[thechat] Presentation of food

[Luther, Ron]

Ashok Hariharan noted:

>>Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants have a similar sharing concept -- everybody
>>eats from the same plate.
>>The plate is quite large, around 3.5 feet in diameter and everybody sits
>>around it.  The plate has a huge round steamed teff/wheat pancake called
>>a 'injira', and the dishes are served on top of that. (Ethiopian cuisine is
>>one of the best and spiciest in africa. )
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi Ashok,

Ha!  +1!

I ate at an Ethiopian restaurant in D.C. once.  [We were hungry - the Italian
place we were planning to dine at had a line halfway down the block - so my
buddy took us here.] The food was very spicy and very good.  The platter
contained a number of mounds of different kinds of mild and spicy meat - with
a mound of 'Steak Tartar' [raw beef] in the center.  It was all very good.

But we didn't have a dancer.  ;-(

We did, however, sit on pillows on the floor. {Which was fun for the ladies in
their dresses ... or at least for us watching them!}

But I'm afraid that dang 'injira' got the best of me.  When they brought
that around before serving I didn't know what it was.  [It's quite an odd
combination of color, texture, and pliability for a 'bread'.] Not recognizing
it's purpose, I simply thought it was very considerate of the restaurant
staff to bring me this pre-warmed napkin!
Warmed my lap up very nicely it did!   ;-)

{Hint: It's a very thin bread.  The dining concept here excludes utensils.
You tear off a hand sized piece of this bread ... cup it in your hand ...
and use it like a mitt to grab food off the platter.  At that point you've
got this tasty African fajita to enjoy.  My group was probably dressed a
litle too formal that evening ... but a fun dining experience anyway.}


that 'cosmopolitan' diner guy,

RonL.
(Sooooo ... who's up for dim sum?)