Toronto Restaurants: Ethiopian House

Of all the foods out there that I've had hankerings for, Ethiopian has never been at the top of the list.

I'm going to chalk that up to never having tried it before.

This week, I got to sample it for the first time, and I'll be honest, I never would have chosen to go here if the restaurant choice had been up to me. But, my friend Lindsay was in town, getting a reprieve from her 100 Mile Locavore challenge with some ethno-grazing (which isn't a word, but so should be), and so Ethiopian it was.

Bottom line: it was delicious.

We went to the Ethiopian House restaurant (which is right next to Koyoi, a Japanese Izakaya that I love), a vibrant, low key little joint with bright coloured murals on the walls.

I opted for what I would say was the safest option: the Vege Beef combo. The meal came with the following:

Tibs (fried beef with jalapenos)
Tikil Gomon (cabbage and carrot)
Atakelt Wot (string beans and potatoes)
Cottage Cheese (which tasted more like feta cheese to me)
Jalapenos
Injera (a flat bread made out of teff flour)

Oh my gosh. Everything was so tasty.

injera

Injera most reminded me of a soft, slightly sour, flat bread version of a crumpet. If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, it's important to know that it's an integral part of the meal. For the traditional meals, cutlery isn't used. Instead, you rip up pieces of the injera and use it to pick up bits of your meal. The sauces get into all the crevices and it's totally delicious and a great experience for those of you who, like me, enjoy a tactile experience when you eat.

foreground - tibs / background - cottage cheese, salad and tikil gomon

Atakelt Wot

Tikil Gomon

Now, the best part of this was, by far, the coffee service.

At the end of the meal, we were first shown the roasting beans:

After that, a dish with burning frankincense was placed on our table:

With that came the thick, spiced coffee hidden in its pot. Our server took his time pouring it out to us in tiny cups. It was just so beautifully done and reminded me of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Can you sense how thick it was?

The coffee smelled so delicious with undertones of cinnamon and clove. It was thick and bitter at first, but mellowed on the palate. I've definitely never had anything like it before. If you only come here for one thing, be sure you do the coffee service. Unbelievable.

So, we sat, sipping our coffee until it was time for Lindsay and her family to continue with their ethnograzing fest and leave. It was just such a lovely way to spend a Sunday lunch! Old friends, great food, and (for me) a new experience.

The Whole Gang Ready to Dig In

And extra thanks to Lindsay's father who picked up the tab! That was incredibly generous of you. =)

Excited!

One of my friends from high school is coming to Toronto with her husband in two weeks. In celebration, I thought I'd post this picture of us wearing giant sombreros and carrying sparklers.

I don't know why we're standing on the table.

So don't even bother asking.

Mmm. Beer.

Have I mentioned the Beerbistro? If I haven't told you about it in person, let me explain to you why I love this place.

Brace yourselves.

Everything is made with beer. No. Seriously. I mean everything.

Pizza? Stout Crust
Sour cream? Has Gueze in it .
Ice Cream? They call it Beer Scream.
Bacon? Cured with beer.
Salad dressing? White beer & truffle oil.

They have a cellar with 200+ bottles of beer... some of which cost hundreds of dollars. It's beertastic!

Last night, Phil and I got together with another one of my friends from high school and her husband. They live (relatively) near by (and by that I mean an hour+ by car or train), and it's always good to see them. I've known my friend since grade 9! Back then, she wanted to be a doctor. And guess what? Unlike just about every other teenager who wants to be a doctor, she actually is one! You have no idea how proud I am of her for sticking to it.

I'm digressing. Later this week, I'll be whipping up a batch of beer scream (or strawberry beer sorbet), but for now you'll have to settle for a lunchtime recipe that doesn't involve beer at all.

What? I needed to detox. All those beer samplers add up, you know?

Don't be turned off by the word detox. The salad is really good!

C'mon. You know you want some. Look at those gorgeous olive oil dressed beans. Parsley! Lemon Rind! Capers! Sea salt!

It's a total winner.