Bucket List: Eating Fresh Mutton In Morocco

Usually when a bus takes a break stop, it’s either at some awful restaurant that pays it a commission or a cheap cafe serving sodas, chips, and maybe a sandwich. Some days you just get lucky. My bus from Chefchaouen to Fes pulled over to some sketchy restaurant with a fancy French name. I didn’t expect much.

Right after getting off the bus, the smokey smell of fresh meat hit me like a shot of adrenaline (like the ones you see in the movies in a syringe). I saw a couple of carcasses hanging in front of what looked like a butcher’s window so I was curious.

Know Where Your Food Comes From

I mustered up my best French and tried to ask what it was. I didn’t pick up what he said, but I heard “mutton”. “Mutton?”. “Yes. Fresh mutton. Just killed today my friend”. “How much?” “15 Dirhams”. That was about $2. I didn’t know what I’d be getting, but I just wanted whatever was grilling. I paid him and received a plate of raw meat in return.

He pointed me over to the man by the grill. I proceeded to hand over my meat. And that’s what she said.

10 minutes later, he called for me and handed over a new-ish plate with my freshly grilled mutton. I could see the grease bubbling off the meat and was already salivating at the thought of those charred bits in my mouth.

On the way out, I think I saw next week’s batch.

Updated on May 28, 2024