Founded in the 11th century by the Almoravids as a military settlement, Meknes became a capital under Sultan Moulay Ismaïl (1672–1727), the founder of the Alawite dynasty. The sultan turned it into a impressive city in Spanish-Moorish style, surrounded by high walls with great doors, where the harmonious blending of the Islamic and European styles of the 17th century Maghreb are still evident today.

Meknassi culinary art is rich and diversified full of Moroccan flavours, brought directly from a centuries-old expertise. Having housed different people and several dynasties, Meknes offers a wide variety of cuisine, the result of a mixing of different civilizations. It contains Berber, Andalusian, Jewish and African cuisine and, above all, recipes that are almost no longer used today, such as khlikh, dried meat or a brain omelet.