KATHY KRIGER’S STORY
It is said of the late owner and founder of Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, former American diplomat Kathy Kriger, that she wanted everything to be like it was in the movie, and more. And she succeeded. Step into this welcoming time-machine and feel like you are on the set of “Casablanca” the movie.
Framed by a dozen white arches, the dining room features hanging chandeliers, and palms in the corners give Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca its period feel. No attention to detail is spared, right down to the beaded lamps and baby grand piano tucked into an archway. As you dine you cannot help but expect to see Humphrey Bogart sashay past singing “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
A MARKET FOR NOSTALGIA
It was during the somber and reflective period following the September 11th attacks that Kathy initially set up the cafe. Keen to show that an American woman, operating alone in a Muslim society, could start a business like Rick’s Cafe and act as a model of tolerance in a troubled world. Fundraising through friends, her pitch was “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, this is the one.”
Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca opened in 2004, in a converted old house in the Ancienne Medina, or old city. Kriger ran the establishment for 14 years, receiving clientele from all around the world, including ambassadors and celebrities. Kathy Krgier sadly died, in 2018, aged 72.
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TASTY TRADITIONAL DISHES
A unique blend of spices gives Moroccan food its multi-layered, robust flavors, with cumin, saffron, paprika and turmeric all playing a starring role in the kitchen. Couscous is a staple ingredient, as are dried fruits such as apricots raisins, dates and figs. If you are thinking of what to eat in Casablanca, iconic dishes include couscous, tagine, and the traditional sweet and savory pie Bastilla.
COOL COCKTAILS
Other signature cocktails include Orange Glamour, an elegant concoction of peeled orange wedges, sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar, with Veuve Clicquot. And Apricot Velvet, dried apricots, marinaded in cognac, again with Veuve Clicquot.
BEST OF MOROCCO
See snake charmers, storytellers and acrobats in the markets, and belly dancers, drums and authentic music as you dine on the best Moroccan food. Visit the Hasan II Mosque in Casablanca, the largest in the country and meet the locals of the region when you visit a traditional Nomad house to try authentic Berber tea. Walk in the footsteps of film starts as you explore Ouarzazate the location for many blockbusters including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.
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If you are inspired to visit Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, Morocco, why not treat yourself to comfort and style all the way with an Insight premium guided tour?