The first time I came across Ethiopian food was through a colleague/friend of mine when I worked at Chevron. He invited me and a friend (I took Jane) to his home in Bantry Bay and his older sister would cook us an Ethiopian meal. I was so excited! I must say the food was AMAZING! It didn't disappoint at all. I think we licked our plates and fingers squeeky clean. That was the best I've tasted so far coz it was made with love and it was made especially for us. Our hosts were not vegetarian but they went all out to ensure we got the best vegetarian meal and that we would not forget our first Ethiopian experience. They succeeded!
The next time I had Ethiopian food was at Addis in Cape on the corner or Long and Church Streets. I blogged about it too. I really enjoyed it. You can check out my previous posts for more on this. After having moved to the northern suburbs I had very little access to good food, let alone good vegetarian/vegan food.
One day I was in Bellville and I was walking around the area where SARS is. There are quite a lot of Ethiopian immigrants and I noticed there are a few Ethiopian eateries there too. I entered two but no-one paid any attention to me so I left. On my way to the main road I saw another one and decided to go in. The owner greeted me and was so warm and friendly and I asked if they had any vegetarian meals that they sell. He said yes. I ordered two for me and hubby and that was it. When we got home to dig in, we loved it. It was hubby's first time to eat that kind of food so I was happy that he enjoyed it. And it only cost R26 for a takeout (R24 if you sit down). So in that meal you get a red lentil dish, a brown lentil dish, a potato, carrot and cabbage mix, a beetroot dish all on top of a huge injeera (the sour rice bread type thing you eat the sides with). I thought it was quite a lot for R26. I mean for that much it's like R90 at Addis in Cape.
I told Jane about the place and we decided we would go together. I always got takeout when I went there (it's not exactly restaurant material, it's just a place to eat at) but we decided we would sit.
We got there and every single person there was a male (except those serving). It was so full and everyone was staring at us. We chose a table in a little corner and tried to just have little attention on us. We sat there for a while before we got served.
Eventually we placed our order and we were so excited coz the portions served to those around us were quite generous. To our dismay, when our food came it was as though it were dished for Mzo. Like seriously?! It was so little we gobbled it in less than 10min. I looked at the lady at the kitchen who makes and dishes the food (she doesn't like me much) asking why the food is so little. She just gave me a look. So I went to the owner (whom I think is her husband) and complained that when we get takeout here it's so much more than this little bit we got served now. So he turned and said something to the lady and she sneered and responded. He apologised to us but that was about it. So we ordered another portion and told her to make it a good one. We were so hungry.
Anyway by the time the food came we were just so irritated and we were even annoyed by the stares we were getting. Before we left we went to the owner and asked if we did anything wrong. Like we were the only females eating there and then we got served little food and we got served after all the men got served even though some came after us. So he told us that it's rare or not normal for women to be at a restaurant at that time because they are all home cooking for their husbands for when they come home. He also said that when they do go to eat out it is never alone but with their husbands. So us being there was something unusual to them but nothing wrong. And I supposed we're women so we should eat less. Lol!
Anyway, as nice as the food is, that wasn't a pleasant experience. We don't go there much anymore. When I buy, the lady always gives me less food or not all the dishes. When my husband goes to buy he gets a lot. Maybe the lady was irritated with me talking to her husband asking questions. Maybe she thought I was into him. I don't know. What I do know is one day I went there with my husband and at this time my preggy belly was very evident and for the first time she smiled at me and said hello! I was shocked! Maybe she realised I'm too busy with my own husband to worry about other people. Lol.
The food was good while the experience lasted but that's it. But if you haven't tried out Ethiopian food you should head out to Addis in Cape and make a meal of it. You won't regret it.
