Meet the very elegant
Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli (pictured here with tv personality
Tracey Spicer) who is in town to tell us about
Morocco and the rather splendid hotel he owns there-
La Maison Arabe in Marrakesh.
Fabrizio was the star guest at a small reception-
The Sweet Taste of Morocco -in the
Patisse restaurant in the Pyd building near Dank Street in Waterloo.
Born in France with an Italian father, Fabrizio holidayed as a child in Tangier at his grandparents villa and fell in love with the country.
La Maison Arabe, as you can see from our pics is a luxury hotel decorated in Moroccan style and is Ruspoli's pride and joy. It's one of the town's best kept secrets and is reasonably priced considering it's now been discovered by the jet set who see it as the perfect alternative to their usual choice, the 6 star historic
Mamounia which re-opened in 2009 after a complete makeover.
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| La Maison Arabe |
At the Mamounia's re-launch a host of famous names jetted in for the celebrations-
Salma Hayek, Orlando Bloom, Bryan Ferry, Sarah Jessica Parker and
Paloma Picasso. Jose Carreras entertained the guests. The re-opening of the Mamounia summed up just how quickly Marrakesh is becoming a tourism developer's dream.
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| Salma Hayek in Marrakesh |
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| La Maison Arabe |
Although Prince Fabrizio is in the tourism business he is fearful that Marrakesh may go the way of some famous Mediterranean hot spots and has likened it, (and not in a complimentary fashion) to "
St Tropez without the boats". He is alarmed that luxury spas and branches of French restaurants, art galleries, nightclubs and golf courses, all with European prices are opening there. Hopefully he's comforted that at least
McDonald's was given the cold shoulder by the town burghers.
At the reception to greet our Italian aristocrat was one Sydney's best chefs who also happens to be Moroccan-
Hassan M'Souli who owns the award winning restaurant
Out Of Africa in Manly. He whipped up some delicious Morrocan treats for the party guests.
As for Sydney, Fabrizio said he has been pleasantly surprised :"
the trees" he said,"
so many beautiful trees, everywhere I go there are just beautiful trees!"
Check out
La Maison Arabe here and
Out Of Africa here.
