Chef Meryem Cherkaoui is a culinary professional with techniques that can please even the pickiest of taste buds. She is renowned for her cooking style that combines traditional Moroccan recipes with European techniques. Adding to her portfolio, she is also a sought-after consultant, providing advice to restaurant owners in Morocco and abroad.
Growing up in Rabat, Cherkaoui decided to pursue a career as a chef and, having received her scientific baccalaureate, enrolled at Paul Bocuse Institute in Écully, France for her course in gastronomy. After her studies, she left her mark across Europe as an aspiring chef, sharpening her skills at prestigious French palaces, the Majestic in Cannes, and the Crillon in Paris.
In 2002, Chef Cherkaoui returned to Morocco, bringing with her new culinary skills, and founded La Maison du Gourmet in Casablanca. This was followed by Mes'Lalla, in Marrakech, in 2015. As a restaurateur, her establishments served traditional Moroccan cuisines with French techniques.
Indeed, consumers fell in love with her culinary creations, hence earning her a trophy from the BOCUSE & Co Awards in 2010. In March 2020, she also won an award at the Disciples Escoffier International, a non-profit organization focusing on culinary arts. She was one of twenty renowned chefs, and personalities, and producers at the event.
In addition to being chef, Chef Cherkaoui has been passing down her expertise to aspiring chefs. In 2009, she established Saveurs des Chefs where she passed on her knowledge and skills to novices and professionals. Currently, she runs a consultancy firm helping restaurant owners in Morocco and abroad. Her team caters to various aspects of running a restaurant including point of sales, staff training, the restaurant's targeted audience and budget, and more. You can learn more about her services at meryemcherkaoui.com (in French).
