FRIDAY NIGHT, THE WEEK'S DONE. There were some achievements in life during the week, and some disappointments. Life's the "same old same old" if you are not having fun; it's up to me to make it a varied one ..... But the week has gone quickly because Monday was a holiday and Friday is here.
Little Africa North Melbourne is our choice of Restaurant for tonight. We've been looking forward to sup here, we are looking for different food, different culinary experience. The restaurant is located opposite the QVM on Victoria St in an unassuming two-story Victorian terrace. The interior decor is minimalist and ethnic. Cost is the main consideration, I think. The exterior of the restaurant is like a regular corner milk bar in appearance. Anyway we are here for its food and the Ethiopian experience.
I have done the research and order the combination of the day.
The combination tonight is served on a large flat-bottom tin tray (面盘）like the ones I used to see in old Chinese movies where they were used to carry dishes in, from kitchen to the dining room. Ha.
The Zighini stewed lamb (cubes of lamb cooked slowly in a rich berbere sauce with mixed spices and clarified butter), Dorho Aletcha chicken marinated and sauteed, and Asa Zighini fish are served in little bowls.
The non-meat items ....
*Dubba - cubes of pumpkin cooked in a berbere sauce,
*cabbage & carrots cooked in turmeric sauce,
*garden salad topped with green pepper tomato and onion in a nice dressing, and
*Tumtummo - split lentil in a thick sauce with spiced seasoning
These are just plonked straight onto a bed of Injera Bread; and the food is eaten with our fingers. I really mean a bed of the "bread" which covers the whole surface of the tray. This is not our image of what a bread should be. They are made of flour, soft in texture, and tastes slight salty and lemony.
IT CAN'T GET MORE ETHNIC THAN THIS .....
Beautiful spiced foods served in non-traditional way to the westerners minds, and eaten without cutlery.
The texture of the Injera in my mind is like our Malaysian "大Gau缅" that is spread with margarine and crushed peanuts. Ha! SM would have preferred rice or cous cous and I would have preferred naan or turkish bread.
All in all we love the experience although the food is not what we will eat every day.
IN MY HEART I SALUTE THESE ETHIOPIAN AUSTRALIANS because they have come to Australia as refugees and they are using their culture and cuisine to make an honest living and lift themselves out of poverty; and to make a new life for themselves. Good on them. Power to you Little Africa! You have given us an unforgettable experience...............
