Meet
Chamsi (Corporate)
Chamsi says that coming to Morocco can be overwhelming – in a good way! The sounds, the smells, and the local culture can be a mystery to visitors and meeting Chamsi is the perfect way to dig beneath the surface and connect with local life in a more personal and meaningful way. Chamsi is an Algerian-Canadian, married to a Moroccan. She and her husband have lived in Casablanca for nine years and in that time she has come to love the local way of life. Of course, food has been central to her experience! She learned the ins and outs of Moroccan cooking from the best home cook she knows – her mother in law, Lala Naima. They believe that true, authentic Moroccan food is best when prepared at home and she is excited to share her recipes with travelers.
Chamsi is a professional photographer and has a great sense of color and texture, which means her food is both delicious and pleasing to the eye! She lives in a beautiful, newly built home with a large kitchen that is perfect for entertaining. Chamsi has a young son who might be home during your visit.
Curious to know more? Read a recent journalist’s account of her experience with Chamsi in the article, "A Casablanca Lunch That Changed How I Think About Hospitality.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
Cooking experience:
(9-24 guests)
Experience Moroccan cuisine and culture together during a private, hands-on corporate cooking class in Casablanca with local host Chamsi. Designed especially for large groups, this interactive Moroccan cooking experience offers a memorable team-building activity in the welcoming setting of Chamsi’s beautiful home.
After a warm welcome, your group will gather in Chamsi’s spacious open kitchen and divide into interactive cooking stations, allowing everyone to participate. Depending on the seasonal menu, stations may include preparing a traditional Moroccan tagine, a colorful Moroccan salad, and briouates, savory Moroccan pastries filled and folded by hand. Chamsi and her team will guide each group through the techniques, ingredients, and culinary traditions behind the dishes. Some elements may be prepared in advance to ensure the experience runs smoothly for a larger group.
After approximately an hour of hands-on cooking, everyone will come together around the table to enjoy the traditional Moroccan meal you helped prepare. The menu highlights seasonal, local ingredients and may include dishes such as lamb or chicken tagine, couscous, grilled or marinated seafood, zaalouk (Moroccan eggplant salad), tchackchouka (roasted pepper salad), homemade bread, and other regional specialties. Complete your meal with a traditional dessert such as milk pastilla, cinnamon-spiced oranges, or Moroccan cookies, accompanied by Moroccan wine or beer.
This private Casablanca cooking class for corporate and large groups combines hands-on cooking, teamwork, Moroccan food, and genuine local connection, making it an engaging alternative to a traditional restaurant meal or corporate team-building event.
Vegetarian meals can be accommodated, and all meat served is halal. Kosher meat can also be sourced with advance notice. Please share any dietary restrictions or special requests when booking so Chamsi can plan the menu accordingly.
Market visit:
(9-24 guests)
Explore Casablanca’s vibrant food culture on a guided local market tour followed by a hands-on Moroccan cooking class in Chamsi’s home. If you select the optional round-trip transfer add-on, Chamsi will meet you in the lobby of your Casablanca hotel and accompany you to a lively neighborhood food market, where you’ll explore alongside Chamsi and a licensed local guide.
During your Casablanca market tour, discover where locals shop for fresh produce, fragrant Moroccan spices, meat, and other everyday ingredients. Chamsi will introduce you to some of her favorite vendors, explain the ingredients commonly used in Moroccan home cooking, and help you navigate the sights, aromas, and traditions of an authentic working market. You’ll visit colorful produce and spice stalls as well as the local meat market, offering a fascinating glimpse into everyday food culture in Casablanca. If you're looking for a particular Moroccan spice or ingredient to take home, Chamsi can also help you shop for it.
After exploring the market and selecting fresh ingredients, make your way to Chamsi’s lovely home in Casablanca’s upscale CIL neighborhood. In her spacious open kitchen, enjoy a hands-on Moroccan cooking class where you’ll learn traditional techniques and prepare an authentic, home-style Moroccan meal together. Then, sit down with Chamsi to enjoy the delicious dishes you helped create.
Please note: Friday is a prayer day in Morocco, so Friday morning markets may be quieter than usual and some stalls may be closed. Friday evening market tours are not available. During Ramadan, the market tour will not include food tastings due to fasting hours. Instead, Chamsi will guide you through the market to discover and select ingredients before returning to her home for the cooking experience and shared Moroccan meal.
Notes:
If you select the optional round-trip transportation add-on, you will be picked up from and dropped off at your Casablanca accommodation. The transportation price is per van, with each van accommodating up to 9 guests. For groups of more than 9 guests, additional vans or a private bus will be arranged depending on the group size.
Moroccan wine or beer is included in the price of the experience. When booking, please select the alcohol option, which will appear as a $0 add-on at no additional charge.
Chamsi’s home is wheelchair accessible. Please let us know in advance if anyone in your group has specific accessibility needs so she can prepare accordingly.
Languages spoken:
English, French, Arabic, Spanish (beginner)
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
This experience was definitely unforgettable! I'm so happy my boyfriend and I decided to try this out. Chamsi and her family are lovely hosts with such open hearts and kind spirits. Overall, we were surprised at the eloquent lifestyle of this area in Casablanca. It's definitely different than the rural parts of Morocco we saw in the rest of our trip! Chamsi and her family showed us a real, authentic perspective and were happy to answer any questions we had about Morocco.
It's hard to say what my favorite part of the experience was, but some of the highlights were definitely spending some nice quality time with locals and getting to see all the markets. I'm also very happy to bring home some new cooking ideas!
Cristi and Christians, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
Wonderful time with Chamsi. She’s very engaging and we’ve found a new friend. We spent the morning shopping in a Casablanca market greeting various vendors - fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, meats, eggs, bakery and wine. We assisted in the preparation and enjoyed it immensely.
Upon arriving at the drop off point for return to our cruise the shuttle attendee asked about our adventure. When we described it he said, “what a quality and fun day YOU has!”
We couldn’t agree more!
Thanks, Chamsi.
Sam (I am) and Lara
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sam and lara
April 22, 2026
Wow, what an enriching experience! First and foremost, Chamsi, our hostess. Incredibly generous, she shared her passion for Moroccan culture with us through its cuisine. She introduced us to the kindness of the vendors during our shopping at the market and the quality and variety of their products. Together, we cooked and enjoyed our meal at her home while discovering Morocco…and her equally warm family :) Thank you, Chamsi, for your hospitality, your generosity, and your professionalism. You've inspired us to continue exploring Morocco.
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patty
April 09, 2026
We had such a fantastic experience cooking (and eating!) an authentic Moroccan meal at Chamsi's home in Casablanca. My wife and I were visiting from the US and we were looking for a real, genuine, home-cooked Moroccan meal and the cooking experience with Chamsi did not disappoint. We learned a ton from her and her family about Moroccan food, culture and customs, with a delicious meal on top of it.
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greg
January 26, 2026
What an amazing experience!! Chamsi is such a warm and welcoming person with some mad cooking skills. We started at the market and were able to select what we wanted to cook. The cooking was so fun and the conversation even better. Don't miss out on this one!! Thank you, Chamsi. It was so great to meet you and your family!
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queen
December 31, 2025
Book it. I was on an 11 stop/24 day cruise and this was MY FAVORITE experience. Chamsi, my host was beyond gracious. We went to an incredible market. There of course was a limit in what I could carry home! I'm still crying. But I did buy wonderful items. Then to this fancy French/Moroccan bakery! It was so good. THEN the main event! Cooking together at her beautiful home. Welcoming, relaxing & stimulating with conversation. We had a feast. Wedding chicken (so good - i have recipe) also a beautiful smoked eggplant & tomato spread. Plus plus plus other wonderful local accompaniments. Bravo & thank you so much Chamsi!!
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Michell
December 01, 2025
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