Injera

Last night, I went to a “cultural restaurant” with a couple of teachers to experience Ethiopian culture and food.

If you don’t already know, this was a brave step for me. Now, I’m not one to shy away from trying new food (except Swiss cheese… Dad, that’s for you!), but my first experience with injera was about four weeks ago.  Let’s just say, you don’t want to try things again after you see them again all night long.  I don’t think it had anything to do with the food itself, but until recently, I haven’t been ready to try it again.

The restaurant was definitely a touristy place, but you did get to experience a little more of Ethiopian culture. There was dancing that represented the different regions of the country, and you all sit around one table and eat off the same tray.  Injera has a very strange taste—kind of like a sour pancake with a spongy texture.  They put different kinds of meat, vegetables, and other stuff on top, and you tear off part of the injera to use like a little grabber with your fingers.  If you had it at your house, you probably would only have one to three different things on top (not sure what you call all of that—mostly just not sure how to spell it.) I enjoyed it more this time, but I’m still not sure I would say it was my favorite food! I love to watch my kids eat it at lunch… They come in with orange faces and hands—so gross, but kind of cute.