Ethiopia: Part 2

After my fantastic interview with the Ethiopian ambassador, I asked him to suggest where I could have the best Ethiopian food in Berlin. I decided to visit  them to continue my quest in finding out more about this fantastic cuisine!

I entered into the restaurant and was immediately swept away into another world. The vibrant colours, combination of sweet and spicy fragrances emerged from the kitchen combined along with the smoke and smell of incense. This combination arouse my senses into ultra high gear.

I was met by the restaurant owner, and husband of the cook. The cook was in the kitchen preparing the food for the day. I was told later on that cooking is the sole domain for the woman. The kitchen is the women`s ?reich? and men are traditionally simply NOT allowed.

I was prompted to wash my hands, and as soon as I sat down, I was presented with massive plate of beautifully coloured little mountains food served on top of the injera bread (sourdough pancakes, if you may).

Before I could begin to pose any questions, a frequent guest of the restaurant had arrived and sat with me, offering to take over the interview and respond to any questions I may have had about Ethiopian cuisine.

He then proceeded to tear a piece of injera, handed me a piece and began to select the sauce into which he would dip his injera. I followed. We had 7 different types of sauces and as he dipped, and I followed, he explained what we were eating.

I found this experience rather intimate in a wonderfully pure way, eating from the same plate with a complete stranger. This element of sharing was new to me and I loved it!

My table guest spoke about his experiences as a child when all eight of his siblings would eat from one plate. ?The concept of sharing is largely characteristic of our people?, I was told. ?An Ethiopian always shares what he has with others, even if it meant that he would not have enough the next day?. They would really sacrifice everything to be able to share with another.

As my table guest explained this to me, another man who had entered the restaurant and overheard us speaking and immediately interjected saying that ?this is also the problem of our people. We are not selfish enough. If we thought more about ourselves, then we would be rich! But instead, we give everything that we have and don?t have and are all equally left with nothing!?

He said this with a smile on his face, and we all broke out laughing. But at the same time, we realised that he was also very serous about his statement. He continued; ?We should create a balance between the concept of individualism here in the west and our selfless community concept in Ethiopia?.

Hours later, when the food was all eaten up and my stomach could hold no more, I got up to pay the bill. The owner immediately said that the meal would be a gift. I was sooo touched and promised faithfully to return brings as many people as I could next time.

When I returned home and reflected on the events of the evening, I realised that the evening symbolised true sharing and giving and I felt a strong sense of belonging. I truly felt as if I belonged to that community as I dined with my guest and I am very much looking forward to my next visit!

Oh, by the way, my menu (I mean, our menu) consisted of;

Tender raw beef dipped into a hot spicy sauce-(I dipped too much initially and needed two drinks to relax my buds).
a variety of spicy stews (Wat), which included:
-Doro Wat-a spicy chicken stew, chicken is served with a hard boied egg in top, is now one of my favourite dishes from now on.
Sega wat, which is the spicy lamb stew.
Lentil stew
Beef stew
Aterkek Alecha (Vegetable Stew)
Homemade cheese-Wat is always served with homemade cheese served on the side with fresh vegetables on top of the injera bread and extra on the side.
Chick pea balls-which I also fell in love with. They were tasty, flavourfull and had a consistency, much like meat. The balls are similar to falafel, and made with chick pea flour and served in a thick and tomato based sauce.

You might also like:Ethiopia: Part 3-The Coffee Ceremony and Injera Bread
Ethiopia-The Cradle of the Human Being-A Culture of Sharing
Fusion Food in Madrid: Asiana nextdoor