Australia : A festival of Moroccan gastronomy kicks off in Canberra

The embassy of Morocco in Australia is hosting the first festival of Moroccan gastronomy in the Australian capital. The event started on Friday night and will last for ten days, showcasing the Moroccan heritage, says MAP news agency.

The festival marks the 19th anniversary of King Mohammed VI coronation. «The flavors of Morocco» was inaugurated by Morocco’s ambassador to Australia, Karim Medrek and the Australian Minister of Multicultural Affairs, Rachel Stephen Smith.

«This initiative is the first of its kind in Australia. It aims to introduce the Moroccan culinary art and its flavors to Australians», the ambassador told MAP.

Karim Medrek explained that the «Moroccan cuisine so diversified thanks to the country's interaction with other cultures and nations over several centuries». The richness of Moroccan gastronomy also comes from ancestral know-how, he added.

The festival will last until August the 12th and will feature the participation of Moroccan chef Hassan M'Souli, known to the Australian public.