Ethiopian Food: I did not make this (I am not that badass, but this restaurant is having a cooking class next week which I want to try and go to). Ethiopian food is some of the most delicious and healthy food you will ever eat. It’s especially wonderful as a vegan because there is plenty to eat. It’s also easy to avoid wheat for all you gluten free-ers out there, as their ‘bread’, called injera, is made from teff, a gluten free grain.
It’s hard to tell from the photo, but this is an enormous platter filled with various kinds of flavorful lentils, chickpeas, split peas, some spicy, some creamy, zesty potatoes and cabbage, marinated mushrooms and tangy salad. Rather than using silverware, you use the tangy, spongy injera to pick up the food, which is brilliant. Who doesn’t want to eat with their fingers and then eat the utensil afterwards?
My obsession with Ethiopian food started after I studied abroad in Ghana in west Africa. The food isn’t even all that similar, but both places use lots of vegetables, beans, and basically whole foods, cooked with rich spices and full of flavor.
If you have never had Ethiopian, get yourself to a restaurant pronto. My favorite place in the bay area is called cafe colucci, on telegraph and Alcatraz. Anywhere you go should have the veggie combo, which gives you a taste of everything, which I recommend trying. It’s also vegan.
Happy cultured eating :) N
