Last night I got together with a few bloggers because BC was in town on his US tour. Since, the Hostess, the BC and I are addicted to Ethiopian food he suggested to the dinner organizer, CreoleinDC that we head there for dinner. The invitation was made to the blogworld and Tsiporah, onefromphilly (no blog), Royce’s Daughter and another blogger decided to RSVP to hang that night. We were going to one of DC’s many many many Ethiopian eateries and I was pretty excited because if I could, I’d eat Ethiopian food EVERY DAY, it’s that good to me.
It doesn’t always dawn on me that there are people out there who don’t care for the food because well it’s like someone saying they don’t like cake. Just weird to me lol! I’m so used to eating it communal style that I never thought that not everyone is ok with the traditional style of eating Ethiopian food which is around a big communal plate where you take pieces of injera to eat your food. Similar to how other Middle Eastern and African cultures eat. Just make sure you use your right hand because traditionally the left is used to uhhhh clean oneself.
There was a lot of confusion and distraction not just because there were 8 people who’d been reading each other’s blogs but never really met but because one of the bloggers was giving everyone MUCH blog fodder. Check out the posts of the different bloggers who were there to see what I’m talking about.
So, Creole asked the waitress for a fork and I think I clutched my imaginary pearls. Creole doesn’t really “do” communal plates and I can respect that because that's how she is. Then half the hands at the table started going up in demand of forks. I just felt my heart dip a little and I may have yelled out “ahhhh NO”. Some tried the injera and just couldn’t get past the taste but without the bread you really can’t eat the food traditionally. I actually think the bread is good but I only take off little chucks so I won’t get too full too fast. Most of the people I know who don’t like Ethiopian food don’t like it because of the bread.
I feel like Ethiopian food is a DC staple just like the Smithsonian museums. A must do when you’re in DC especially if you’re anywhere near the U Street/Adam’s Morgan area. Either way the evening was a great success that ended waaaaaaaaaaay past my bedtime.
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18 comments:
I liked my dish! I just got that germy issue....you KNOW I'm borderline OCDish. Me sowwy. Sniff...sniff!
Glad you liked it and although I did gasp it's all good :-).
I know they probably talked about y'all in the back for asking for forks! LOL
1. I envy y'all's meeting. I bet it was fun.
2. I'm glad I'm right handed.
3. An Ethiopian joint just opened in Austin. We only have one...which is ust enough for me.
4. Forks?! Oh my.
From reading all of the posts from people who were there it sounds like you all had a good time.
Ethiopian food rocks, but Nigerian food is better :-). For some odd reason, eating food like that with your RIGHT hand makes it more tasty..maybe it's a mental thing. I'm glad you said something about the left hand thing because when I tell people that they look at me all crazy. When we were younger, my mother wouldn't take things from us if we handed them to her with our left hands. It was also a sign of disrespect.
Now I want Ethiopian food for lunch. My husband doesn't like Ethiopian food because the bread has too salty a taste- for him. I think the bread enhances everything.
Its fun to join the style of the establishment and I agree it makes me appreciate the taste more. At Asian restaurants I use chopsticks. I sit on the floor at some restaurants, and eat with my hands at others. Now I know to use only the right hand.
Hmmmm... Ethiopian food huh? I've never had it, but I'm always willing to try another dish. It sounds like you guys had a grand ol' time! You DC folk know how to do it up when it comes to the eating part! Maybe a foray on the Spirit of Washington???
Awww...I am so sorry for making you "clutch your pearls"...LOL. I really did enjoy my dish, but like you said I just could not get past the bread. I think it was more about the texture much more than actual taste. I will love to try Ethiopian food again some day soon. It was fabulous meeting you we should get together again soon!!
I've only had Ethiopian food once, about a month ago with the guy I'm dating, so I didn't mind the "communal" aspect of eating with him, and I enjoyed the food he selected (my first time, so I let him choose) which was a combination of several different items. Now, had there been a few more folks there with us....I would have been a good sport and participated, but I would have been on the lookout for double-dippers and finger lickers like a mofo! Besides, the bread actually keeps your hands clean if you eat like a civilized individual and not a savage...AND everyone washes their hands before partaking.
wow! I guess I have to try another Ethiopian food joint because the only one located in Miami (Sheba's) is situated like a restaurant with forks and all. I feel like I got shafted. Man, I didn't get to experience the "real" Ethiopian food experience. Boo.
LOL @ Ethiopian food, I know somethin about that. A secret agent wouldn't share a plate, however, with a whole bunch of bloggers. Some of whom don't do a good job of maintaining National Security. Present company excepted of course.
LOL @ the oe! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Interesting, I've never had Ethiopian food. Not even when I was in DC. I did recently have African food, however, Nigerian. It was good.
Sorry...I was one of the "fork" people. I'm not a very good eater, so I usually don't experiment. But actually the food was really good. The texture of the bread was the only thing I had a problem with. All in all it was a good experience, good wine and good people. Good meeting you, we MUST all do it again!
Late as usual but it was definitely the bread for me. That was my third time having ethiopian cuisine and the first timein several years and well let's just say the third time is the charmer...so charming in fact that I dont think I ever need to try it again. The company was awesome (minus uhhhhh one) and the drinks were tasty but next time lets do middle eastern instead YUMMY!! LOL!
Hey Honest! Sounds like ya'll had a ball. Hope to join next time!
Now I'm jealous. I lived in the DC area for over a year before moving back to New York and I never had ethiopian food. Bummer. I feel like I must have missed out. But I do get the whole left hand thing. I spent a while in Ghana and they're the same way.
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