Word from the wise: before deciding to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant, make darn sure you actually LIKE the flavor of sourdough. Obv, the bread they serve is not actually sourdough, but it has an airy, wet doughy texture and a sour aftertaste. Ergo, if you do not like bread, or sourdough, or believe that all bread should taste like white bread, eat at your own risk. If you don't like the food at Addis, you get no cheese to go with your whine.
I love that you’re supposed to eat with your hands. It really does simplify things, and using your bread to pick up your food is an excellent built-in protective measure against the guy who never washes his hands. (Ummm….you should probably also stop sharing food with that guy, just sayin’…) A further level of protection is the hot towels they provide before you start eating.
As a rule, I never order chicken at restaurants. Anyone can make decent chicken. Not anyone can make exceptional chicken, but I’ve also found that chicken is usually the neutralizer, ordered by those who want to play it safe, and it plays that role well. But the chicken on the menu did sound tasty…
That said, I am incapable of playing it safe, so much that I ordered probably the most controversial, and most likely to give me 0157:H7 (to those less medically nerdy than me, that means really bad food poisoning). Yes, that’s right. I got the ground steak tartar. And it was worth the risk. The meat tasted fresh, and the rich oils from the butter made it melt in my mouth. Serving it warm is pretty ballsy - you can't hide the imperfections if it's warm. When Moses actually parted the Red Sea, I think he ate the tartar at Addis first.
Ethiopian cooking seems to be less salty/blander than other cuisines, but the little aftertaste kick of spice from the chili powder was a nice finish. I couldn’t finish all the tartar – the butter made it too rich, but if I could have, I would have, trust me.
Notable highlights from the vegetarian dishes- Thanks to friends who like to share, I tasted all but 2 vegetarian dishes on their menu :)
Kinche: ummm…never again. It’s “cracked wheat”, which tastes like the blander spawn of white rice and brown rice. A really terrible companion to bread. Not to mention, you can’t even taste it because the bread has more flavor…An excellent choice for those suffering from morning sickness.
Yesmsir Wot/Yesmsir Alcha: Yummm…the most flavorful. Simply seasoned, but I’m partial because I really just love lentils…
Tikel Gomen: Smiley face for properly cooked cabbage.
Overall: Loved the experience, pretty little restaurant, friendly staff, good food. Come when you want to try something new and feel like chatting while eating with your hands. Great way to test dates – any man who
refuses to try different foods and/or is too prissy to eat with his hands won’t get his hands on me.
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