PSA: That market in Marrakech taught me more about spices than any book.

I was in Marrakech last month and wandered into the spice souk. The vendors showed me how to blend ras el hanout by hand. Now I mix my own for all my dishes. Has anyone else picked up tips from travel markets? Looking for more places to visit.

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hugopark6mo ago

Yeah, that bit about learning more than any book is so true. I had the same feeling messing up my first few curry pastes in Bangkok until a vendor showed me the order to add things. Nothing beats getting your hands dirty in person.

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henry_webb686mo ago

But what if you can't afford to travel to Bangkok? Books and videos let you learn from the best chefs in the world for like thirty bucks. You can re-read a recipe a hundred times, but a street vendor might only show you once. Sometimes having that clear, repeatable guide in front of you is way better than a hectic, noisy kitchen where you miss half the steps.

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finley_flores286mo ago

Didn't some chef say you learn more from one burn than a whole cookbook?

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