ethiopian food

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why doesn't pittsburgh have an ethiopian restaurant??? WHY?????

― john fail (cenotaph), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Eeeg. Come to LA. There's a couple of city blocks of nothing BUT Ethiopian restaurants!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Fairfax!

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Woohoo!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Ethiopian restaurant ROXOR. There are many of them in Toronto, one of the advantages in living in such a multicultural city. We actually live in an area that's about 5 blocks north of a smattering of them. Mmmmm.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:20 (twenty-three years ago)

cleveland is the closest. and i have been known to drive 1.75 hours just to get ethiopian food. but i heard a rumour that the clevo ethiopian place just went out of business, which would place the next-closest to... philly? maybe detroit has one.

― john fail (cenotaph), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:21 (twenty-three years ago)

move to DC. When I lived there, there were many cheap but good ones. I ran into one in the Mission District of SF CA a while back. Though not horrible, it was not as good as the ones I used to go to in DC many years back.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Monday, 10 March 2003 22:31 (twenty-three years ago)

if you want ethiopian in SF, go the western addition... i recommend cafe waziema or sawa on divisadero.

the mission specializes in tacquerias or overpriced hipster food.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:02 (twenty-three years ago)

There is definitely one just north of Detroit. Right off Woodward if I recall.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:07 (twenty-three years ago)

The tacquerias are pretty good in the Mission but nowhere as good as the ones in TJ. I have to agree with you on the OVERPRICED-ness of those hipster joints in the Mission. Can you believe how much the want for lambchops at the SLANTED DOOR? What a crock! Even at the tapas bars down there you can't escape without having felt ripped off even if the food and drinks were good.
Sawa? I'll have to give it a try the next time I'm up in SF.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:11 (twenty-three years ago)

gygax! and I once shared an intimate dinner together at the Slanted Door.

*sniff*

― hstencil, Monday, 10 March 2003 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I can't tell you which ilXor I had dinner with there or I'll be sent back to the doghouse!
The food was good but was a bit pricey. If I want to spend that much money on dinner I'd rather have roasted crab in the Sunset district (I can't remember the name of the place but I'll contact my SLANTED DOOR dinner companion for details).
Also, the Asian restaurants on Clement Street are keys to life. My daughter like Fjtes on Hayes but I believe their reputation is a bit overrated. I still like the place... just odn't like spending 5 bucks for fries that should cost $1.25.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Three or four (that I know of) practically on top of each other in Adams Morgan. Why so bunched together?

― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:21 (twenty-three years ago)

tacquerias in TJ? hrmmm... have you been to Mexico DF, amigo?

pedant note: the slanted door is now (permanently?) located in south of market between the financial district and pacbell park.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:22 (twenty-three years ago)

temporarily

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

J.Lu: Adams-Morgan = future "Little Addis?" ("Little Asmara" to set up residence in Atlanta.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry, that was sort of opaque. There are just so many Ethiopians there that it feels like some sort of high school reunion, random people stopping one another on the street saying "Didn't we go to school together in Gondar? It's great to see you!" Atlanta is sort of the same but with more Eritreans.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

holy fuck, nabisco's here!!!!

um, if SF - cafe waziema for ethiopian and sawa for eritrean!!!

*dons kevlar vest*

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:30 (twenty-three years ago)

No, I haven't been to the DF but I have a good friend from Tlalpan (a colonia de DF) and another one from Guanoguato and they both say the TJ tacos cannot be beat. There ae so many varieties in TJ it is mindboggling... probably due to the fact that it is a place where many people from all parts of Mexico migrate.

Since I have not been to the DF to do the Pepsi challenge of tacos I have to bump it up on my list of PRIROITY DESTINATIONS.

So... if you are in TJ and want to try to very good tacquerias, go to: 1. Tacqueria Ermita in colonia Ermita/La Mesa and Tacqueria Franc (Zona Rio)... also, any of the stands will do in a pinch. I like the ones specializing in steamed cow head the best.

A shout out to you Adams Morgan brats! Is Madams Organ still around? I remember hanging out there when I was kid seeing bands. Also, Kilimanjaro. The last show I ever saw there before my move to NYC many, many years ago was a Bad Brains gig.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:37 (twenty-three years ago)

holy fuck, nabisco's here!!!!

Surely it's not that horribly predictable of me to look in on discussions of Ethiopian food? :(

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I was about to say that there is an Ethiopian place in Pitt but I realized that I was thinking about Philly (I live somewhere in between). The last time I had Ethiopian food I was in NYC and I asked for a hard boiled egg in addition to our meal which was vegan due to my vegan friend. Cost of 1 plain hardboiled egg... $2.00. I felt like I was in Zurich again where cans of cola were at least $2.00 everywhere you went.

― Carey (Carey), Monday, 10 March 2003 23:53 (twenty-three years ago)

i thought ethiopians were in enough poverty that food was a rarity. how could there be a theme restaurant for food when the food doesn't exist?

― cordelia, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 01:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I have to hand it to you, Cordelia, that's one joke I've NEVER HEARD BEFORE! It's so clever it should be in a Nora Ephron movie.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 01:06 (twenty-three years ago)

i have a friend from ethiopia and he says that DC roxor u all are gay

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 01:12 (twenty-three years ago)

There is definitely one just north of Detroit. Right off Woodward if I recall.

On 9 Mile, west of Woodward.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..................

― Andy K (Andy K), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 03:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Adams-Morgan = future "Little Addis?"

Adams Morgan = present and future Greenwich Village South. If real estate prices continue on their present tangent, these places will be forced out before much longer. Then the high-salaried hipsters who paid megabucks for AM pseudolofts will bitch about gentrification, without the slightest trace of irony.

A shout out to you Adams Morgan brats!

Madam's Organ yes,; Kilimanjaro no.
:^{

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 04:28 (twenty-three years ago)

For some reason I thought that was the Ethio-hood. Where are the Meskerem and Red Sea restaurants? Actually I should just look this up.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 05:30 (twenty-three years ago)

They're both on 18th St., just down from Columbia Road.

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 05:35 (twenty-three years ago)

DC roXors in the Ethiopian Dept. I like Fasika's better than Meskerem, if only for the ambience of the upper room (and the Bob Marley on the stereo). I've never been to Addis Ababa (the restaurant), tho.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Seattle has plenty of places in the Central District that absolutely roxor.. Also Vancouver has a great place with an allyoucaneat Vegan Ethiopian Buffet for about $11CAN a pop.

Even mediocre ethiopian food is classic. Also "Njera" is one of the greatest words ever.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 07:57 (twenty-three years ago)

And I'll also weight on "that" block of Fairfax Ave. between Whitworth and Olympic being pretty much nothing but Ethiopian places. Merkato is my favorite of the bunch.

The problem is: that's pretty much all the Ethiopian places in southern California. :(

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 08:16 (twenty-three years ago)

when i was in adams-morgan there seemed to be an array of great looking ethiopian restaurants, as i was walking past i was glancing in the windows and it looked really nice.

first thing i did when i got back to london, went to the ethiopian restuarant in tufnell park. quite a mixed bag, my food was really nice, but my friends wasnt, and it did go a bit cold quickly, the bread was asbestosy as well.

so, while my part of the meal wasn't bad, it didnt look a patch on what the people in adams-morgan seemed to be eating:(

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:25 (twenty-three years ago)

''Ethiopian restaurant ROXOR. There are many of them in Toronto, one of the advantages in living in such a multicultural city. We actually live in an area that's about 5 blocks north of a smattering of them. Mmmmm.''

Mmmm indeed! the only time I went to one was in toronto and it was Mr carruthers who took me there. good times...

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 10:30 (twenty-three years ago)

HA HA I finally have something to brag about! I might live in the ass-end of the worst part of the worst city on Earth but there are THREE count-'em THREE Ethiopian restaurants two minutes' walking distance from my house! One of them sells Ethiopian CDs too. Seriously, thanx for reminding me that living here is good for somethin'

― dave q, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:13 (twenty-three years ago)

dave q was positive abt something for a change so this thread has been v useful.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Mind you - three Ethiopian Restaurants and three phasing one way traffic lights due to roadworks. The Cally is just a whirlpool of magic.

(An an Injera Bakery too!)

By using Triangulation I have worked out exactly where on the Cally you live now Dave. Not the floor, but the address.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Lovely stews but I didn't like the bread very much when I had My First Ethiopian Food experience... then again the experience was also flavoured by lots of cheap wine. NUM!

― Sarah (starry), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:20 (twenty-three years ago)

-too bad about Kilimanjaro. A great place for gigs in the 80's. I'm glad Madam's organ is still a: http://static.everyone.net/ad_images/yourfreedvds/YourFreeDVDs_120x600_3.gif

How about the 930? I hear it is still around but not in the Atlantis building. How are the "new" digs?

― wutchootawkinboutwillis (wutchootawkinboutwillis), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 11:35 (twenty-three years ago)

There is a place in LA that will ship frozen containers of enjira and doro wat to you overnight. It's surprisingly good stuff, and doesn't even really cost that much. I'm sure there are a few non-cooking Ethiopians in the middle of Idaho or somewhere that really appreciate this.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 15:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Or non-cooking Ethiopians in Illinois, e.g. my dad.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 15:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Madam's organ

Erm.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

do you have any info on this place in LA that ships ethiopian food? i'm very interested.

― john fail (cenotaph), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Nabisco, how do you rate the Ethiopian food in Chicago?

The best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to is in Central Sq. in Cambridge, Mass.--but I've forgotten the name.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:31 (twenty-three years ago)

best one i ever ate at is Meskarem in hell's kitchen, NYC.

― john fail (cenotaph), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

do you have any info on this place in LA that ships ethiopian food?: I just sent email asking my father, and I'll note the relevant bits of his response here.

Nabisco, how do you rate the Ethiopian food in Chicago?: My favorite is Addis Abeba, on Clark just south of Addison; it's pricier and slightly finer-dining than the one right across the street (Ethio-Cafe, which is mostly just a mediocre buffet of vegetable dishes), but it's worth it, in that the food is generally pretty excellent. (Of my extended family only one uncle prefers Ethio-Cafe, and he gets pretty excited about a good value, so...) Mama Desta's down by Belmont is pretty okay -- nothing really notable but generally good. My memory of the one up north (Ethiopian Diamond?) is sort of hazy, but I think it's about the same.

(Disclaimer: my judging of Ethiopian restaurants places a lot of emphasis on whether or not they have good kitfo.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:13 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought Ethiopian Diamond was pretty good plus sometimes Phil Cohran plays there!

― hstencil, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't there a second Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway north of Bryn Mawr?

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 17:57 (twenty-three years ago)

There are two, I can never remember which is which. One of them was run by these women who also worked food service at Northwestern -- they were always inviting me there when I was a student, but I don't think I ever made it until much later.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:22 (twenty-three years ago)

if it's any consolation.. i don't think Ethopia has a Pittsburghian restaurant either.

― ken c, Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:22 (twenty-three years ago)

(I mean, two = Ethiopian Diamond and another one.)

Ethiopia does have a Pittsburghian restaurant.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:23 (twenty-three years ago)

I took a woman from Belarus to the non-Ethiopian Diamond one and she was disgusted. She also made some comment about black people being really good and singing and dancing. Otherwise a very nice woman.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:23 (twenty-three years ago)

How about the 930?

The nouveau 9:30 holds about 1,000-1,200 people, has the best sightlines in the city, and rountinely wins awards as the best club in the U.S. (as voted by touring bands). However, their prices are frightening and their bookers have completely forgotten the club's role in nurturing the development of the D.C. sound. Nowadays they book jam bands, oldies tours, jazz names -- anything that will fill the club at $35+ per head.

― j.lu (j.lu), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:26 (twenty-three years ago)

I am a very good dancer and obviously my penis is very large, but I am not so great of a singer.

― nabisco (nabisco), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:33 (twenty-three years ago)

*thinks pure thoughts*

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh right, she also mentioned that they seem to spend a lot of time on street corners.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:39 (twenty-three years ago)

If there's a decent Ethio place in Mpls I haven't heard of it (which is more than likey). But my fam fell in LOVE with the food when my dad was on a summer junket in DC and we went to join him on vacation (yrs ago but still, yum, and fun, fingerfood!)

There are a number of E. African joints here, but they're by-and-for the city's HUGE, recent Somali population, so I've never felt all that welcome the couple of times I've been to one, and I wouldn't DARE bring a woman there.

― g.cannon (gcannon), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:50 (twenty-three years ago)

me likey typos!

― g.cannon (gcannon), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:52 (twenty-three years ago)

a likey storly

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 18:57 (twenty-three years ago)

hah!

― g.cannon (gcannon), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 19:05 (twenty-three years ago)

One can buy teff at a couple of stores in NYC, at least. I've used it to make breakfast cereal, but have yet to actually make injera.

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:17 (twenty-three years ago)

J. Lu-
I guess everybody's got to earn their bread... but how I remember the grand days of the "Original" Niteclub 9:30. Even the days when it was the Atlantis.
Many, many bands of all styles and pretty damn cheap. Not as cheap as DC space but I always had more fun at 930 than at DC space. Let me see... who did I see there (the short list): Black Market Baby, Black Flag, Descendents, Meat Puppets (who nearly caused a riot because they, at first, refused to go on after the Descendents), Sonic Youth, White Zombie (can you believe that... my wife used to be next door neighbors to Sean and Rob on E. 13th in NYC), Scream, Dinosaur (before they because Dinosaur, Jr.), Volcano Suns, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic), Madhouse (before they became Strange Boutique)... I gotta stop now or my head will explode!

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Lithium Lunchbox,

Are you Gerard Cosloy?

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 20:49 (twenty-three years ago)

John, I don't think you've adequately searched the Oakland/U of Pitt area (very ghetto, i know, but hey...only place in Pgh where I hang out when I'm home; haven't really been to the Strip District) - I'm sure there has to be an Ethiopian eatery around there, since there are a lot of foreign students from Africa. I think there was an Arab/Middle Eastern restaurant on Craig Street, next to Star of India; I'm sure they would know something about it, or maybe they serve some E food as well. Look around...

― Vic (Vic), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 22:51 (twenty-three years ago)

gygax!

No, I'm the guy after... you know, the guy Steve Albini thought was a Vietnamese heroin dealer.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 23:43 (twenty-three years ago)

BTW, gygax! For the record the BurmaKitty was never married to Mr. GC. I am the only one to have suffered that fate.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Tuesday, 11 March 2003 23:47 (twenty-three years ago)

haha, i feel like i'm reading conflict ca. 1987! sorry...

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 00:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Conflict, indeed, provided many people great fun. I know I got a kick out of it. I believe the Burmakitty has still has the complete catalog. Offer me some money and I'll steal them for you.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 00:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Isn't it time that this thread merged with it's look-alike, Extropian Principles 3.0

― Skottke, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:18 (twenty-three years ago)

err...its, that is.

― Skottie, Wednesday, 12 March 2003 17:30 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, a confession. I don't mind Ethiopian food and have eaten at a number of notable establishments in Berkeley and Los Angeles, but I don't seek it out. I hate to say this, but the bread tastes spoiled and sour to me, and since it's the only way to pick up the other food which is rather good, I don't tend to fully enjoy the experience. Is there another kind of bread I can order? Is it insane to ask for a fork, so I can eat the good stuff without the bread?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 19:31 (twenty-three years ago)

no vic, there definitely isn't one. there is a restaurant in oakland called Road to Karakesh that offers one ethiopian-style dish, but without injera (and it has meat in it, and i am a vegetarian). life is pain.

― john fail (cenotaph), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Spencer, there is a solution to your problem, and it is called pita bread. Pita bread is the most common back-up for people who have wat but can't be bothered to make enjira at the moment, especially if the wat in question is lentil (mesir wat). I don't know how you'd go about doing this in a restaurant, but the option's open.

That said, I should note that enjira is the hardest part of the whole thing to get right, especially for American restaurants that aren't getting proper supplies of the right grains: is it at all possible that you've just been getting served bad stuff, or are you pretty clear on just not liking it?

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:28 (twenty-three years ago)

(I should note that since mesir wat is one of the most quick-and-easy whip-it-up wats, and pita bread is pita bread, the mesir-in-a-pita thing is like the grilled cheese sandwich of Ethiopian Americans throwing together something homelike; I know very few Ethiopian families that don't fall back on this often.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:31 (twenty-three years ago)

(Why do I instantly hear "mesir-in-a-pita" to the tune of "Girlfriend in a Coma"?)

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Nabisco, I've eaten at places on Fairfax and at the good one on Telegraph in Berkeley. Everything should be right, and the dishes themselves are awesome (and eating them with Pita bread sounds divine). I'm going to sneak in a fork next time!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Funny you should say that, Spencer...a new LA FAP announcement is nigh!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 20:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm in, but where to eat?! Tom Bergin's rules by the way. I keep forgetting to put up the pictures of Chris Barrus schmoozing with the ladies.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm afraid to go to Bergin's anymore - the last time I went, one of my favorite bartenders died the next day and there's only one of the old crew left! I could kill him!

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Foodage will be determined. Fret not. Looking like it will be the end of the month, but I have to make some calls first.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Luna, on my birthday I was talking to a bartender who looked like he might drop dead after last call. At least they go well fed and drunk and happy.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:16 (twenty-three years ago)

I have to make some calls first.

(Please let them be pig calls; that would amuse me.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Was it Irish Chris? I dig him

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:24 (twenty-three years ago)

I guess the New York restaurants are getting it right... it's one of my favorite parts of the cuisine.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:31 (twenty-three years ago)

(Please let them be pig calls; that would amuse me.)

reception: Mr Chow, I have a call for you on line 2.
me: Thanks.
me: This is Spencer.
Ned: SOOOOOOO-WEEEEEEEEE!!!!

also Luna, I was far too drunk to take names!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:36 (twenty-three years ago)

If Spencer gets a pig call, I want one, too

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:46 (twenty-three years ago)

You are all insane.

(Ms. Luna, please e-mail me yer phone number so I can keep you in on the loop as we plan!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 March 2003 22:55 (twenty-three years ago)

It has to be El Coyote!!!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 13 March 2003 03:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmmm...details?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 March 2003 03:34 (twenty-three years ago)

nabisco, did you get the info on shipping me ethiopian food? goddam it i'm hungry.

― j fail (cenotaph), Thursday, 13 March 2003 03:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmmm...details?

El Coyote:
Citysearch editorial review
Citysearch user reviews
and a pic of the bar: (the restaurant itself is rather cavernous)
http://www.splendora.com/images/reviews/losangeles/elcoyote_030541b.jpg

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 13 March 2003 04:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Ooh yeah El Coyote...

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 13 March 2003 05:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Most tempting. ;-) Well, as revealed in chat -- which you did not attend, Mr. Chow ;-) (I tease) -- incipient megaFAP plans are for something big on March 30, but possibly something else this weekend as well.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 March 2003 05:49 (twenty-three years ago)

J Fail: this is embarrassing, I havne't heard back from my dad yet. I remain confident that my dad still loves me and just hasn't come across the email. I need to call him anyway, so I'll check then.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 13 March 2003 06:00 (twenty-three years ago)

...only to find out that he has disowned you for asking after shipped injera instead of something fresh. D'oh!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 March 2003 06:07 (twenty-three years ago)

all i remember about ethiopian food was when i was 17 doing summer school at Georgetown. i got horribly drunk on honey wine and got busted by the program leaders when they found me throwing up injera and red-stuff all over the lobby of Darnall Hall... havent had ethiopian since. but everyone says ghenet in new york is pretty good.. i dunno

― phil-two (phil-two), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:04 (twenty-three years ago)

My only ever NYC FAP was at an ethiopian place in Manhattan. I forget what it was called but it might have been Ghenet. I remember it was off Houston St., and the food was alright, but the service was extremely indifferent. (and of course overpriced, but hey, it's Manhattan)

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:18 (twenty-three years ago)

g.cannon, there are a few Ethiopian places on Lyndale Avenue in Mpls, if I remember properly (Blue Nile just west of Lake?) and one pretty near the Triple Rock. I think you should try Somalian restaurants; believe me if I were in Mpls I would have gone to one by now.

Insanely, the Cally Road Ethiopians are about 15 minutes' walk from my house but I've never gone to any of them (and I love injera).

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 13 March 2003 08:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Ned, count me out for this weekend as I'll be out of town.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 13 March 2003 09:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I've only eaten at an Ethiopian place once, but I didn't like the injera because it had a kind of perfumey taste to it, which wasn't very food-like to my tastes. And the rest of the food didn't strike me as exceptional.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 13 March 2003 09:19 (twenty-three years ago)

My father notes that "The name of the place in LA is Injera.com. Happy eating for your friend..." They mostly ship teff and enjira, but if you look under "ordering" there should be an option for "injera with doro wat." (Doro = chicken.) Two important things that my father stressed by phone: (a) there are no eggs in the doro wat, for obvious reasons -- you want to boil them yourself and then simmer them with the wat while it's reheating; and (b) the spicing and flavor will collect in the plastic container they ship in -- after you've emptied it into a pot, you want to pour boiling water into the container to leach out the good stuff, then pour the water in with the wat to replace any moisture that's been lost. It's something like $40 for 10 pieces of enjira and enough doro wat to feed four people, which is about what you'd pay in a restaurant. It's not fantastic but it's pretty decent. Note also that 80% of Ethiopians here will claim that wat is actually better the second day, after refrigeration and reheating: something in the taste changes a little bit, if not for the better then certainly not for the worse.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 13 March 2003 21:34 (twenty-three years ago)

HA! I spent a summer in Harbin Hall then a semester in Darnall after a miserable year in Xavier (Arts Hall!) at Georgetown. I don't remember throwing up in Darnall but did get into a fight in an elevator there over a misunderstanding concerning bootleg cigarettes.

― Lithium Lunchbox (Lithium Lunchbox), Friday, 14 March 2003 03:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Ned, count me out for this weekend as I'll be out of town.

Noted. At this point, aim for the 30th.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 14 March 2003 06:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I love the fact that this thread took a quick detour in the middle to discuss 9:30 Club. My thoughts there - new location is a good place to see shows, but I miss the old hole in the wall it used to be.

The problem I have with most Ethiopian places in US is that since tef is so expensive there, they either use or a tef/wheat mixture which I find v. unsatisfying. (Spencer, you would probably hate injera made with just tef as it is much tangier and 'sour' than what you normally get)

Adams Morgan is def. Ethiopia Central- aside from the at least 6 restaurants, 2 Eth. groceries, record stores, etc. a significant chunk of the other bars & clubs (e.g. Heaven/Hell) are also owned by Ethiopians (who have also invested quite a bit in the U Street clubs.) I once walked down 18th St, past 10 groups of ppl and heard only Amharic. (btw, that Fairfax strip in LA was recently officially renamed Little Ethiopia)

― H (Heruy), Friday, 14 March 2003 12:26 (twenty-three years ago)

There's an Ethiopian cafe opening up a couple of blocks from my work, which is exciting. Do they generally have vegetarian options?

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Friday, 14 March 2003 13:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Since most Ethiopians (well Christian Ethiopians) spend big chunks of the year fasting (meaning no dairy & no meat) there are tons of vegetarian/vegan options.

― H (Heruy), Friday, 14 March 2003 14:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm glad I'm not pious -- a Lent full of mesir and kek and no kitfo would do me in.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 14 March 2003 22:24 (twenty-three years ago)

six months pass...

I had my first ever Ethiopian meal this evening. When the 'tablecloth' arrived I asked if we were allowed to ask for more injera rolls should the need arise. The waiter laughed. The injera is still expanding in my stomach as I write. I chose fish tibs as main course - fried strips of tilapia with tomato and pepper. Fab. Just one sour note, has anyone else been to Lalibela in North London? We spent three hours there for two courses, the service was that slow. They did provide coffee served in a brilliant pot - all the utensils were stunning - accompanied by frankincense, but three hours! I read on one website that traditionally a woman 'with stunning cheekbones' comes and pours warm water on everyone's right hand. And apparently your host might pop your first roll in your mouth for you. Is any of this accurate?!

― Daniel (dancity), Friday, 3 October 2003 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Reviving because of the Ethiopian Food mistrust on this thread.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:02 (twenty years ago)

wise choice of words

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:04 (twenty years ago)

mistrust or distrust?

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

it really is the best food ever invented

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:06 (twenty years ago)

or antitrust?

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:07 (twenty years ago)

I've never had Ethiopian food. I don't even know where to get some around here as no such restaurant serving it exists. I'm willing to bet the nearest place to get Ethopian food would be five hours away in Atlanta.

― Ian Riese-Moraine: a casualty of social estrangement. (Eastern Mantra), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:07 (twenty years ago)

pedant note: the slanted door is now (permanently?) located in south of market between the financial district and pacbell park.
-- gygax! (gygax0...), March 10th, 2003 3:22 PM. (gygax!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

temporarily
-- Spencer Chow (spencercho...), March 10th, 2003 3:23 PM. (spencermfi)

Permanently!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:08 (twenty years ago)

make your own!

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

also was it invented or discovered? It is pretty basic, you get the feeling that someone just found some Injera lying beneath a tree somewhere and tried eating it.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Too bad about Slanted Door?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

i like this website!
http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Slanted and Enchanted

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

OK, the go-to spot for Ethiopian in Los Angeles is Meals By Genet. It's on the poshier side of things, but it hands down beats the typical hippie stuff that often passes as Ethiopian food

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

you get the feeling that someone just found some Injera lying beneath a tree somewhere and tried eating it.

the garden of eden to thread

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

Three or four (that I know of) practically on top of each other in Adams Morgan. Why so bunched together?

Haha! When I was in DC, I stayed in Adams Morgan and went to a couple of these when I was too lazy to walk anywhere!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:12 (twenty years ago)

British food is so much worse than Ethiopian Food.

I mean, do THEY know it's christmas? Yuck.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

Also check out Ngoma - it's billed as "pan-African" but there's some Ethiopian items on the menu.

Shockingly, it's NOT on Fairfax.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)

I am a big fan of Rosalinds on (you guessed it) Fairfax:

http://www.rosalindsrestaurant.com/

― The Ghost of Dean Gulberry (dr g), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

Thanks Chris!

Also Gygax, that was TERRIBLE (good job).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:14 (twenty years ago)

gygax you wonderful horrible man

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

There are three Ethiopian restaurants within walking distance of my house, and they are all pretty great.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:18 (twenty years ago)

I don't even understand how anyone could dislike Ethiopian food, it's crazy.

― Leon C. (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:53 (twenty years ago)

Classic. I haven't had it for many years despiting having a few (I assume they are still there) Ethiopian restaurants at my disposal in West Philadelphia.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:55 (twenty years ago)

i want this tonight

― The Ghost of Dean Gulberry (dr g), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:58 (twenty years ago)

I didn't like the Ethiopian food I tried the one time I had some at this one place (Jody was there!). But I didn't know what any of it was going to be like really so it was pot luck, or in this case bad luck.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:59 (twenty years ago)

I'll give it another go in a few weeks though.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 23:59 (twenty years ago)

ethiopian food is great, and great fun, but i could understand someone disliking it if they went to a bad restaurant

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:03 (twenty years ago)

this is surely true of all food from all countries ever though.

― Sociah T Azzahole (blueski), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:04 (twenty years ago)

I didn't like the Ethiopian food I tried the one time I had some at this one place (Jody was there!).

yep! it was ghenet on mulberry st, which i happen to like a lot although they've gone downhill over the years. i remember they used to have a very good and varied wine list but they ditched that cuz i guess the wines weren't selling.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:06 (twenty years ago)

you've gotta bring your appetite when you go there though cuz it really is way too much food.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:09 (twenty years ago)

At Long Last, New York Is Ready for Ethiopia
By Eric Asimov
The New York Times '01
THE brick and ocher walls glowed softly in the low lights, the place was packed with a good-looking crowd, and the chef was making the rounds, kissing familiar faces and asking if everybody was happy. But nobody at this new restaurant was praising the foie gras or the tuna steak. Here at Queen of Sheba, which opened just a week ago in Clinton, the crowd had turned out for fine Ethiopian fare: beef and lamb stews flavored with a rousing dark-red hot sauce, and wonderful vegetarian dishes seasoned with complex spice blends, all eaten not with forks but with pieces of injera, a spongy flat bread with the enticing flavor of sourdough.
Queen of Sheba, though the newest Ethiopian restaurant in New York, was not the only one getting attention last weekend. Ethiopian restaurants around Manhattan were crowded, with mixtures of families, university students, Ethiopians and Jamaicans, many of whom venerate Haile Selassie by his given name, Ras Tafari.

''Popular?'' said Philipos Mengistu, the owner and chef of Queen of Sheba. ''That's why I opened in Midtown. The market is there, meaning people are getting addicted.''
For years, Ethiopian restaurants have been relegated to the edges of New York's restaurant menu, stereotyped as low-priced campus favorites where young people on meager budgets braved squat wooden stools and flimsy tables to scoop up stews with bread and fingers. But slowly, with three new Ethiopian restaurants opening in the last year in Manhattan, this bedeviling image is changing as New Yorkers are opening themselves to the pleasures of this unusual cuisine.
This may be a signal moment for Ethiopian restaurants in New York. Diners are now knowledgeable and curious enough to appreciate the cooking and its traditions, and Ethiopian restaurateurs have been in New York long enough to know how to appeal to Americans, encouraging them to try eating with injera from big central platters but also offering flatware and individual servings if diners are uncomfortable. And, most important, Ethiopian cooks now have access to essential ingredients, like teff flour for making injera, and peppers and spices for making berbere (pronounced bear-BEAR-ee), the hot sauce.
''The quality of the products here is higher, and the people who make the food are from Ethiopia,'' said Marcus Samuelsson, the chef at the Swedish restaurant Aquavit, who is Ethiopian by birth and grew up in Sweden. ''So in America, you now have the opportunity to have the best Ethiopian food in the world.''
Unlike the food of almost any other country, Ethiopian cuisine has grown in a vacuum, undiluted by outside forces. Its mountainous geography kept it largely isolated from its neighbors, and unlike other African countries, Ethiopia escaped European domination, except for a five-year Italian occupation under Mussolini. Only its position as a stop on ancient trade routes brought Ethiopia the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon, fenugreek, turmeric and other spices that are used so creatively.
''No other culture has come into the country to introduce new food,'' said Yeworkwoha Ephrem, whose restaurant, Ghenet, has drawn a steady stream of diners since she opened in NoLIta in 1998. ''We isolated ourselves culturally, and our food has not been infused by either European or Asian cuisines.''
Ms. Ephrem's success with Ghenet is strikingly different from her experience with her first restaurant, Sheba, which she opened on Hudson Street in 1979. Back then she had to settle for poor substitutes, like pancake flour to make injera. Americans were apprehensive about unfamiliar traditions, less willing to try new things. By 1984, Sheba had closed.
Now, teff, the ancient, extremely nutritious grain from which injera is made, is grown and milled in Idaho, where the Teff Company sells it to Ethiopians nationwide. Her berbere is flown in from Ethiopia, and diners delight in everything from the spicy, almost granular miser wot, a lentil stew with flavors that build in the mouth, to yebeg alecha, a deliciously mild lamb stew.
''The taste of the food is a big difference, and people have opened up,'' she said, somewhat in wonder. ''Things have changed tremendously.''
Aside from Queen of Sheba, the other Ethiopian restaurants that have opened in Manhattan in the last year are Meskerem and Caffè Adulis. Meskerem on Macdougal Street, a sibling of Meskerem on West 47th Street, opened last summer with the sort of simple décor and brick walls characteristic of so many other Village restaurants. But the second restaurant, Caffè Adulis, is a significant departure from the others. With its hosts in ties and jackets, a comfortable wood-paneled ambience, an extensive wine list and a fusion menu based on the cuisine of Eritrea, a coastal region that gained its independence in 1993 after a long civil war, Adulis is the first East African entry into the New York fine dining world.
Even so, there may be no more than a dozen Ethiopian restaurants in the city, a result of the small population of Ethiopians in New York -- 2,500 in 2000, according to the City Planning Department -- and the fact that Americans know very little about any African cuisine. Mr. Samuelsson attributes this to the low level of trade and tourism between Africa and the United States.
''Until we started to buy Sony and other Japanese products, we didn't eat sushi,'' he said. ''If we don't trade with eastern Africa, how will we learn about the food?''
Mr. Samuelsson, who was adopted by a Swedish family at age 3, has no conscious memory of his early childhood. But since he came to New York in 1994 he has acquainted himself intimately with Ethiopian cuisine and has traveled to Ethiopia with Ms. Ephrem, who served as his culinary guide. He has even added some Ethiopian touches to his menu at Aquavit, using shiro, a chickpea flour, with smoked salmon; curing duck with tej, the Ethiopian honey wine; or serving injera with hors d'oeuvres.
''They're so many great things that people can use,'' Mr. Samuelsson said. ''The food is based on very high flavors.''
The traditional Ethiopian menu is heavy with beef, lamb and chicken. Yet, because the country is made up mostly of Christians and Muslims who observe many meatless days, it also has a wonderful and extensive vegetarian selection, centered on lentils, split peas, cabbage, beans and greens like collards and kale.
Seasonings are crucial, with mountain-grown chili peppers combining with ginger, garlic, onions, spices, basil and a host of less familiar flavorings like bishop's weed, which resembles thyme, and false banana powder, which comes from a source that looks like a banana tree but bears no fruit. The flavorings are usually cooked slowly in kibe, a clarified butter similar to the Indian ghee. One thing almost never found in Ethiopian food is sugar.
To say that Ethiopian food can be spicy enough to set a rosy glow to the sinuses and mouth is like noting that French chefs use sauces, yet as with most things Ethiopian, it's not nearly that simple. Hot berbere paste and its spicy relatives awaze and mitmitta are integral to many recipes, yet different dishes have carefully calibrated degrees of fire, and some dishes, made without hot sauce and called alecha, are mild enough for the most sensitive palates.
Pulling all the disparate elements together is the injera, the spongy fermented bread imprinted with bubbles that tastes faintly of sourdough and resembles huge crepes. Almost every Ethiopian restaurant offers combination plates, perfect for first-timers and preferred by some veterans for tasting a spectrum of meat and vegetable dishes, from atikilt wot, a spicy stew of green beans, carrots and cabbage, to yebeg alecha, a mild lamb stew. It's helpful to remember that the word wot, which rhymes with hot, indicates that a dish is just that, while alecha means that a dish is mild.
Ethiopian food is served on centerpiece platters over injera, accompanied by plates of more injera, rolled up like so many dish towels. To eat, you simply tear off pieces of injera and scoop up bites of food. With practice comes deftness, and eventually you can strip the meat off a drumstick, bite by bite, using injera.
One thing immediately apparent after visiting most of New York's Ethiopian restaurants is the similarity of the menus. ''As with any third world country's food, it doesn't have tiers of sophistication,'' Mr. Samuelsson said. ''It doesn't matter if you're the richest or the poorest, you're going to eat the same food, except that maybe the quality of the meat changes.''
Eventually, though, you begin to notice subtle differences among the restaurants. Awash, a small but crowded restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue near 109th Street, excels at both vegetarian dishes and at kitfo, a raw beef delicacy invariably referred to as Ethiopian steak tartare. Massawa, on Amsterdam Avenue near 121st, has a selection of shrimp dishes, indicating a coastal Eritrean heritage (Ethiopia itself is landlocked). Zula, a block away from Massawa, is known for its shiro wot, a spicy chickpea stew, while Meskerem has excellent injera and fine doro wot, a spicy chicken stew topped with hard-cooked eggs that comes close to being the national dish of Ethiopia.
At Ghenet, Ms. Ephrem is unparalleled in her willingness to discuss the food and culture of Ethiopia with anybody who doesn't know tibs from wots, that is, cooked meat dishes from spicy stews. Until Queen of Sheba opened, only Ghenet served kategna, injera coated with kibe and hot sauce, and toasted into a wonderful garlicky appetizer. The place has also adapted Ghenet's friendly, flexible approach.
It's not yet clear how people have taken to the Eritrean fusion cuisine offered at Caffè Adulis, which is the New York branch of a restaurant that has been thriving in New Haven since 1992. Adulis, practically hidden beneath huge scaffolding, was practically empty for lunch one day last week, though the three brothers who own the restaurant, Ficre, Gideon and Sahle Ghebreyesus, say they do well in the evenings, especially with former Yalies who remember their cooking.
Ficre Ghebreyesus, the chef, stays true to the spirit of Eritrean and Ethiopian spicing, though he does step beyond traditional bounds, flavoring the injera with beets, lime, berbere or even pesto. Instead of serving meat cooked on the bone for long periods, Mr. Ghebreyesus likes to use the sort of boneless cuts more familiar to upscale customers, and he sautés them quickly. ''Cooking is one of the ways I reconciled my being away from home,'' said Mr. Ghebreyesus, who came to the United States at 18. ''I try to recreate the dishes of home, but within the present tense.''
His specialties include an appetizer of shrimp seared with tomato and cabbage and served in a spicy cream sauce. It goes beautifully with injera of any flavor, to say nothing of a crisp Chablis from Louis Michel. Mr. Ghebreyesus uses mint and lime to augment a dish of braised cubes of filet mignon with berbere, based on the Ethiopian tibs. He calls this Afro-Asian Ensemble.

''You have to be willing to let go of some of your traditions,'' he said. ''You should recognize the good influences that come your way. Culture benefits that way.''

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:17 (twenty years ago)

(is meskerem still open? i remember having had a good meal there once.)

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:22 (twenty years ago)

I don't think I like Ethiopian food.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:40 (twenty years ago)

that's TWO people i've eaten ethiopian with who've now come out of the closet as haters! the truth comes out!

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

I can eat the shit out of some ethiopian. Unfortunately, the last couple of times I have been in ny the service has been so slow that when I get my food I wolf it down in 8 minutes and have severe aches the rest of the night.

― Mendoza Lineman (Carey), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

I like British food a lot though, so I admit my taste maybe somewhat suspect. Or WASPy bland.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:53 (twenty years ago)

Only had it once (Abyssinia, Memphis) — it was good, but not OMG AWESOME like Vietnamese.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

I've just walked in from an evening of lavish Ethiopian goodness at Sodere, on 9th at U in DC. That corner looks to be the heart of the District's new Little Addis--we counted 12 Ethiopian/Eritrean joints in one block, plus one lonely Moroccan takeout.

The meat sauce was deep red and fiery, and the yellow peas were light and buttery. Mm! Those leftovers are going to make a hearty breakfast.

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Thursday, 18 August 2005 00:56 (twenty years ago)

Only had it once (Abyssinia, Memphis) — it was good, but not OMG AWESOME like Vietnamese.

i've had more hit-or-miss vietnamese than ethiopian. i've had vietnamese meals ranging from awful to scintillating, but all my ethiopian meals have ranged from great to earth-shatteringly great.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:01 (twenty years ago)

t/s: OMG AWESOME vs earth-shatteringly great

― The Ghost of Dean Gulberry (dr g), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:04 (twenty years ago)

Even the Vietnamese meal that gave me food poisoning was great (going down). The Ethiopian meal I had was better than the worst Vietnamese I've had, but I just like the Vietnamese palette of flavors better.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:07 (twenty years ago)

t/s: OMG AWESOME vs earth-shatteringly great

we all win.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:09 (twenty years ago)

Tell ya what, if you ever make it to Memphis, let's go to Abyssinia for dinner, and then down the street to Pho Saigon for one of those bubble drinks.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

i'd love to!

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

Jody, if I had money to acquire the ingredients, I think I would make some. Alas...

― Ian Riese-Moraine: a casualty of social estrangement. (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:21 (twenty years ago)

Heavens! ;D

― The Ghost of Dean Gulberry (dr g), Thursday, 18 August 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

Well yes.

Haven't had Ethiopian food in a bit. Spencer, you want the next FAP should be at such a place?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 August 2005 03:17 (twenty years ago)

Ethiopian food would be great if you didn't have to eat it off a sour washcloth. Also if it tasted more like Indian food.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Thursday, 18 August 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

You are insane on both counts (it is NOT a sour washcloth and in fact it often does remind me of Indian food so tasting 'more' like it would be both unnecessary and would reduce its unique appeal).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 August 2005 05:04 (twenty years ago)

Oh, you know what else, re: people who hate injera -- are you sure you're eating the right amount? I feel like when people first eat Ethiopian food they go nuts trying to keep it off of their fingers, so they wrap every since bite of wat in like a half-sheet of injera. In which case yeah, you're kinda bound to be annoyed with it. Ideally, if you're eating right, you won't taste the injera that much at all.

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 18 August 2005 05:06 (twenty years ago)

Also apparently you can use it as a beard:

http://www.panix.com/~dking/Ethiopian3.jpg

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 18 August 2005 05:11 (twenty years ago)

This is Hewan looking pissed cause she spent all day making that injera and now some dorkoid is playing with it:

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:RhQxdqddGR8J:www.ethioview.com/photo/people/images/Young-Ethiopian-Girl_jpg.jpg

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 18 August 2005 05:19 (twenty years ago)

Ed is experimenting again and there is now a big bag of tef in my midst; he was freaked out by colour of tef v. colour of injera available in the Cally Road Ethiopians.

We usually go to Marathon on Cally Road but I'm tempted not to go back after Ed brought me back a doro wat takeaway that had like one tiny winglet of chicken and one egg in the middle of this utter lake of wat. Merkato looks like it might be nicer and there seems to be a small collection of places on Blackhorse Road.

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:02 (twenty years ago)

so good.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 18 August 2005 07:08 (twenty years ago)

there's a place in rock st right by finsbury park that i've meaning to try - senke. the stall in the hanbury street market is very good, but that's only on sundays. still, i highly recommend it.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 18 August 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

s/c is OTM re Makeda in New Brunswick -- it's both great and kind of unusual (because it's run by a Nigerian guy, so the preparations are somewhat non-traditional.) In NYC, Meskerem (somewhere in the 40s, near 9th ave) is good, though my favorite was a place in Morningside Heights, now closed.

― Guayaquil, Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:30 (twenty years ago)

there is an ethopian restaurant on the upper east side named, wait for it, Ethiopian Restaurant. i haven't been, yet.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

s/c is OTM re Makeda in New Brunswick -- it's both great and kind of unusual (because it's run by a Nigerian guy, so the preparations are somewhat non-traditional.)

that place was special because it's the only places i've ever eaten at where i felt like i was getting a full-on sensual experience* and not merely shoveling some (albeit tasty) food into my yap.

*no sex please, we're a food thread! "sensual" = "engaging all the senses."

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

I have never eaten Ethiopian food.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 18 August 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

you don't know wat you're missing!

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

sssh, don't say that, now he's gonna try it and hate it!

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure Jaymc will make him, at some point!

My suggestion for lovers of Ethiopian food, which I may have already shared on ILX: buy a bag of berbere for your home. It's the main unique flavor in plenty of Ethiopian dishes, and it works great with plenty of everyday cooking. Throw it into a beef stir-fry (with onions, peppers, garlic) and you're basically eating tibs.

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

where's the best place to pick some up in nyc?

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

Nick, I think you'd really like it!

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

Come up to my neighborhood sometime and we'll go to Ras Dashen.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

I actually have no idea, Jody -- I always get a giant bag from my mom and keep it frozen forever. If nothing else, I'm sure you could order it pretty easily.

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

order?? this is new york -- you can get anything here! fuck a shipping charge.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

pedant note: the slanted door is now (permanently?) located in south of market between the financial district and pacbell park.
-- gygax! (gygax0...), March 10th, 2003 3:22 PM. (gygax!)
temporarily
-- Spencer Chow (spencercho...), March 10th, 2003 3:23 PM. (spencermfi)
Permanently!

-- gygax! (gygax0...) (webmail), August 18th, 2005 12:08 AM. (gygax!) (later) (link)

IT IS PERMANENTLY IN THE FERRY BUILDING YOU FOOL! the other location is gone.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 18 August 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

I probably WOULD like Ethiopian food.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

Even though it comes uncomfortably close to rhyming with "fallopian tube."

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

i want to eat some ethiopian food tonight

― The Ghost of Dean Gulberry (dr g), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:04 (twenty years ago)

the meat dishes I liked, the sauces I liked, the injera? I'd be happy never to even see any, never mind eat any again.

― Porkpie (porkpie), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

IT IS PERMANENTLY IN THE FERRY BUILDING YOU FOOL! the other location is gone.

-- kyle (akmonda...), August 18th, 2005 12:52 PM. (akmonday)

If you look at the dates that exchange was posted, dear Kyle, back in 2003 there was speculation whether the slanted door would return to its valencia st. location. i was pointing out (to spencer) that it was indeed permanent, with the benefit of 2 years time.

as for the original location, you may be surprised to visit here:
http://www.slanteddoor.com/
in particular the last sentence, YOU FOOL.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

We are going to Axum tonight. Yum.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

Note: the crab place which Lithium mentions above is Thanh Long and I quite like it.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 18 August 2005 19:44 (twenty years ago)

restaurants? pfft! my momma makes the best injera and wat you could ever imagine!

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Is Ethiopian food better if you eat meat?

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Everything is better if you eat meat.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

I'd say yes but then again there are loads of tasty vegetarian choices to make and many of my vegetarian friends would agree with that.

― Lovelace (Lovelace), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

ethiopian food is a brilliant choice for vegetarians. especially if they like lentils and greens.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

I don't know what it is then. It just seems like an inferior version of Indian food to me. I guess I've only eaten at bad restaurants but still, even the worst mexican food or pizza still has some redeeming qualities. I'll have to try Meals by Genet since I saw Huell Howser go there.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Thursday, 18 August 2005 20:26 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

big up Marathon on Caledonian Road.

― blueski, Sunday, 2 September 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

DC: the remodeled and reopened Queen Makeda (on 9th bet. T & U) is crazy good. I've eaten there twice in the last few weeks and some of what I've had has been even better than the mighty Dukem. Short menu, and I was kind of let down by the kitfo, but the tibs wat is stunning, as was the doro wat. The first time I went their injera was on the dry side but it was perfection on friday night. Their red lentils are really rich, and there was a dish on the vegetable platter I haven't seen before - some kind of beet + spicy red pepper + jalapeno thing.

Etete still has the best sambusas. Dukem is still my favorite overall although it's been super crowded the last few nights I've tried to go. I haven't been back to Madjet in a bit, and I also need to try Roja again - I wasn't impressed on my first trip but I've heard good things from others. Anyone tried the french/ethiopian patisserie a couple doors south of Queen Makeda? I'm intrigued.

― I DIED, Sunday, 2 September 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

Everybody's serving the beets these days! I was practically in my late 20s before I learned Ethiopians eat them. I was all: "But mom, you never made beets!" And she was all: "Umm you don't LIKE beets, dumbass."

― nabisco, Sunday, 2 September 2007 18:06 (eighteen years ago)

the eritrean place in brixton is great, if no one's mentioned that yet

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 2 September 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)

as is the one on Essex Rd - fancy goin there soon? their beer is also amazing

― blueski, Sunday, 2 September 2007 18:24 (eighteen years ago)

I went to Tajitu in Frederick, Md a few times this summer and I am jonesing hard for some now :(

― m bison, Sunday, 2 September 2007 19:33 (eighteen years ago)

i go to the Dukem in b-more

http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2006/11/duke3d.jpg

― am0n, Sunday, 2 September 2007 20:06 (eighteen years ago)

I think now is a great time to go eat thiopian. Its the Ethiopian Millenium on September 11th. Time to celebrate.

I am a little worried about the Ethiopian Millenium Bug though.

― Pete, Sunday, 2 September 2007 20:40 (eighteen years ago)

Ha. Will they have food at that 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Millennium music show at the DC Armory on Sat. the 8th, or down at the Washington Monument grounds on Wed. the 12th? I like Dama on Columbia Pike in Arlington, VA as much or more than the Little Ethiopia restaurants in the 9th & U area of DC.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 September 2007 21:18 (eighteen years ago)

ack! had it recently and hated it. my friends loved it and said it was good ethiopian. injera was the worst part.

― jed_, Sunday, 2 September 2007 21:47 (eighteen years ago)

ban jed.

the lack of ethiopian here in dirty south jersey isn't as galling as its lack of a lot of other things but its still pretty bad

― strongohulkington, Sunday, 2 September 2007 21:53 (eighteen years ago)

also, the (quite lovely) woman harassed me for leaving food then made me take it with me.

― jed_, Sunday, 2 September 2007 23:47 (eighteen years ago)

I will totally eat this food the next time I'm in DC.

― Beth Parker, Monday, 3 September 2007 01:10 (eighteen years ago)

where in nyc is best? i've been to meserkem, ghenet and awash. ghenet was excellent but expensive, but i haven't been for a few years. most recently i've been to the awash east village location and one time it was great, the other time not so much.

― bell_labs, Monday, 3 September 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

Eeeg. Come to LA. There's a couple of city blocks of nothing BUT Ethiopian restaurants!
-- Ned Raggett (Ned)

We found it! Little Ethiopia.

― moley, Monday, 3 September 2007 02:06 (eighteen years ago)

Crown Hotel, July 2007
http://i3.tinypic.com/2uei8hl.jpg
our party (I am in limegreen shirt at center, behind all the beer & tej)
http://i16.tinypic.com/669yeu1.jpg

― Dimension 5ive, Monday, 3 September 2007 02:53 (eighteen years ago)

My suggestion for lovers of Ethiopian food, which I may have already shared on ILX: buy a bag of berbere for your home.

This is a great suggestion. I have a good-sized tub of berbere that I picked up from the Ethiopian market across the street from Ethiopian Diamond, and I recently added some to an eggplant stew my girlfriend was making, and it gave it a great, hearty kick. This market is where we get injera, too.

― jaymc, Monday, 3 September 2007 23:36 (eighteen years ago)

Ate so much Ethiopian food on Sunday.

― Jeff, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 01:44 (eighteen years ago)

haha other people take pictures of ethiopian food too!

dinner last week, home made:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1288/1316404465_74807cd758.jpg

― jergïns, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 02:13 (eighteen years ago)

(wait not homemade injera but yeah the rest)

― jergïns, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 02:14 (eighteen years ago)

bell, the new-ish place on 3rd street (meskel) is supposed to be fantastic.

― lauren, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:40 (eighteen years ago)

Any of the handful of Austinites been to the just-opened place by campus? I want to but am afraid of the newness of it.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:41 (eighteen years ago)

hmm...field trip to meskel anyone?

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:42 (eighteen years ago)

YES!

― lauren, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:42 (eighteen years ago)

― Jon Lewis, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:49 (eighteen years ago)

ethiopian is one of my favorites and it's been too long. i'll go anytime!

i hope meskel has good honey wine. the stuff they served us at awash was just manischewitz.

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:49 (eighteen years ago)

haha. our last meal at awash was pretty meh, but my friend liked meskel so much that she went two nights in a row. i've heard that going on the early side is a good idea as it got a rave from the times shortly after opening and has been packed ever since.

― lauren, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 15:56 (eighteen years ago)

awash = portions too small, and what there is of it not delicious enough.

― Jon Lewis, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 16:02 (eighteen years ago)

i dragged the bf, who had never had ethiopian, to awash, after talking it up way too much. he was very underwhelmed. hopefully this will change!

― bell_labs, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 16:03 (eighteen years ago)

there's a place in New Brunswick, NJ called Makeda and it's probably some of the best food I've ever put in my mouth.

Rock Hardy sadly OTM re: Abyssinia. It's ok, not great :/
Seriously, I think Makeda ruined me wrt Ethiopian.

― will, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 16:08 (eighteen years ago)

HOWEVER the new place a couple doors over from Awash is intriguing. It's vietnamese but all the meats are buddhist fakery. So like they have fake meat banh mi. But that's for another thread.

― Jon Lewis, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

The uptown Awash is totally solid -- never been to the village one. Meskerem by NYU = embarrassing.

Dimension took an Ethiopian with him to get food, and if y'all Noizers do a field trip, I'll expect you to do the same...

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)

aw, of course!

― lauren, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

Whereas someone gave Jergin a whole lot of ibe! This is the polite and generous way to say "are you sure it's not going to be too spicy for you?" -- a healthy helping of tart, cooling cheese.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

xpost - I do, however, have a bad habit of eating all the kitfo before anyone else can get any

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 21:57 (eighteen years ago)

What is the thing that looks and tastes kind of like hummus? I had it at an Ethiopian place in Berkeley but haven't encountered it in Chicago.

― jaymc, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:03 (eighteen years ago)

OK I'm guessing it must be this (went to the menu):

Ye-Shiro Wät
Ground chickpeas simmered in a rich berberé (a mild blend of dried ground chilies) sauce and vegetable oil. Served with the veggie of the day.

― jaymc, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

It's probably shiro alitcha, actually. Alitcha = without all the berbere, less spicy, and will still be chickpea-colored, rather than red/brown like wat.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:13 (eighteen years ago)

(Not specific to shiro -- the wat vs. alitcha situation applies to, like, everything.)

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:14 (eighteen years ago)

(There's probably also a significant difference in the amount of clarified butter involved.)

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:17 (eighteen years ago)

Sam, hopefully hitting Aster's tonight for dinner and will report back!

― patita, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:31 (eighteen years ago)

You're probably right, N., since it was in fact chickpea-colored and mild in taste.

― jaymc, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:37 (eighteen years ago)

So does wat basically mean that berbere is involved?

― jaymc, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

Basically, yeah. And once you know the difference between wat and alitcha, ordering just involves knowing the names of common foodstuffs: beg is lamb, siga is beef, doro is chicken, shiro is chickpeas, mesir is lentils, etc.

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:07 (eighteen years ago)

(Or, well, to get all technical, both wat and alitcha are starting from boiled-down onions and clarified spiced butter -- the difference is whether you're spicing it up with berbere or not. There is berbere involved in plenty of non-wat/alitcha dishes, too.)

(Which, incidentally: vegans should always check that vegetable dishes are made with vegetable oil instead of clarified butter.)

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:10 (eighteen years ago)

Nabisco, didn't you say NM food is (spicewise) kind of like Ethiopian food? If so, what is a good point of comparison (ie such & such dish reselmbles Ethiopian food)? I will never get the Ethiopian around here but some sort of spice analogy would be interesting.

(I am so extra addixted to this green chile & beef stew the have at La Nueve Casitas down the street...god I think I'll go buy some right now.)

― Abbott, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

oops, should read La NuevA Casitas

― Abbott, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:20 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, it's the flavor of the peppers used in the spices. I guess maybe since the geography's kinda similar -- high mountains in warm places -- the Ethiopian ones are a lot like New Mexico ones. More smoky than tangy?

― nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:25 (eighteen years ago)

Oh man, I think I would really like this stuff.

― Abbott, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:26 (eighteen years ago)

Whereas someone gave Jergin a whole lot of ibe! This is the polite and generous way to say "are you sure it's not going to be too spicy for you?" -- a healthy helping of tart, cooling cheese.

-- nabisco, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 21:56 (1 hour ago) Link

lol no it wasn't really like that. in fact, everything was far less spicy than i expected it to be. next time i'll use jalapenos instead of serranos, and put more cayenne in the berbere.

and oh my god, the butter: so so good. i kept making jergins smell it.

since i made 5 dishes, each serving 6 - 8, we've got a freezer full of leftovers. we'll have ethiopian all autumn long.

― lxy, Tuesday, 4 September 2007 23:38 (eighteen years ago)

If anyone is ever in Madison WI hit me up, we will go to Buraka and have many fine wats.

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 03:18 (eighteen years ago)

I'll bring me daughter for ETH-FACTOR.

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 03:18 (eighteen years ago)

Ned and I (and others) had Ethiopian last night, but they were out of shiro wot, but it was all right, we got something else instead.

― Casuistry, Wednesday, 5 September 2007 03:23 (eighteen years ago)

Austin, Texas finally has good Ethiopian! At least to my untutored palate, Asters is damn fine. The injera was wonderfully soft and springy and sour, and the korro wat kicked butt. They served it in about five minutes, too.

― patita, Thursday, 6 September 2007 03:08 (eighteen years ago)

uh, make that dorro. I've been blanking on the name and saying "korma" all day, and then having to look it up.

― patita, Thursday, 6 September 2007 03:10 (eighteen years ago)

Mmm, good. I was just thinking of them again as I passed it on the way to work. Cheap? Moderate?

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 6 September 2007 13:54 (eighteen years ago)

next thursday, nyc people?

― lauren, Thursday, 6 September 2007 16:51 (eighteen years ago)

yes. i'm in.

― bell_labs, Thursday, 6 September 2007 16:58 (eighteen years ago)

five months pass...

i'm cooking ethiopian food tonight. do i go with DORO ALICHA or DORO WAT? i have the spices and the butter. i'm not a very good cook.

― jergïns, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 20:04 (eighteen years ago)

Doro wat!

― nabisco, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 20:21 (eighteen years ago)

I think wat might actually turn out better for a not-great cook, too -- the strong flavor of the berbere could cover it up if you're not dead-on with the other parts.

― nabisco, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 20:26 (eighteen years ago)

Mmm, doro wat. How dare you make me hungry.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

thanks, yeah. i need that covering up from the berbere!

― jergïns, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 20:35 (eighteen years ago)

seven years pass...

You men eat your dinner, eat your pork and beans
I eat more gomen [than] any man ever seen

― Andy K, Monday, 6 July 2015 12:27 (ten years ago)

Ha.

Unrelated to that rhyme

http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/food-dining/why-hasnt-ethiopian-food-gone-upscale/

― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 July 2015 15:26 (ten years ago)

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