Carol Prior, at By Prior Arrangement, moves with the foodie stars

Carol Prior, at By Prior Arrangement, moves with the foodie stars like food editor Valli Little, ex-Longgrain owner Martin Boetz and Rob Broadbent [formerly of Sydney’s Jersey Cow], creating destination holidays with them – whether it’s exotic Morocco that a traveller is after, some capers in the Cotswold or even the wilds of South Africa.

Prior has had a long-time love affair with the spot she is best known for – Morocco – and has been running luxury bespoke holidays there for 20 years.

“It is actually 40 years since I landed in the Port of Tanger from Gibraltar to encounter blue desert men with camels, snake charmers, goats, mules, donkeys, hustlers, and I just became intoxicated with this exotic country.

“My then husband was even offered 10 camels for me! What my life would have been like had he accepted. I still get excited every time I fly into Casablanca or Marrakech airports. It is like coming home.”

She formed her company two decades ago, consulting for travel agents who wanted a bespoke itinerary for their clients.

“I would meet in their offices armed with a map of Morocco and a big blank writing pad. Then they could ask all the questions and be guided by my experience of accommodation, special places not to be missed, but most of all meeting locals and expats with fun and interesting stories.”

It’s obvious Prior loves the place, when she talks about some of the trips and their secret highlights for guests.

“One of my favourite riads [a traditional house built around a courtyard with a fountain and trees] in Marrakech is the Villa des Orangers it’s just steps from the Djemaa El Fna Square, close to the souks and the Royal Palace and is a superb Moroccan riad nestled in the heart of the Medina of Marrakech.

“Built in authentic Moroccan style, it encircles an exotic, lush garden, complete with a series of elaborate arcade galleries that lead to expansive green patios and traditional fountains, a veritable oasis for the enchanted traveller.” 

But it’s not just luxury manors she guides her guests to –it’s the connections with locals on the ground.

“Our team is the best, and with the personal family connections, makes it all happen. It has taken years to find them. Our local guides are showing their cities/towns they are passionate about and you get that insider knowledge and hidden secrets.”

Many of her guests want to shop up a storm and she organises for shipments to be brought home and special deals in the markets where she knows the locals.

“There are four gorgeous brothers at Spice Market Square, Marrakech, and they each have a shop. They look after each other and always give my people the best prices. In a country like Morocco having someone in the know makes all the difference.”

In September, the former food director of Delicious magazine, Valli Little, attended the Blackheath Growers Markets with Prior, offering tastings pf strawberry and Pimms jam, rose water meringues, lemon curd, gorgeous English piccalilli, Branston pickle and small pots of Harisa to whet Mountain appetites.

It was a taste of what’s to come in their three culinary tours to Morocco, France and the Cotswolds in 2017.

Prior, who has considerable cooking experience of her own, says those who go to the expense of travelling overseas want a unique experience.

Cue all the reasons to sign up – visiting a romantic riad terrace in Marrakech, finding out Valli Little’s secret chermoula recipe or learning how to make rosewater ice cream cake.

The village of Frayssinet-le-Gelat, as part of the French experience, where charming locals, and the sampling of magret and foie gras washed down with Malbec wine, also hits the spot after shopping and more eating. Prior keeps the tours small at 10 guests, so there’s plenty of chances to have hands-on cooking classes with local chefs and cooks.

“Valli and I met at a cooking class she was doing and we had both heard of one another, admiring each others work, so it seemed a good plan to work together on these fabulous trio of house party style tours to Morocco, the Cotswolds and the lot in France,” says Prior.

Little, who trained at the Cordon Bleu School in London and worked as a consultant on Bill Granger’s books before launching her own titles, said she started working on the week-long tours with Prior because of a couple of reasons.

“I’ve been doing regular cooking tours to Europe –France and Italy mainly for several years now and I’d known Carol for quite some time in the industry … and at events,” Little said.

“We reconnected last year .. we started to chat about it, and it seemed like a great idea, with her expertise especially in Morocco and my experience with France – I speak french – so we put our heads together and organised these three tours."

Little said she was particularly keen to change people’s idea of British food.

“A lot of people have a false impression of English food and I really wanted to showcase that [Cotswolds] region, we’ve really tried to take the best of all the places.” 

Is she looking forward to the experience? “Absolutely, who wouldn’t,” she tells the Review.

Prior gathers plenty of positive comments from her former guests too. Mule riding is often a hit. Their tour takes in Ouirgane, a small Berber village at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains sees guests out riding mules or just walking through the national park up to a very small village for a typical Berber lunch of salads and Tajines.

The tours are set for the middle of next year, but bookings are now open. Details: http://www.bypriorarrangement.com/.

SPECIAL PRIZE: Prior is offering a private cooking class for two at her Leura home for the first pair to book on one of the 2017 trips. Just note the Blue Mountains Gazette article when booking.