International Food

The first year we lived in Morocco I remember when February rolled around and the market was flooded with strawberries. I thought it was some sort of freak accident that farmers ended up with that fruit at that time and needed to get rid of it. Strawberries were always a summer fruit where I was from.

But, I learned this was not in fact an error but the first strawberry season (Morocco has 2). Every February I look forward to these berries and there's really nothing better than pairing them with a fresh mojito mocktail on a rooftop somewhere with good friends.

When we first moved here it was not easy to find anything like a mocktail but now alcohol free cocktails are on most menus so we're not left out.

This is great for any type of gathering and for adults or kids. Plus, they're really easy to make.

If you're looking for some snacks to pair with this for a perfect apperitivo check out my spiced Moroccan olives or za'atar fekkas!

In Morocco we had a very severe lockdown from mid March until early July 2020. It was so strict that my children never walked out our front door. So when we were finally allowed the ability to travel short distances a small group of friends were invited to our mutual friends camp in the Agafay Desert.

Contrary to what many people think Marrakech is nowhere near the Sahara desert but it is near the Agafay – about 45 minutes. It's a “stone desert” meaning you won't find any rolling sand dunes. But it is a wide open almost lunar landscape and the backdrop is the Atlas Mountains.

Everyone brought something to share and we were able to go swimming and simply be outside. You truly forget how wonderful such simple things are. For our gathering I decided to make virgin bloody mary's with some garnishes. I had loads of produce thanks to a vegetable delivery and tomatoes were part of the bounty.

It was very hot (mid July in Marrakech is no joke) so I tried to stick with something that wouldn't heat up my house to make and also was something that wouldn't go off in the heat.

Not everyone in our group would want an alcohol free cocktail so this was a good compromise. They can easily be adapted for those that want something stronger and those who don't drink. I also think a little bloody mary bar is good for a party because you avoid the awkwardness that often comes when you're the one that isn't having a beer or cocktail with alcohol.

So mix up your bloody mary mix and rim spices in advance, cut up all the pieces for your garnish bar and you're ready to go! I have to admit this isn't a drink many kids enjoy so feel free to go with stronger flavors.

Ready to kick back and relax with one of these? Make a virgin bloody mary bar part of your next get together!

Rosemary and I have an off and on relationship. Sometimes I can't get enough of it, while other times I can't stand it. I think it's similar for many people. However in this alcohol free cocktail it really is delightful.

2020 has been a weird year however it's introduced me to a lot of people and resources I might not have ever found. One of them is fresh boxes of organic herbs and vegetables that come from a farm outside of Marrakech. The owner is also from Michigan (we all have a weird way of finding each other) and takes so much pride in what he does.

Rosemary is something finds its way to my vegetable delivery regularly. It grows well here – Mediterranean climates is where it thrives. Suffice to say I don't like the texture of rosemary in my food but the flavor that gets imbued into the syrup of this drink is perfect.

Citrus is the other element and while this recipe uses oranges – which also are plentiful and grow well in Morocco – you could use any citrus you'd like. Lemons would work as would grapefruit though you may want to adjust sugar levels if you're using a more tart fruit.

I admit when you start adding chocolate to drinks I wonder if it transitions from a “cocktail” to just a dessert but bear with me here! Mint is one of the most commonly used herbs in Morocco especially when it comes to beverages.

Moroccan mint tea is world famous and you can't walk more than a few blocks without seeing bundles of mint for sale. Creating this alcohol free cocktail just seemed to make great sense!

I really like this drink because I think it does straddle the line of cocktail and dessert – so you can easily have it do double duty when you're preparing for a dinner party or gathering (Psst, if you need a dinner party guide I've got one for you!) While this is technically an alcohol free grasshopper cocktail you can convert it back for guests that do drink by swapping the mint extract for creme de menthe.

One important thing to note as you prepare to make this – it is an iced drink. You'll need to either make ahead and use your freezer or if you have an ice cream maker it will come together even faster. Leave enough time for that part of the process.

As you can see the end of this drink is finished with gold flecks. They're extra of course, and you could use anything as the final finish. But who doesn't love a gold flecked drink?

Be fancy!

If I could encapsulate Marrakech in a drink it would look a bit like this. Layers of red, tinted with yellows and oranges and sprinkled with white clouds. I know it all sounds a bit too fantastical but there really is nothing like a summer sunset here.

Sometimes the sky is streaked pink or purple and those nights I just can't get enough. Other times it looks like the sky is on fire with a bright orange backdrop and white streaks. The good news is that we have plenty of rooftops to sit on and enjoy these sunsets.

This alcohol free cocktail reminds me of my favorite fresh juice made at a little shop that we visit with our food tour guests. I don't love juices but every now and then it hits the spot.

This mocktail is made using pineapple however I think it would be equally delicious with fresh orange juice or mango puree. The flavors just really work well together and you'll certainly feel like you're drinking something special!

Don't forget to add the cream on top! It makes it extra special. Add a little or add a lot! I think that the addition of a lot makes it go one step over the top and feel like you're getting something you don't have every day.

Wishing you were in Marrakech? Check out my Marrakech destination guide to take a virtual trip or get ready for the real thing!

One of the things I love about Morocco is that some of the cities are “color coded”. You'll find blue hues in Essaouira and Chefchaouan, while red is certainly the color of Marrakech. Casablanca is the white city. You get the point. Also the petit taxi color in each city is different, another fun fact.

For this alcohol free cocktail I immediately thought of Essaouira and its blue boats and white capped waves. Pineapples don't really grow in Morocco however many are imported from West Africa and are commonly sold on the street in slices for a quick treat.

This recipe uses blue Hawaiian punch to create the color but you could use any blue juice. If you're wanting something that has no artificial flavors or colors go for a blueberry juice. Even grape juice would work as the addition of the ice will make a light purple color.

If you don't like pineapple, I think mango would work great in this. You may want to thin out the mango puree with a little coconut water but it would be an easy adaptation.

Dreaming of Essaouira? You might want to read my Essaouira destination guide to transport you for a little bit!