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
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