DFW Ethiopia Group...

Almost 2 weeks ago we went to the monthly DFW Ethiopia group meeting. We decided to meet at a Ethiopian restaurant in Dallas and for the first time since I had joined the group, we decided to go with out kids. Adults only!
When we arrived it was a very small place. There was only a few people in the restaurant until we got there. The people were watching the TV to see the Ethiopians that were running in the Olympics. It was exciting to watch.



The last time we ate Ethiopian food, I will admit, I wasn't sure about it. I went with an open mind and wanted to try it again. We got two different dishes. One was made with beef and one was made with chicken. I ordered a beer and the waitress said, "Ethiopian Beer?" "Uh, sure, why not", I replied. The beer was pretty good. It was light in color but had an after taste of a darker beer. I would drink it again.



Ok, so then our food came. By the way, the staff was really nice. They brought the food and the dishes were huge. We felt like pigs! The food comes served on Injera and with Injera. Below is a picture of the plate of Injera they brought to our table.

I found this article to explain what Injera is as it is a staple with Ethiopian food.

Injera is not only a kind of bread—it’s also an eating utensil.

In Ethiopia and Eritrea, this spongy, sour flatbread is used to scoop up meat and vegetable stews. Injera also lines the tray on which the stews are served, soaking up their juices as the meal progresses. When this edible tablecloth is eaten, the meal is officially over.

Injera is made with teff, a tiny, round grain that flourishes in the highlands of Ethiopia. While teff is very nutritious, it contains practically no gluten. This makes teff ill-suited for making raised bread, however injera still takes advantage of the special properties of yeast. A short period of fermentation gives it an airy, bubbly texture, and also a slightly sour taste.

When they say it's not only bread, its a utensil, they aren't kidding. You do not get any utensils to eat with. I really have problems eating things with a texture that I'm not used to but I decided I was all in! (it feels like a sponge) I grabbed a piece of Injera and rolled it up and slid it across the chicken dish and grabbed a big scoop. I took a huge bite and it hit me! My mouth was on FIRE! It was so SPICY! Of course, I want to act cool so I'm smiling while I'm chewing. Chew, chew, fake smile! lol. I can't be a wimp, that is not cool. By the fourth bite I start sweating, really bad. It was hot in there, who am I kidding, it was the food. Ok, Ok, I'm a wimp, I proclaim out loud. That stuff is ZIPPY! Here is a picture:



The really dark side was the chicken with a hard boiled egg and the other side is beef. The beef was less spicy so I tried to stick to that side of the plate.

The people were so nice. The DFW group is so big that its hard to get to know everyone but the people I do know are so nice. Its really great that so many people are adopting. The people on our side of the table were new to the group and very fun. We ran out of tables so the waitress had to get a smaller round table to stick on the end where Rick sat. It was so short! It was like he was stuck at the kids table. lol! He was a great sport. It was a great night, good food and good company!



Good times!