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+61

Marrakech

Casual, well executed pan-Mediterranean fare

On the Pass

Andrew Cibej

What’s the vibe? When three industry friends got together to bring a dash of Sydney-style, casual dining to the Red City’s fashionable Gueliz neighbourhood, they not only created a great place to eat, but also a gathering place for locals to bond alongside expats and regular visitors. Should you live in Marrakech, the likelihood of running into someone you know while sitting down for a bite to eat is high. A true bastion of the community, it is the place to connect and reconnect with friends old and new.

Lunch or dinner? Why not both? Co-founders Cassandra Karinsky and Sebastian de Gzell commissioned the moss green banquettes, brass sconces and blush pink marble tables from local artisans, creating an illuminated space by day, and candle-lit intimacy at night. Head chef Andrew Cibej made a permanent move from Sydney to head up the kitchen, plating up a greatest-hits tour of Mediterranean cuisines.

A light touch: Cibej is a culinary minimalist by nature but packs his dishes with flavour. Staples include an impossibly crunchy chicken schnitzel with cabbage slaw and mint, or pickled sardines with mussels and aioli lemon crumbs, alongside a solid and accessibly priced wine line. For a decadent finale, try the chef’s now notorious ricotta pannacotta supercharged with espresso caramel.

Last word: +61 is a place where pristine ingredients and precise cooking elevate simple food into something wonderful, and artful service delivers a level of comfort that can only come about when the people involved truly care.

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