Daily Bread

If you follow a lady with a towel covered tray wending her way through the alleys of the medina she will lead you to the local community baker. Most homes in the very old residential areas do not have an oven and the baking is done out of the house. As bread is made every day by every family, the baker is a busy man and seems to work pretty much around the clock. I cannot imagine how he keeps going over summer when it is in the 50s outside or when it is Ramadan and he is fasting as he works in a small space with a blazing inferno beside him. Although our riad has an oven ( a rudimentary appliance  to my mind !!!!!! ) anything big is taken to the local baker. A baked fish or a pastilla is whizzed up to him and collected later. I even know one US expat who got her Thanksgiving turkey cooked by her local bakery man. He is a source of local gossip as he knows who's a good cook and who has guests and is vital part of the community. Imagine smelling hot baked bread al day !!!!!