class not only taught us cooking, but also included a shopping tour of local pastry shops and markets, and we learned a lot about Morocco. All of the traditional Moroccan dishes were delicious and enjoyable. I highly recommend her for your Casablanca tour.- Miyuki September 07, 2025
Our tour guide Maria did an excellebt job us a market tour and cooking class in her lovely home. We prepared four dishes, everything was organized and ready for us to cook with. The foods were fresh and delicious. She had a nice table setting in her beautiful living room. While we ate we listened to moroccon music and we even danced. We highly recommend Marias private cooking class.- Queen September 02, 2025
The cooking experience with Maria was absolutely amazing! I always thought Moroccan food was difficult to make but Maria made it look so easy. It was a lovely atmosphere and we got to meet her family in the class and work together to make a delicious lunch. Everyone was able to fully participate in the cooking experience. We even got to meet Maria’s dog - Oupssi If you are looking for an authentic Morrocan food making class with a relaxed and chill environment, book with Maria I promise you won't be disappointed.- Cam August 31, 2025
This was the best excursion. Maria was nice, informative and patient. We began with a tour of Casablanca before heading to the market. We toured the market and tasted the various olives from one of the merchants. When we arrived at her home, she shared the traditional Moroccan culture and we began our cooking experience. The food was amazing and she answered any questions we had about the food and culture. I highly recommend this excursion. It’s an experience you’ll never forget. Her sister was awesome too.- Sharon August 21, 2025
We had an amazing evening, shopping and cooking with Maria! She took us to the local market where we bought all local produce as well as stopped at a Moroccan bakery to purchase Moroccan cookies. When we arrived at her lovely home, we were greeted by her sister! We had mint tea and cookies in her traditional Moroccan greeting room. There she taught us more of Moroccan culture and traditions. We then made dinner (couscous and tajin). While we were prepping and cooking, Maria and her sister, explained the tradition ways and why’s of the process. We had great conversations and we felt comfortable almost like family. We all sat down for our meal and continued our conversations as if we knew each other always. If you want to experience the warmth and culture of Morocco, we highly recommend booking with Maria! Don’t pass up the opportunity.- Stan June 13, 2025
A.very enjoyable experience meeting Maria and learning the art of Moroccan cooking. The day started with a trip to the market followed by tea and sweets in the salon of Maria’s home. Then we began the preparation for cooking Moroccan salads and lamb tangine. The meal was delicious.- Greg April 01, 2025
We had received a very welcoming email from Maria with information about our upcoming cooking lesson, and we were so looking forward to it. But our party of 4 never made it to Casablanca to cook with Maria. So I cannot honestly attest to the quality of the cooking/market experience. We were forced to cancel at the last minute because Morocco closed all air travel from Spain due to the coronavirus. Subsequently out entire Morocco trip was cancelled. When I cancelled the cooking lesson online, I received an automated notice reminding me that a refund was not possible at this late time. When I got home, I contacted Traveling Spoon and in less than 24 hours received a gracious note from the co-owner Aashi, apologizing for the mixup and giving us a full refund. I appreciate Traveling Spoon's willingness to be flexible about their policy. Particularly since their business must be suffering during this worldwide pandemic. We look forward to traveling in the future and will definitely book with Traveling Spoon- Baton March 18, 2025
It was a really nice experience- went to a market and saw where our guide shops. Unfortunately it was Friday so some of the booths were closed. Went to the hosts home and did a hands on cooking class - Tajine and couscous. I have a greater respect for the level of care and work put into the prep of these foods. Had a great experience seeing the beautiful Moroccan salon in the home.- Valerie March 17, 2025
Our host and cooking instructor Maria was fantastic. She picked us up and we went shopping at her local market. She purchased vegetables, fresh spices, olives and other items for dinner. We made lamb tagine with artichokes, potatoes, onions, lemons and olives. We also made 3 sides: 2 savory and 1 sweet. We met members of her family and they shared what they had done that day; school, yoga, doctor visit and work. On the trip to her house, Maria explained the agriculture and business growth in Casablanca as well as the culture of her people. On the drive to her house we saw the countryside, forest, new development and little town. She explained the essential spices and the cooking methods we used in preparing the meal. We had dinner in her traditional Moroccan living room. We ended with dessert of sliced oranges with cinnamon; her son's favorite dessert. The round trip transfer was appreciated. We highly recommend this cooking class and thank Maria for a special and memorable evening.- Winnie February 06, 2025
Our evening with Maria was an absolutely incredible opportunity. The market experience, the door to door transportation, and most of all being a guest in her home - all fabulous! 100% sign up !!!- Laura_P February 06, 2023
Maria picked us up at our hotel and gave us an informative drive to her home. We spent over an hour helping prepare a wonderful and varied meal. We then ate the dinner together and were made to feel most welcome. Took home recipes and had a chance to buy ingredients at a local market.- davidc January 03, 2023
Fantastic- best part of our visit to Casablanca. Our host and cooking instructor Maria was fantastic. She picked us up and we went shopping at her local market. She purchased vegetables, fresh spices, olives and other items for dinner. We made lamb tagine with artichokes, potatoes, onions, lemons and olives. We also made 3 sides: 2 savory and 1 sweet. We met members of her family and they shared what they had done that day; school, yoga, doctor visit and work. On the trip to her house, Maria explained the agriculture and business growth in Casablanca as well as the culture of her people. On the drive to her house we saw the countryside, forest, new development and little town. She explained the essential spices and the cooking methods we used in preparing the meal. We had dinner in her traditional Moroccan living room. We ended with dessert of sliced oranges with cinnamon; her son's favorite dessert. The round trip transfer was appreciated. We highly recommend this cooking class and thank Maria for a special and memorable evening.- wineforus January 17, 2020
My experience with Maria and her family was the very best way to start my trip to Morocco. Having a market and home visit allowed me a glimpse beyond the usual tourist experience and what I saw made me fall in love with the country and culture even more. I enjoyed learning to cook some of the classic cuisine and sharing great conversation. Thank you, Maria. XOXO- chr1stinaH October 21, 2019
What a great way to dive into Moroccan culture, through cuisine. Highly recommended! We had a wonderful Traveling Spoon experience with Maria! With her we had our first ever Moroccan shopping experience (a great way to get our feet wet in the ubiquitous fresh produce, spice, and whatever-you-need markets), and learned how to construct a tower of delicious vegetable tagine, mash up a peppery-tomatoey taktouka and a tomatoey-eggplantey zaalouk, carmelize a quince…and layer and fold up a beautiful almond-chicken bastella (bastila)! Maria was a gracious hostess, sharing her kitchen and her beautiful Moroccan “reception room” (as she explained, a tradition in Moroccan households) and a good instructor, explaining clearly what and how to prepare everything. I learned some very useful things from her to apply to Moroccan recipes. Our shopping, cooking, and meal with Maria was part of my friend’s special birthday trip, and Maria made it memorable indeed. We really appreciated that she included the bastila to celebrate (rather tricky to make in a single morning along with everything else). I would arrange another cooking experience with Maria, and with Traveling Spoon, in a hot minute.- GrenobleGal October 13, 2019
Great experience with My Traveling Spoon! Maria was a fantastic host!! We learn a lot about Moroccan cooking and our food turned out great. She is a great teacher and cook. It was so nice to sit in her traditional Moroccan room to eat! It was very impressive. I would highly recommend arranging your transportation through her as it was super easy.- Brian G September 15, 2019
What a wonderful experience with a truly amazing lady My day with Maria started at her local market with purchasing of ingredients She is a great cook and the food was delicious A must to do do if you love cooking- pinfam123 June 14, 2019
Outstanding, h. ands-on, cooking and dining experienceAfter horrific flight cancellations and delays, which caused us to miss our scheduled class session, Maria fit our market visit and cooking class into her very busy schedule even though she had to include us into a very busy family-oriented day. She took us into her home, showed us unparalleled hospitality, involved us in the ingredient preparation and cooking process, and provided a spectacular presentation of the prepared food (couscous, lamb tajine, 4-5 different hot Moroccan salads or vegetable dishes, home-made Moroccan bread and a simple and lovely dessert of cinnamon sprinkled orange slices). The really special experience was the preparation of couscous using the traditional Moroccan way, which takes 2-3 hours, but is truly worth the time. We would both repeat the experience with Maria in a heart-beat, if the occasion presented itself. The class was a true joy.- donorgayle April 22, 2019
During our stay in Casablanca, Morocco, we were hoping to experience the land, food, people and culture. We found all of these in our time with Maria. She was a hospitable, warm tour guide! She picked us up (so convenient) and took us to a local market to explore, taste and buy a few things for the meal and for ourselves if desired. We were the only tourists at the market, which was a nice change from other markets and attractions. Throughout our time with her, Maria was generous to explain and teach us about Morocco and answer questions we had. She opened her home and kitchen to us and made us feel like family. We found out the day we spent with her was even her birthday (what a special treat)! We loved our time with her- especially the cooking (the rest was truly a bonus)! We cooked an authentic Moroccan main dish, side dishes and homemade bread. It was all delicious! We enjoyed other food and desserts too. My group and I (a group of 4) highly recommend this cooking experience for anyone who desires a personal connection to the people, food and culture of Casablanca or Morocco.- Exploringtheland April 20, 2019
Start with the market - don't miss it. Maria showed us a colorful authentic place without tourists and with friendly people and price. The cooking lesson was great and Maria was a lovely host showing more than the local gastronomy. We spent a great time shopping, cooking and eating. Enjoy it!- Adriana D April 20, 2019
My friends and I were going to be in Casablanca: our first time in Morocco. The cooking class we’d heard was excellent was fully booked. I found Maria’s which sounded perfect; but there were no reviews I could read to verify it was as great. Being extra careful, I called customer service and discovered there were many excellent reviews, a glitch was simply keeping me from seeing them on my program.My whole group agrees this was a highlight of our excellent trip to Morocco. Maria was a wonderful hostess, she explained and taught us so much about Moroccan food and culture, and we felt so privileged to be welcomed and cared for like honored guests in her home. We enjoyed everything: from the market tour, to cooking, to the exceptional (and extensive) feast in her home. We were also grateful for the round trip transfers.I highly recommend this beautiful experience for anyone who wants a deeper experience from their visit to Morocco.- amyellzey April 18, 2019
A lovely experience Thank you Maria and family for your warm hospitality and kindness Learned a lot Abundance of Delicious food An amazing experience- trinigirl2015 December 28, 2018
We had an absolutely amazing time with Maria, our hostess, her son and her sister, learning to cook Moroccan specialties in her beautiful home. We made Lamb Tajine with Vegetables, a delicious eggplant and tomato salad, and baked Moroccan bread. I couldn’t believe how easy it was! We had a truly memorable feast (including dishes we did not cook but Maria wanted us to sample!) and we had a wonderful visit as well sharing family photos and talking about life in Morocco. Our visit with Maria and our cooking lesson was truly memorable and not to be missed!- 410pearlk October 27, 2018
Maria is THE best! I had a long layover in Casablanca, so I decided to try a cooking class with Maria before flying back to the US. And I am SOOOO glad that I did. Maria tailored the class to cook exactly what I requested, and then added a seasonal option to boot! She's a warm, wonderful woman with a beautiful setup and I felt comfortable and confident cooking with her. Will definitely be making tagine at home! Thanks Maria.- Paradise318664 October 18, 2018
| 1 person | 2-4 ppl | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
$99 | $82 | $74 |
|
Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$164 | $149 | $145 |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$205 | $179 | $175 |
|
Alcohol
|
$17 per person | ||
|
Transportation
|
$33 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| 1 person | 2-4 ppl | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
$99 | $82 | $74 |
|
Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$164 | $149 | $145 |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$205 | $179 | $175 |
|
Alcohol
|
$17 per person | ||
|
Transportation
|
$33 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
12:00pm-2:00pm | 7:30pm-9:30pm |
|
Cooking Experience+ Meal
|
10:00am-1:00pm | 6:00pm-9:00pm |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
9:00am-1:00pm | 4:00pm-8:00pm |
Maria grew up in a large Moroccan family where helping in the kitchen was a daily ritual, and it was there that she learned to cook authentic Moroccan dishes. She fondly remembers her grandmother teaching her cherished family recipes, including classics like lamb tagine with cardoon during school vacations. Recently retired, Maria now devotes her time to her true passions: cooking, sharing her culture, and meeting travelers from around the world. She lives in Casablanca with her family in a joyful and welcoming home. Her travels have exposed her to diverse cuisines and traditions, deepening her appreciation for her own Moroccan heritage. Today, she is excited to welcome guests and share the flavors, stories, and hospitality that define Moroccan home cooking in Casablanca.
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: (1-25 guests) Maria welcomes you into her modern, luxurious villa in a secure gated community just outside Casablanca. Your experience begins with a traditional Moroccan tea as she introduces you to local life, history, and culinary traditions. After your welcome drink, sit down at her family table to enjoy an authentic, home-cooked Moroccan meal. Your menu may include favorites such as harira (a classic Moroccan soup), couscous and chickpea salad, pastilla filled with spiced meat and apricots, and wild chicken tagine served with warm, homemade bread. You’ll end your meal with a simple and refreshing Moroccan dessert, such as oranges with cinnamon or a homemade cake. This immersive dining experience offers travelers a delicious and personal way to discover the flavors of Morocco in a local home.
Cooking experience: (1-25 guests) For your hands-on Casablanca cooking class, join Maria in her home kitchen to learn her favorite family recipes passed down through generations. You’ll cook together for about an hour, gaining practical skills and cultural insight during this authentic Moroccan cooking class in Casablanca. Prepare two traditional dishes—often a flavorful tagine and a fresh chickpea and couscous salad—while Maria shares tips, techniques, and the stories behind each recipe. After cooking, sit down at the dining table to enjoy the dishes you’ve made, along with additional specialties Maria has prepared in advance. This immersive culinary experience is perfect for couples, families, and corporate groups looking for a unique team-building activity in Casablanca, offering an inspiring way to connect through food and culture.
Market visit: (1-8 guests) For your Casablanca market tour, Maria will guide you through her favorite local market, starting with a refreshing drink as you get to know each other. Navigating a Moroccan market on your own can feel overwhelming, but Maria makes it effortless and enjoyable. She will show you where she buys fresh produce, meat, and spices, explaining how each ingredient is used in traditional Moroccan cooking. You may even sample seasonal fruits or local snacks along the way. If you're searching for a particular ingredient to take home, Maria is happy to help you shop. After your market visit, you’ll return to Maria’s home by car to begin your cooking experience. Please note that while Maria offers evening market visits, the market is most lively and vibrant in the mornings.
Notes:
Maria highly recommends including the optional round-trip transportation add-on when making your booking as city taxis don't drive to Maria's area and other bookable taxis can charge an inflated rate.
Maria can offer vegetarian and halal meals on request.
Languages spoken: Arabic, French, English
Entering Maria's world of cooking is entering the world of Moroccan Classic gastronomy. Her home is well decorated and the food is prepared in a very refined way. The food was presented in an elegant living room and she was very welcoming. During the cooking class, I loved how she talked about her childhood memories related to food and family. We ate a variety of salads and tagines (wild chicken was my favorite!) and fresh oranges with cinnamon. If you want an authentic cooking experience with Moroccan family, I would highly recommend Maria!
Chamsi, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
You were wonderful! Definitely the highlight of our trip was spending time with you and your family."- Chelsea November 20, 2025
I can’t even think of how to include all of the ways this experience was amazing. Maria was a dream host and made us feel so welcome and included. She picked us up from our hotel, showed us some of the city on our way to the market, guided us through picking our ingredients, invited us in to her beautiful home, taught us how to cook authentic Moroccan dishes, and made us feel so welcome and safe. She taught us so much about her culture that I am so thankful for this experience. Learning from the locals is. Ow my favorite way to truly learn about a new place. Maria and her family were the best! I would 100% do this experience again.- Jacky November 19, 2025
I can’t even think of how to include all of the ways this experience was amazing. Maria was a dream host and made us feel so welcome and included. She picked us up from our hotel, showed us some of the city on our way to the market, guided us through picking our ingredients, invited us in to her beautiful home, taught us how to cook authentic Moroccan dishes, and made us feel so welcome and safe. She taught us so much about her culture that I am so thankful for this experience. Learning from the locals is. Ow my favorite way to truly learn about a new place. Maria and her family were the best! I would 100% do this experience again.- Pam November 19, 2025
Maria did a wonderful job hosting me and my friends! She picked us up right on time and took us to the cutest bakery for cookies to go with our welcome tea. Then we went to the market to shop before spending the rest of the day in her home, where we were treated like family. We got to cook alongside her, her sister, and her son. We laughed so hard and learned so much about the culture. Maria’s home is beautiful, and so is her family. Highly recommend!- Chelsea November 17, 2025
Maria was an outstanding host! She assured our transportation, despite some hassles at the cruise terminal. She gave us an interesting car tour and narration of Casablanca’s highlights and history while driving us to the market. The busy market offered a colorful, fragrant, exotic and enlightening experience- free of other tourists. Maria offered great hospitality, inviting us into her beautiful home for our hands-on cooking class. First she welcomed us with a traditional mint tea and wonderful cookies. Then we prepared couscous with vegetables and beef, chicken tangine, and two tomato sauces. Once the cooking was done, we were seated at a lovely table full of all these dishes, plus fresh bread, olives, juice, wine, water. Sumptuous! We are so grateful that Maria offers this Moroccan experience. We recommend this excursion without reservation.- Kim November 10, 2025
Shopping for food at the local market was very informative and fun. We cooked at Maia’s beautiful home. She explained the customs, traditions, ingredients, spices and gave us tips on cooking a wonderful meal. Thank you Maria for a wonderful home experience and cooking lesson!!- Randie October 20, 2025
Maria picked us up on time Took us to a wonderful bakery Showed us the market Wish we could spend more time there but understand why Took many hours to prepare the dishes but well worth it Friendly and welcoming to her home Introduced us to her family It was a great experience Would do again- Sam October 09, 2025
A wonderful Moroccan cooking class. The dishes were superb, delicious, and of excellent quality. An unforgettable experience of traditional Moroccan cuisine. Thank you so much. Carlos Reis Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- Carlos October 01, 2025
Maria was a fantastic guide and chef! We felt very welcome in her home and made some of the most amazing food we have ever tasted. I highly recommend this experience- it’s worth it.- Jesse September 30, 2025
This class with Maria and her family was like spending time with an aunty - they were so welcoming and no detail was overlooked. Her knowledge of Morocco, it’s culture and of course the food was second to none. We’ve learned a tonne of techniques to try in our own home, and can’t wait to make our own tagine and true couscous. I haven’t been in a class this intimate or this deep in detail, it was even better than we were expecting. The market tour was like being a local, and everything in the cooking of the meal was clear and hands-on instead of simply watching someone else. If we had a fridge in our hotel room we would’ve been able to take some of the huge feast home! It was my partners birthday and I mentioned it in the booking, and they went above and beyond. Couldn’t be more grateful to these beautiful people, they made it feel like a celebration with family while we’re on the other side of the world. Hopefully Minu and I can meet Maria and her family again sometime - you definitely should take the chance to.- Dave September 23, 2025
Maria's class not only taught us cooking, but also included a shopping tour of local pastry shops and markets, and we learned a lot about Morocco. All of the traditional Moroccan dishes were delicious and enjoyable. I highly recommend her for your Casablanca tour.- Miyuki September 07, 2025
Our tour guide Maria did an excellebt job us a market tour and cooking class in her lovely home. We prepared four dishes, everything was organized and ready for us to cook with. The foods were fresh and delicious. She had a nice table setting in her beautiful living room. While we ate we listened to moroccon music and we even danced. We highly recommend Marias private cooking class.- Queen September 02, 2025
The cooking experience with Maria was absolutely amazing! I always thought Moroccan food was difficult to make but Maria made it look so easy. It was a lovely atmosphere and we got to meet her family in the class and work together to make a delicious lunch. Everyone was able to fully participate in the cooking experience. We even got to meet Maria’s dog - Oupssi If you are looking for an authentic Morrocan food making class with a relaxed and chill environment, book with Maria I promise you won't be disappointed.- Cam August 31, 2025
This was the best excursion. Maria was nice, informative and patient. We began with a tour of Casablanca before heading to the market. We toured the market and tasted the various olives from one of the merchants. When we arrived at her home, she shared the traditional Moroccan culture and we began our cooking experience. The food was amazing and she answered any questions we had about the food and culture. I highly recommend this excursion. It’s an experience you’ll never forget. Her sister was awesome too.- Sharon August 21, 2025
We had an amazing evening, shopping and cooking with Maria! She took us to the local market where we bought all local produce as well as stopped at a Moroccan bakery to purchase Moroccan cookies. When we arrived at her lovely home, we were greeted by her sister! We had mint tea and cookies in her traditional Moroccan greeting room. There she taught us more of Moroccan culture and traditions. We then made dinner (couscous and tajin). While we were prepping and cooking, Maria and her sister, explained the tradition ways and why’s of the process. We had great conversations and we felt comfortable almost like family. We all sat down for our meal and continued our conversations as if we knew each other always. If you want to experience the warmth and culture of Morocco, we highly recommend booking with Maria! Don’t pass up the opportunity.- Stan June 13, 2025
A.very enjoyable experience meeting Maria and learning the art of Moroccan cooking. The day started with a trip to the market followed by tea and sweets in the salon of Maria’s home. Then we began the preparation for cooking Moroccan salads and lamb tangine. The meal was delicious.- Greg April 01, 2025
We had received a very welcoming email from Maria with information about our upcoming cooking lesson, and we were so looking forward to it. But our party of 4 never made it to Casablanca to cook with Maria. So I cannot honestly attest to the quality of the cooking/market experience. We were forced to cancel at the last minute because Morocco closed all air travel from Spain due to the coronavirus. Subsequently out entire Morocco trip was cancelled. When I cancelled the cooking lesson online, I received an automated notice reminding me that a refund was not possible at this late time. When I got home, I contacted Traveling Spoon and in less than 24 hours received a gracious note from the co-owner Aashi, apologizing for the mixup and giving us a full refund. I appreciate Traveling Spoon's willingness to be flexible about their policy. Particularly since their business must be suffering during this worldwide pandemic. We look forward to traveling in the future and will definitely book with Traveling Spoon- Baton March 18, 2025
It was a really nice experience- went to a market and saw where our guide shops. Unfortunately it was Friday so some of the booths were closed. Went to the hosts home and did a hands on cooking class - Tajine and couscous. I have a greater respect for the level of care and work put into the prep of these foods. Had a great experience seeing the beautiful Moroccan salon in the home.- Valerie March 17, 2025
Our host and cooking instructor Maria was fantastic. She picked us up and we went shopping at her local market. She purchased vegetables, fresh spices, olives and other items for dinner. We made lamb tagine with artichokes, potatoes, onions, lemons and olives. We also made 3 sides: 2 savory and 1 sweet. We met members of her family and they shared what they had done that day; school, yoga, doctor visit and work. On the trip to her house, Maria explained the agriculture and business growth in Casablanca as well as the culture of her people. On the drive to her house we saw the countryside, forest, new development and little town. She explained the essential spices and the cooking methods we used in preparing the meal. We had dinner in her traditional Moroccan living room. We ended with dessert of sliced oranges with cinnamon; her son's favorite dessert. The round trip transfer was appreciated. We highly recommend this cooking class and thank Maria for a special and memorable evening.- Winnie February 06, 2025
Our evening with Maria was an absolutely incredible opportunity. The market experience, the door to door transportation, and most of all being a guest in her home - all fabulous! 100% sign up !!!- Laura_P February 06, 2023
Maria picked us up at our hotel and gave us an informative drive to her home. We spent over an hour helping prepare a wonderful and varied meal. We then ate the dinner together and were made to feel most welcome. Took home recipes and had a chance to buy ingredients at a local market.- davidc January 03, 2023
Fantastic- best part of our visit to Casablanca. Our host and cooking instructor Maria was fantastic. She picked us up and we went shopping at her local market. She purchased vegetables, fresh spices, olives and other items for dinner. We made lamb tagine with artichokes, potatoes, onions, lemons and olives. We also made 3 sides: 2 savory and 1 sweet. We met members of her family and they shared what they had done that day; school, yoga, doctor visit and work. On the trip to her house, Maria explained the agriculture and business growth in Casablanca as well as the culture of her people. On the drive to her house we saw the countryside, forest, new development and little town. She explained the essential spices and the cooking methods we used in preparing the meal. We had dinner in her traditional Moroccan living room. We ended with dessert of sliced oranges with cinnamon; her son's favorite dessert. The round trip transfer was appreciated. We highly recommend this cooking class and thank Maria for a special and memorable evening.- wineforus January 17, 2020
My experience with Maria and her family was the very best way to start my trip to Morocco. Having a market and home visit allowed me a glimpse beyond the usual tourist experience and what I saw made me fall in love with the country and culture even more. I enjoyed learning to cook some of the classic cuisine and sharing great conversation. Thank you, Maria. XOXO- chr1stinaH October 21, 2019
What a great way to dive into Moroccan culture, through cuisine. Highly recommended! We had a wonderful Traveling Spoon experience with Maria! With her we had our first ever Moroccan shopping experience (a great way to get our feet wet in the ubiquitous fresh produce, spice, and whatever-you-need markets), and learned how to construct a tower of delicious vegetable tagine, mash up a peppery-tomatoey taktouka and a tomatoey-eggplantey zaalouk, carmelize a quince…and layer and fold up a beautiful almond-chicken bastella (bastila)! Maria was a gracious hostess, sharing her kitchen and her beautiful Moroccan “reception room” (as she explained, a tradition in Moroccan households) and a good instructor, explaining clearly what and how to prepare everything. I learned some very useful things from her to apply to Moroccan recipes. Our shopping, cooking, and meal with Maria was part of my friend’s special birthday trip, and Maria made it memorable indeed. We really appreciated that she included the bastila to celebrate (rather tricky to make in a single morning along with everything else). I would arrange another cooking experience with Maria, and with Traveling Spoon, in a hot minute.- GrenobleGal October 13, 2019
Great experience with My Traveling Spoon! Maria was a fantastic host!! We learn a lot about Moroccan cooking and our food turned out great. She is a great teacher and cook. It was so nice to sit in her traditional Moroccan room to eat! It was very impressive. I would highly recommend arranging your transportation through her as it was super easy.- Brian G September 15, 2019
What a wonderful experience with a truly amazing lady My day with Maria started at her local market with purchasing of ingredients She is a great cook and the food was delicious A must to do do if you love cooking- pinfam123 June 14, 2019
Outstanding, h. ands-on, cooking and dining experienceAfter horrific flight cancellations and delays, which caused us to miss our scheduled class session, Maria fit our market visit and cooking class into her very busy schedule even though she had to include us into a very busy family-oriented day. She took us into her home, showed us unparalleled hospitality, involved us in the ingredient preparation and cooking process, and provided a spectacular presentation of the prepared food (couscous, lamb tajine, 4-5 different hot Moroccan salads or vegetable dishes, home-made Moroccan bread and a simple and lovely dessert of cinnamon sprinkled orange slices). The really special experience was the preparation of couscous using the traditional Moroccan way, which takes 2-3 hours, but is truly worth the time. We would both repeat the experience with Maria in a heart-beat, if the occasion presented itself. The class was a true joy.- donorgayle April 22, 2019
During our stay in Casablanca, Morocco, we were hoping to experience the land, food, people and culture. We found all of these in our time with Maria. She was a hospitable, warm tour guide! She picked us up (so convenient) and took us to a local market to explore, taste and buy a few things for the meal and for ourselves if desired. We were the only tourists at the market, which was a nice change from other markets and attractions. Throughout our time with her, Maria was generous to explain and teach us about Morocco and answer questions we had. She opened her home and kitchen to us and made us feel like family. We found out the day we spent with her was even her birthday (what a special treat)! We loved our time with her- especially the cooking (the rest was truly a bonus)! We cooked an authentic Moroccan main dish, side dishes and homemade bread. It was all delicious! We enjoyed other food and desserts too. My group and I (a group of 4) highly recommend this cooking experience for anyone who desires a personal connection to the people, food and culture of Casablanca or Morocco.- Exploringtheland April 20, 2019
Start with the market - don't miss it. Maria showed us a colorful authentic place without tourists and with friendly people and price. The cooking lesson was great and Maria was a lovely host showing more than the local gastronomy. We spent a great time shopping, cooking and eating. Enjoy it!- Adriana D April 20, 2019
My friends and I were going to be in Casablanca: our first time in Morocco. The cooking class we’d heard was excellent was fully booked. I found Maria’s which sounded perfect; but there were no reviews I could read to verify it was as great. Being extra careful, I called customer service and discovered there were many excellent reviews, a glitch was simply keeping me from seeing them on my program.My whole group agrees this was a highlight of our excellent trip to Morocco. Maria was a wonderful hostess, she explained and taught us so much about Moroccan food and culture, and we felt so privileged to be welcomed and cared for like honored guests in her home. We enjoyed everything: from the market tour, to cooking, to the exceptional (and extensive) feast in her home. We were also grateful for the round trip transfers.I highly recommend this beautiful experience for anyone who wants a deeper experience from their visit to Morocco.- amyellzey April 18, 2019
A lovely experience Thank you Maria and family for your warm hospitality and kindness Learned a lot Abundance of Delicious food An amazing experience- trinigirl2015 December 28, 2018
We had an absolutely amazing time with Maria, our hostess, her son and her sister, learning to cook Moroccan specialties in her beautiful home. We made Lamb Tajine with Vegetables, a delicious eggplant and tomato salad, and baked Moroccan bread. I couldn’t believe how easy it was! We had a truly memorable feast (including dishes we did not cook but Maria wanted us to sample!) and we had a wonderful visit as well sharing family photos and talking about life in Morocco. Our visit with Maria and our cooking lesson was truly memorable and not to be missed!- 410pearlk October 27, 2018
Maria is THE best! I had a long layover in Casablanca, so I decided to try a cooking class with Maria before flying back to the US. And I am SOOOO glad that I did. Maria tailored the class to cook exactly what I requested, and then added a seasonal option to boot! She's a warm, wonderful woman with a beautiful setup and I felt comfortable and confident cooking with her. Will definitely be making tagine at home! Thanks Maria.- Paradise318664 October 18, 2018
| 1 person | 2-4 ppl | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
$99 | $82 | $74 |
|
Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$164 | $149 | $145 |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$205 | $179 | $175 |
|
Alcohol
|
$17 per person | ||
|
Transportation
|
$33 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| 1 person | 2-4 ppl | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
$99 | $82 | $74 |
|
Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$164 | $149 | $145 |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
$205 | $179 | $175 |
|
Alcohol
|
$17 per person | ||
|
Transportation
|
$33 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
|
In-Home Meal
|
12:00pm-2:00pm | 7:30pm-9:30pm |
|
Cooking Experience+ Meal
|
10:00am-1:00pm | 6:00pm-9:00pm |
|
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
|
9:00am-1:00pm | 4:00pm-8:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.
If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.
Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.
Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.
Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.
Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.
Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.
All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.
100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.
Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.
Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.
Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.
Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").
Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.
Traveling Spoon © 2025. All Rights Reserved
Terms | Privacy Policy | Annual Report | Copyright | Blog