‘We want to bring the two shores of the Mediterranean closer together through gastronomy’
Spain and Morocco come together at the table of the Triana restaurant in Chefchaouen. A family project whose opening was delayed by the pandemic and which for almost three years now has been offering its diners an example of the richness of Mediterranean gastronomy.
First of all, we would like to know the origins of the restaurant. How did this project come about?
The Triana restaurant opened on 25 July 2021, just after COVID-19. Actually, we were ready to open earlier, but because of the pandemic it was delayed for two years. Triana is 100% Chefchaouen local, which my brother has been working on for years to make this dream come true.
Where does the name come from? Is it related to the Sevillian neighbourhood of the same name?
Exactly. While we were looking for the name, we used mosaics and decorative elements from Seville without knowing that in the end the restaurant would be called Triana. Our aim is to try to make a connection between the two shores of the Mediterranean: Spain and Morocco.
What kind of cuisine do you offer your customers?
Cuisine from the gastronomies of the Mediterranean countries: Moroccan, Spanish, French, Italian... We try to combine the north-south Mediterranean spirit. In Triana you can eat a very good paella, the famous veal ribs, which have become the restaurant's best dish, the fish casserole...
Do the products come from the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region?
That's a very interesting question, because we try to work with as many local products as possible.
Is customer service as important as the food? What can you say about the staff, their training?
A restaurant that does not give importance to customer service is, I think, doomed to failure. We have trained and qualified staff, more than 15 waiters and our chef is Moroccan.
The Triana restaurant is known for its good atmosphere, its live music.
Music is part of Triana's DNA. We try to bring bands from Spain, flamenco bands, especially from Jerez. We also promote local artists, traditional music... Sometimes local artists perform with international artists.
What is the profile of the Triana client?
It is the city of Chefchaouen that dictates the type of customer. We are not a selective restaurant, but we generally work with tourists. There are periods when we work more with locals.
The region of Tangier, Tetouan and Al Hoceima is experiencing an unprecedented economic boom. Has the number of tourist visits increased in recent years?
Chefchaouen still needs to develop further: there is a lack of infrastructure, hotels.... We would love people to come and invest here, to build hotels, restaurants, because the current capacity is not enough for more tourists. So the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is growing fast, but our city is still to be discovered, as well as Chefchaouen.
Besides Chefchaouen, what would you recommend in this region?
The region of Chefchaouen is very interesting, apart from the blue city that everyone knows. You can visit the Akchour waterfalls, the mountains, the Talassemtane national park, the Bouhachem national park. There is also the coast, the undeveloped side of the Mediterranean. It's wonderful to have beaches that people don't know about at all. People come through Chefchaouen and they don't know what's around or behind these mountains. It's magnificent, you have to visit it, to see it, to venture.
