Mount Kisco, New York
This Ethiopian restaurant was a new experience entirely. Utensils were provided only by request as the meals are served on injera, a light spongy bread made from grains containing protein, called teff. The meal is shared with each person tearing a piece of injera and wrapping it around the flavorful food. The avocado appetizer was delicious. For the main course two of us shared the Taste of Lalibela sample menu with portions of four entrees and three vegetables. The stewed lamb and beef were moist and tender. The beets were a good choice, refreshing from the slight burning spice of the berbere used in the stewed beef. I was also glad I opted for a glass of the Sauvignon Blanc rather than the Shiraz, as the crisp white was a nice complement to the spice.
The restaurant is popular among families and there is a fun novelty to the style of eating. It is also nice to be reminded time to time that our way is not the only way. I know it will take a few more visits for me to give up the utensils entirely, but with the interesting menu at Lalibela and the reasonable price (the sample menu and one appetizer served us both generously for $15 each), I'm ready to ride the learning curve.
How sad was I that this restaurant opened shortly before we moved away! Nicolas lived in Ethiopia and we used to eat Ethiopian frequently when we lived in DC, as there's a large community there. We have both missed this unique and healthy cuisine and had a wonderful meal at Lalibela, two days before their very positive NY Times dining review came out. Be sure to try the kitfo the authentic way: raw! It's like Ethiopian steak tartare :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing about Lalibela! I've been searching for a Westchester Ethiopian restaurant for a long time. Can't wait to try it!
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