For three days, Morocco transforms a 1,800 m² hall in the heart of Paris

The Carreau du Temple, located in Paris’s third arrondissement, will dedicate the tenth edition of its Food Temple festival to Morocco. The event will begin on Friday, September 18 at 6 p.m. and continue until Sunday, September 20 at 5:30 p.m.

The large Parisian hall will host pop-up restaurants, a tea room, cooking workshops, chef demonstrations and a market devoted entirely to Moroccan products. Artisans from Marrakech and Essaouira, among other places, will offer spices, olive and argan oils, local products, ceramics and decorative objects.

Chef Fatéma Hal and chef Abdel Alaoui have been chosen as the godmother and godfather of this anniversary edition. Visitors will be able to attend discussions about ras-el-hanout, amlou and fermentation, and learn how to prepare pastilla, tajine and couscous.

According to the program published by the Carreau du Temple, admission will be free during the weekend. The opening night, certain meals and the workshops will nevertheless be paid events. The culinary workshops will notably be offered at a rate of 15 euros.

Gnawa, electro and a Moroccan “little souk”

The festival will not be limited to gastronomy. On Friday evening, Retro Cassetta, SAMIFATI & Transe Gnawa Express and Francis Latombe will blend electronic music and gnawa rhythms during an opening night costing 10 euros.

The Moroccan singer Oum will also perform during the weekend, as will Gaouta, whose artistic world combines electronic music, new wave and post-punk.

Several photography exhibitions will simultaneously present different faces of Morocco. Salma Jourani will showcase a colorful, contemporary world, while Yasmine Hatimi will explore family memory. Photographs by Denis Dailleux dedicated to the harvest of Damascus roses, as well as archives from the Maison de la photographie de Marrakech, will also be exhibited.

The City of Paris thus announces a complete immersion in Moroccan culture, between traditional recipes and contemporary creations. The public will be able to access the festival on Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.