Joe T Burns

As a child Hassan was able to travel to America with his family because of his father’s job as a politician. But it wasn’t the food that captured Hassan heart, it was going to Disneyworld and falling in love with Mickey Mouse! Back in Morocco, Hassan’s father wasn’t pleased with his son’s grades and told him he should find a trade like fixing air conditioners. But Hassan thought of the nice places he had visited and the hospitality they had received, places like Disneyland and Club Med, and decided he would like work in a place like that. At age 17, Hassan went to culinary school to become a chef. After finishing culinary school and working in Five-Star restaurants around the world, including in the United States, Hassan’s life would change when he met his future wife, Raja, who is also a fantastic chef. While on vacation in Qatar he found a Moroccan restaurant in need of chefs, so he stayed. Raja also came to work at the restaurant and Hassan became Raja’s boss. Soon they would marry and have a daughter. Still looking for better opportunities Hassan moved to Minnesota in 2013 with 500 dollars and a dream of owning his own restaurant. After a year and a half of paperwork, Raja and their 2-year-old daughter would follow. Hassan worked 3 jobs sometimes and become accustomed to 80-hour weeks in some of the best restaurants Minneapolis and St. Paul have. So, it is no surprise that after only 6 months after Raja and their daughter came to America they would open up their first restaurant in the Midtown Global Market and call it Moroccan Flavors. I first met Hassan when I was walking through the market and came upon a restaurant that smelled like I couldn’t pass it up. After eating a meal fit for a king on place settings made for a fine dining establishment, I had a great visit with Hassan. He tells a great story and makes you feel like you have been his friend for ages. I recently went back and was able to chat with Raja and learned that she is equally as driven and her dream of opening up a Moroccan pastry restaurant adjacent to Moroccan Flavors is set to be a reality in October along with another restaurant called Ziadi Mediterranean cuisine. Three restaurants in one building that you can’t miss! When they are not working you might find the family eating Italian or hanging out above the Midtown Global Market where they raise their now 5-year-old daughter who has started school. “America is welcoming with lots of opportunity and we are happy to be here” they said.