'I went to Tunisian village so pretty it's hard not to take endless snaps'

05 November 2023 , 10:10

476     0

Pretty Sidi Bou Said, near Tunis (Image: Getty Images)

Barring the odd disaster, I consider myself a pretty good cook, but the chance to benefit from expert tuition in Tunisian cuisine at The Residence, Tunis, was an opportunity I simply couldn’t miss. The five-star resort has three main restaurants serving top-class food run by resort chef Malek, so I was in safe hands.

Armed with an embossed pinny and chef’s hat I looked the part but cooking was off the menu for the moment because I needed to forage for my ingredients first. Wicker basket and secateurs in hand, I snipped my way around the kitchen garden for a haul of herbs, ­tomatoes, onions, peppers and potatoes. My foraging was so good I was given flowers by the staff.

They may have been a tad hasty as I hadn’t started cooking yet…

Flash in the pan

The luxury Residence hotel in Tunis (Copyright: matthewshaw.co.uk)

Jan Brierley