Ingredient appreciation — what makes Pastilla special

What sets Pastilla apart is the handling of medjool dates. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the warmly spiced and aromatic result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Moroccan cuisine draws from Berber, Arab, Andalusian, and French influences. The a medina restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Moroccan mint tea as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Pastilla is the place to start.