ETHIOPIAN FOOD

Very often I am asked, “What’s your ethnicity” or “What’s your mix.” I think my beauty (a girl’s gotta have good self esteem), my unique, strong features confuse and interest people. Most often because of my name people think I am Indian, but I get asked at least once a week if I am ETHIOPIAN.

My mom is black and my dad is white and Jewish. My big eyes and high forehead come from my mom and my nose from my dad. The mix gave me caramel colored skin. I am happy with my unique look (though nasty blogs and the people who read and comment on them would rather I never leave the house since they obviously feel my features are offensive. GRRR… I hate those nasty bloggers).

An older ETHIOPIAN man in DC once told me the story of the Jews who fled Israel for Egypt after the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE. Many settled in ETHIOPIA and mixed with the locals… My mom and dad just did the mix later!

It’s funny that people (even ETHIOPIAN’S themselves) think that I could be ETHIOPIAN. I always respond, “no, I’m not BUT I love the food.” Here in LA there is a little gem of a neighborhood called LITTLE ETHIOPIA, 2 blocks filled with the yummiest restaurants. I have eaten at almost every single one and even a couple in other areas.

My favorite spot by far on Fairfax is MERKATO. It’s a little grocery store with a small restaurant attached and its always filled with locals. It’s inexpensive and the portions are big. Also on the street and very yummy are Rosalinds and Nyala. Both are FABULOUS and super delicious, but they tend to be a bit more touristy; the prices are a bit higher and the portions a bit smaller.

My friend Carolyn and I head to Fairfax often (in October we were feeling wild and went once a week). We always order the same thing and it’s always FABULOUS! We start off with the Vegetarian combo, which comes with red lentils (my favorite!) cabbage, greens, split peas and salad on a large circle of ingera bread.

You eat ETHIOPIAN food with your hands (Not one utensil at the table) and you use the ingera bread to scoop up the food. It’s fun and so delicious! We always add Yodoro Tibs (chicken in red pepper sauce) or some other meat (they use a lot of lamb and beef too, but we tend to stick to the chicken). Also Carolyn’s favorite is the Tim Tim Fit Fit (a vinegary, cool injera bread mixed with salad) so we always get a side of that too.

ETHIOPIAN food is healthy, delicious and FABULOUS. If you haven’t tried it you must go out and find your local ETHIOPIAN spot!