I don't know that I can say that I've ever had exotic food. For all my experiences I don't know that "exotic" really applies to food...at least not in the sense that people may liberally apply it.
There are cuisines that may not be as common to the palate, but exotic food? I don't know that I am able to fully understand the concept anymore. My willingness to try something at least once has lead me to some wonderful, rare finds though.
Take African Market and Blue Nile for example, while Salt Lake may not be a foodie mecca, since as a whole, it is missing out on quite a bit of ethnic food, it has these two restaurants, both worth your consideration. I will spend more time on Blue Nile since it's more fresh in my head and because I've already done a write up on African Market I intend to post...when I find it.
In brief though, African Market is better suited to feeding parties, they have combo-platters that are a little bigger in portion, where Blue Nile is able to feed parties, their portion sizes are a little smaller - do not confuse this for "leaving hungry".
I had heard about this place only once before when I was commenting to someone that we didn't have any African food (African Market came up in searches, but the "market" bit threw me.), I was quickly corrected by an eavesdropper who told me that there was the two named and may have mentioned another, but trying to dredge 5 years of clouded memory to the surface...beside the point.
Having enjoyed AM, I decided to try BN and wasn't disappointed. My first go there was a simple serving of Kitfo, a Beef Tartar dish that was served with some greens and injera, the "bread" that you eat with - in every sense. There is no silverware, you tear the bread and scoop bits of food with it.
Injera is a unique comestible, if you've never had it, it is kind of like a giant, thin pancake, that resembles a french crepe in texture and sourdough in flavor. They serve the food on this bread and a side of it to tear from, which is nice, since when the food is gone, you can eat the plate. ha. (it is itself on a plate, so it is clean, in case you were worried).
The Kitfo was a unique experience as well. I've had beef tartar before and wasn't quite sure how I would like it and they said they'd lightly saute it, which I had them do, much to my stomach's relief. I can handle a little tartar, but the amount they gave me would have killed me. It was enough for two people, but having it warmed enhanced the flavor I feel (since I have yet to have it raw).
The next time, about a four days later, with a group of friends; I had a little more to choose from, since there was a few more people ordering.
We got the Yesiga Sambusa and Yemisir Sambusa as appetizers; they are fried empanada style pastry filled with beef (yesiga) or lentils (yemisir) that are slightly "spicy" now, mind you, I am NOT a good judge of spicy, since that function of my digestion apparently doesn't work. I like things that would melt other's brains, but no brain melting happened to the others that also thoroughly enjoyed these little pockets of happiness.
I will be getting an order of them any time I ever go back. They started the meal off with a wonderful bang.
The meal itself was fairly unassuming in that it consisted of a Veggie Combo and Yebeg Tibs, a cubed lamb dish that was simmered with some diced peppers, possibly Anaheim, Poblano, or the like.
Now, a warning I feel is not necessarily as a warning as much as it is a chance to put out of your mind what to expect when I say "veggie combo" since what you get will be more akin to mashed potatoes in texture, but will have much more flavor than your mum's own. That is for the veggie combo alone, which draws from other dishes on the menu, and there are more substantial vegetarian choices.
Over all, I have a new found fondness for Ethiopian food due to my experiences in both places.
You'll find for yourself though, if you like the flavors that they get from their spices, it wasn't a flavor that I'd experienced before and can't compare it to another flavor palate, but it was altogether enjoyable.
Blue Nile can be found mid-block on the East side of State Street, at 755 south.
And yes, we did try "Gursha" and recommend the tradition with anyone that you respect.
Now, recommend any of you with weak stomachs to stop reading...not because of the food, but the table conversation that I had with my friends, that turned some of them green.
Stop
Reading
If
You
Have
A
Weak
Stomach
!!
Now that you've been warned, feel free to read, but don't you dare blame me if you get queasy.
So I explained a little bit about the injera, it has a unique flavor and texture. It itself is good, something I really enjoy. The warning is due to the conversation we were having was murdered by yours truly.
We were talking about proteins, and adequate sources for it since there were a few vegetarians and a vegan or two I believe. Someone was asking about lentils (since it's in most of the dishes there) and other sources and of course someone trying to be smart brought up placentas. As expected a few people that heard what was said had a reflexive response and gagged a little; the person got the response they wanted. I on the other hand had to one up them...and did. As I was putting a piece of injera in my mouth said: "It's amazing how much the texture of this bread resembles placenta"
Everyone that heard it stopped eating, looked at me (including the initiator of the comment) and turned green.
*Munch, munch, munch* What? Don't stop eating for my sake! Enjoy your place...food.
I can be so cruel.
Nema na cemu.
-D
November 30, 2012
November 29, 2012
It staahts, again.
Let it be.
They are words of wisdom, or so I'm told.
Maybe I should, but then again, I'm not all that wise.
I'm going to try to not delete this blog this time and I think maybe giving it some depth will also give it some value...not that the past iterations haven't had depth or worth. Any road.
I was harangued by a coworker for not continuing my restaurant critics and felt that this would be a good venue for it and hey, you as a reader may get something out of it too. ha. I guess that will be remain to be seen.
I'll formally start this as soon as I get transcripts to some of the restaurants I've already written up.
Mind you, this will be more for the local restaurants of the fine Salt Lake City, but it may also include stories, rants, raves and *heh* music.
To start, informally, I will preface this...a little more...because I haven't done that enough, right?
So, as a kid, my biological dad would come home with some whacked out food, or some normal stuff, but usually pretty whacked.
I was never able to refuse until I had tried what it was, at least once (usually three or four times, in that he'd occasionally feign ignorance to the fact that he'd brought something home again.)
On the plate was usually some type of fish or some strange "European" take on this or that. I always looked forward to the seafood. Crab was my absolute favorite, there was just something about the process that intrigued my adolescent mind.
It wasn't always so pleasant though. Cracking the husk of a crab was nothing to trying to eat cow tongue or pickled pigs feet. Grateful as I am for having the experience (now at least) I don't really look back on those days with fond memories.
I have found though, that several things I find as "comfort food" stems from those days. Herring in sour cream on chicken flavored crackers, smoked oysters on ritz, bell pepper gazpacho, and oyster stew to name some.
After my mother remarried and we moved to a suburb of Salt Lake, my flavor palate went a little bland, my step dad (dad, since then having adopted me) had a good taste for food, but it was kind of boring. What do you expect? I was a little spoiled, not necessarily by quality, but definitely variety. So for a few years, my taste for food went mostly dormant. It wasn't until I met Mirsad that my quest for variety was rekindled to some extent. He was kind of strange, but always fun to be around - one of his quirks was almost a hatred to chain restaurant food. He would not eat fast food at all. He told me, quite believably, that he'd rather eat soap. "That at least smells better"
I wasn't so hard pressed, I'm still not, but sometimes I get the same way...especially if it's a choice that I have any control over.
Time moved on and we parted ways. I lost track of him and went back to my normal food-habit ways. While I was in Houston, it was about what I perceived as convenience, economy and taste, oh how wrong I was. Though, despite relying heavily on store bought pizza and the slew of cut rate "American, Mexican and Italian" sit-down or fast food, I got a fine sampling of some of the best BBQ that's ever graced my tastebuds, some of the best creole, the best home-town southern food I may ever have. It lit a spark.
I came home, back to the same. what a drag.
I tried to find a few good restaurants and fell flat and again went back into my routine.
I started dating someone and he'd always take me to the "Popular" Italian restaurant and wouldn't be bothered with trying too many new things...he was in many ways (food-related) the same way as my dad. He wouldn't be bothered by too much of a different thing.
Sometime after we broke up another friend introduced me to a group called "Couchsurfing" and shortly after that I usurped power over one of the weekly get-togethers and called it "The Other Wednesday"
I finally had a captive audience. I could find other like-minded people to come try some new and crazy food with me and I've fallen head over heels on the idea that came of it all.
The premise of TOW was to try a new restaurant that didn't have more than one or two locations.
Over the years, it's become a part of me a bit, a sort of life philosophy has developed with my love of trying new food.
It's spilled over into my only other devotion...or obsession...who knows. I love listening to music, and like with food; If it tastes good, I'll eat it. If it sounds good, I'll listen to it.
A few other things have come of this as well. I realized (with some brainstorming assistance from my good friends Josh and Lisa) that in doing this it's helping the local economy, something that I feel is just as helpful to the global economy - though I will not wax politic, I will say that if you really want to buy local, why are you eating at chain restaurants that have corporate offices or shopping at national grocery chains?
I'm hardly here to criticize, but it does serve as a bit of a introspection doesn't it?
I may expound on that later, but I promise to provide ample warning as to not sour your palate on another politico soapbox.
What does all this mean you wonder?
It means that I've got a desire to share some of my experiences with you in hopes that it will break up your routine a little and maybe, just maybe start a local food revolution. Ha! Why shouldn't I think big?
Having said all this, I shall try with some regularity, try to update this that it may in some way prove useful to you in finding your new favorite restaurant or some quiet little hole-in-the-wall to impress your date. Yes, sometimes I like to dream really big.
As a parting thought on this post and a reiteration, This will not all be about food, but I will try to [remember] warn you as to the contents of the post-to-come.
Nema na cemu.
-D
They are words of wisdom, or so I'm told.
Maybe I should, but then again, I'm not all that wise.
I'm going to try to not delete this blog this time and I think maybe giving it some depth will also give it some value...not that the past iterations haven't had depth or worth. Any road.
I was harangued by a coworker for not continuing my restaurant critics and felt that this would be a good venue for it and hey, you as a reader may get something out of it too. ha. I guess that will be remain to be seen.
I'll formally start this as soon as I get transcripts to some of the restaurants I've already written up.
Mind you, this will be more for the local restaurants of the fine Salt Lake City, but it may also include stories, rants, raves and *heh* music.
To start, informally, I will preface this...a little more...because I haven't done that enough, right?
So, as a kid, my biological dad would come home with some whacked out food, or some normal stuff, but usually pretty whacked.
I was never able to refuse until I had tried what it was, at least once (usually three or four times, in that he'd occasionally feign ignorance to the fact that he'd brought something home again.)
On the plate was usually some type of fish or some strange "European" take on this or that. I always looked forward to the seafood. Crab was my absolute favorite, there was just something about the process that intrigued my adolescent mind.
It wasn't always so pleasant though. Cracking the husk of a crab was nothing to trying to eat cow tongue or pickled pigs feet. Grateful as I am for having the experience (now at least) I don't really look back on those days with fond memories.
I have found though, that several things I find as "comfort food" stems from those days. Herring in sour cream on chicken flavored crackers, smoked oysters on ritz, bell pepper gazpacho, and oyster stew to name some.
After my mother remarried and we moved to a suburb of Salt Lake, my flavor palate went a little bland, my step dad (dad, since then having adopted me) had a good taste for food, but it was kind of boring. What do you expect? I was a little spoiled, not necessarily by quality, but definitely variety. So for a few years, my taste for food went mostly dormant. It wasn't until I met Mirsad that my quest for variety was rekindled to some extent. He was kind of strange, but always fun to be around - one of his quirks was almost a hatred to chain restaurant food. He would not eat fast food at all. He told me, quite believably, that he'd rather eat soap. "That at least smells better"
I wasn't so hard pressed, I'm still not, but sometimes I get the same way...especially if it's a choice that I have any control over.
Time moved on and we parted ways. I lost track of him and went back to my normal food-habit ways. While I was in Houston, it was about what I perceived as convenience, economy and taste, oh how wrong I was. Though, despite relying heavily on store bought pizza and the slew of cut rate "American, Mexican and Italian" sit-down or fast food, I got a fine sampling of some of the best BBQ that's ever graced my tastebuds, some of the best creole, the best home-town southern food I may ever have. It lit a spark.
I came home, back to the same. what a drag.
I tried to find a few good restaurants and fell flat and again went back into my routine.
I started dating someone and he'd always take me to the "Popular" Italian restaurant and wouldn't be bothered with trying too many new things...he was in many ways (food-related) the same way as my dad. He wouldn't be bothered by too much of a different thing.
Sometime after we broke up another friend introduced me to a group called "Couchsurfing" and shortly after that I usurped power over one of the weekly get-togethers and called it "The Other Wednesday"
I finally had a captive audience. I could find other like-minded people to come try some new and crazy food with me and I've fallen head over heels on the idea that came of it all.
The premise of TOW was to try a new restaurant that didn't have more than one or two locations.
Over the years, it's become a part of me a bit, a sort of life philosophy has developed with my love of trying new food.
It's spilled over into my only other devotion...or obsession...who knows. I love listening to music, and like with food; If it tastes good, I'll eat it. If it sounds good, I'll listen to it.
A few other things have come of this as well. I realized (with some brainstorming assistance from my good friends Josh and Lisa) that in doing this it's helping the local economy, something that I feel is just as helpful to the global economy - though I will not wax politic, I will say that if you really want to buy local, why are you eating at chain restaurants that have corporate offices or shopping at national grocery chains?
I'm hardly here to criticize, but it does serve as a bit of a introspection doesn't it?
I may expound on that later, but I promise to provide ample warning as to not sour your palate on another politico soapbox.
What does all this mean you wonder?
It means that I've got a desire to share some of my experiences with you in hopes that it will break up your routine a little and maybe, just maybe start a local food revolution. Ha! Why shouldn't I think big?
Having said all this, I shall try with some regularity, try to update this that it may in some way prove useful to you in finding your new favorite restaurant or some quiet little hole-in-the-wall to impress your date. Yes, sometimes I like to dream really big.
As a parting thought on this post and a reiteration, This will not all be about food, but I will try to [remember] warn you as to the contents of the post-to-come.
Nema na cemu.
-D
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