Kitty Morse

Cookbook Author, Food Writer, Teacher

Early Years

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, to an English father and French mother, Kitty Morse has taught and written about Moroccan and Mediterranean cooking for over twenty years, drawing heavily on her own collection of recipes and the culinary traditions of family and friends. Like the many excellent cooks she knows in Morocco, Tunisia, and the United States, Kitty can perform a type of culinary magic with the spices and ingredients that are the foundation of the cuisine. Taking the renowned Moroccan hospitality to a higher level, she offers the recipes and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Moving to the United States in the early 60's to continue her education and pursue a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin, she began a catering company, later named La Caravane. Her specialty were Moroccan parties modeled after the tribal feasts and celebratory banquets called diffas, where lavish amounts of food are abundantly displayed to showcase the hospitality of the hosts. This careful and loving preparation and the generous sharing of recipes and culture are clearly translated through her cooking, teaching and writing.

Recognition

After moving with her husband to Southern California, Kitty began more formalized teaching and in addition hosted a local television cooking show. She has written features for many prominent food publications, such as Bon Appetit, Prevention, Fine Cooking, and Sunset Magazines, and she is a regular contributing writer to the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. In 1995 she was featured on CNN's On The Menu, and she also produced and hosted "Fresh From the Farm" in San Diego, California. She held a regular spot on California Country, a weekly television show sponsored by the California Farm Bureau Federation, and in December of 1998, Kitty was featured on QVC, promoting her book A Biblical Feast.

Other books written by Kitty Morse include:

• The California Farm Cookbook - a collaboration with some of California's bountiful food producers
• Edible Flowers: A Kitchen Companion with Recipes
• Couscous: Fresh and Flavorful Contemporary Recipes
• Cooking at the Kasbah: Recipes from my Moroccan Kitchen
• A Biblical Feast - a rich legacy of biblical bounty
• The Vegetarian Table: North Africa - based on wholesome grains, fresh fruits & vegetables, and unique seasonings

Current Projects

Couscous, Kitty Morse's newest book, is a perfect example of her ability to preserve the integrity of the cuisine while presenting innovative ways to enjoy this classic Moroccan staple food, which is now part of many modern meals. Lightening and simplifying traditional recipes to accommodate our increasing health consciousness, she takes great care to preserve the nuances that maintain each dishes' authenticity.

If Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were on the road to Morocco today, they might encounter Kitty Morse on one of her famed 15-day gastronomical tours. Traveling along scenic coastal roads and busy city boulevards, past royal palaces and ancient ruins, with shopping in bustling souks and historical open-air markets, the tour also includes cooking demonstrations conducted by local experts and to meals in the finest, most authentic restaurants. The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Morocco have always been a part of Kitty Morse' life. She graciously shares them with all of us in her books, classes, and tours.

For more information, visit Kitty Morse's site at www.kittymorse.com