Dev Biswal, owner of The Cook's Tale restaurant in Canterbury, in Kent, has announced 10-day culinary tour to Morocco (27th September to 6th October).
The tour costs £3250, with a nominal £200 additional charge for solo travellers, including flights ex Gatwick, wine tasting, cooking class, guided visits and 19 sumptuous meals. The trip comprises 4 nights in the vibrant city of Marrakesh, another 4 in the charming coastal town of Essaouira and a night in the magical Agafay Desert.
Dev will also be leading a return visit to Croatia and one to his native India in 2025. Details to be announced. The Cook's Tale is a fine dining Anglo-Indian venue, offering “modern Mumbai dining” on a “hyper local culinary journey”.
Restaurant diners have the opportunity to sample Biswal's unique take on Moroccan food, with a special 8-course Seafood Tasting Menu which highlights the commonality between Moroccan and Indian food. The menu features: Mango sharbat lassi; Turmeric seafood soup with stuffed cocktail paratha; Crab samosas/brouiats; Tandoori sardine; Prawn kofta in a spicy Harissa sauce served with saffron rice pilaf; Wild bass tagine with garam masala and naan; Warm semolina halwa with orange blossom and cinnamon ice cream; and Moroccan chai with handmade biscuits.
“Visiting Morocco for the first time was a real eye-opener,” said Biswal ,who grew up in Kolkata,
“I was amazed by the similarities in Moroccan and Indian cuisines, our food and cultures have more in common than I could have possibly imagined.” Biswal rebranded his restaurant (formerly The Ambrette) and closed his outlying two restaurants of the same name in Margate and Rye, to refocus his attention on guided culinary tours and cookery masterclasses.
The name pays homage to the character of apprentice Perkyn Revelour, in Geoffrey Chaucer's C14th 'Canterbury Tales' anthology, who is “rather fond of wine, women and song.” Closer to home, Dev also runs Canterbury Experiences which offers tailored 'culinary pilgrimages', taking in the local area's beautiful countryside, working closely with local partners and Visit Canterbury tourist office.
The name Cook's Tale is taken from the character of the apprentice Perkyn Revelour, who is rather fond of wine, women and song." Dishes showcase much of the locality's finest, sustainable local produce, exclusively created using ingredients sourced from within 30 minutes of the kitchen.
Dev Biswal grew up in Orissa, was educated in Calcutta and trained at the Dubai Sheraton, before moving to London, aged 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki. He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, becoming patron in 2010.
His restaurant is recommended by all the country's top restaurant guides, including Michelin, AA, Good Food and Harden's. Dev was the resident chef on Channel 4 TV's 'Superscrimpers', showing how to prepare gourmet meals on a budget. Other awards have included. 'Best Restaurant' at the coveted Taste of Kent Awards; 'Best Indian Restaurant' by Morrisons magazine; 'Best Restaurant in the South East' by the Cobra Good Curry Guide.
And he was named Asian Chef of the Year at the Asian Restaurant Awards in 2019.
