A Moroccan Feast

I have always pictured a dinner party in front of the fireplace with friends and good food. The cold months are a perfect time to build a fire, invite your friends and serve a family-style meal that feeds your appetite and warms your soul. With the use of bright ethnic colors, lots of candles and the following recipes, you can prepare your own Moroccan Feast by the Fire.

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WRITTEN BY Tamberlyn Dobrowski
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Taylor Mathis

Appetizers

Slice naan in triangles, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with hummus and tahini.

Slice and remove the seed from the dates, fill with cream cheese and wrap with bacon (I use the precooked bacon). Secure with toothpick. Bake at 400 for 5 minutes, flip and bake an additional 5 minutes.

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Moroccan Chicken with Green Olives and Lemon

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Quick Moroccan Vegetable Couscous

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Salad

Make a simple salad with greens, roasted red peppers, chickpeas, cucumbers, red onion and a simple yogurt-based dressing with olive oil and lemon juice.

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Minted Blackberries with Lemon Cream

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Wine Pairing Notes from Bond Street Wines

Bodegas Beronia (Rioja, Spain)

Bodegas Beronia is found in the Rioja Alta area of the region which is situated to the west. In this area the soil is mainly calcareous clay soil and the vineyards are on average at an altitude of 600 meters. This area’s climatic influences are from the Atlantic however due to the Cantabria and Demanda mountain ranges. It also boasts the Ebro River which creates a series of microclimates and provides much needed water for the vines. The situation of Bodegas Beronia is considered to be a unique place for the creation of wines of high quality.

The grapes used at Beronia come from vineyards from within a ten mile radius of the cellars, ensuring that only the highest quality grapes enter the winery. A close relationship is maintained with the 150 vine growers who supply the grapes, guaranteeing that only the best quality grapes are selected and that the process is done so in the most natural way. The technical experts frequently visit the estates to ensure that the use of fertilizers and chemicals are kept to a minimum. It is their priority to maintain healthy and high quality grapes.

This wine offers a selection of the best grapes from the oldest vineyards. The wine is aged in mixed American and French oak barrels where it remains for a minimum of 18 months. The wine is then aged in bottle for 18 months before being released.

Beronia Reserva Rioja 2010

The color is an elegant and deep garnet color with cherry rim. It demonstrates a seductive and complex nose with mature fruit dominating while combining chocolate and cinnamon over a sweet and spicy base. This wine is flavorful and smooth on the palate showing a silky sensation. The taste is fresh and powerful with notes of cocoa and toffee standing out. It is a modern wine, enveloping and complex with great keeping potential.