Try Every Major Ethnic Cuisine (Ongoing Goal, This Episode: Ethiopian Food)
So, if you are ever in the Los Angeles area and are looking for a fantastic restaurant, you have, have, HAVE to try Little Ethiopia. More specifically, you have to try Messob. This place was absolutely amazing. Let me put it this way ... we drove two hours to Los Angeles to try this place out, and the group was skeptical about doing so. But we walked away complete believers. Messob is more than just dinner, it is an experience.
Before this, I had absolutely zero knowledge of African food, much less Ethiopian food. The first thing I noticed when entering the restaurant was the cute little tables they had running down the center of the room (they also had regular tables along the walls). We were initially seated at one of the regular tables because none of these other little tables were open, but later, we asked if we could be moved because we watched the other customers eating at them and they looked so cool! We learned that they are literally where they got the name Messob for the restaurant. Messob is a traditional Ethiopian table -- and these tables were literally brought here from Ethiopia by the owner.
I would say that you have to be prepared to share germs with your fellow diners, because eating in this culture is a very communal experience. They literally bring the food out on one huge plate -- it is all just plopped on there. And they bring this amazing pita like bread that you use to scoop food off the plate. No individual plates, spoons, forks, anything like that. Just that big plate in the middle, your fingers, and a couple of napkins in case things get messy...
I know the food looks gross in this picture, but it was some of the most amazing food I have ever had. Believe it or not, what you see here was actually for two people -- we did add one chicken dish for $13 as well that is plopped in the middle somewhere, but the rest was part of this combo special for couples. We couldn't even finish it! Here is some of what we had (I am taking this from their menu, and "injera" by the way is that bread I was talking about):
DORO WOT
Chicken stewed in pepper sauce with an assortment of spices served with Injera.
With fresh garlic, Tomato, onions, green chilies. Spicy or Mild.
We also experienced what they call, gursha. This essentially means hand feeding each other, and is supposed to be a very important part of the communal experience. One thing I read on it said that essentially gursha removes cold metal from the equation and leaves nothing but the food to be conveyed between hand and mouth. There are also legends and stories associated with the practice.
When Lisa and her date were feeding each other, her date accidentally spilled food down her shirt. And she subsequently dropped her food on his shirt. It was so funny. All part of the fun! Here is a picture of the moment right before chaos busted loose on their (coincidentally) matching pink shirts.
To close what was already a fantastic evening, I have to say that one of the owners was constantly checking on us. He explained the traditions, showed us how to eat the food proper Ethiopian style, and at the end of the evening we all exchanged email addresses and took a picture as a group.
So if you are ever in Los Angeles, you have to check this place out! And wander around some of the surrounding markets afterwards. You may even run into a celebrity or two ... there are a couple (Bono, Queen Latifah, etc.) who frequent the area.
Before this, I had absolutely zero knowledge of African food, much less Ethiopian food. The first thing I noticed when entering the restaurant was the cute little tables they had running down the center of the room (they also had regular tables along the walls). We were initially seated at one of the regular tables because none of these other little tables were open, but later, we asked if we could be moved because we watched the other customers eating at them and they looked so cool! We learned that they are literally where they got the name Messob for the restaurant. Messob is a traditional Ethiopian table -- and these tables were literally brought here from Ethiopia by the owner.
I would say that you have to be prepared to share germs with your fellow diners, because eating in this culture is a very communal experience. They literally bring the food out on one huge plate -- it is all just plopped on there. And they bring this amazing pita like bread that you use to scoop food off the plate. No individual plates, spoons, forks, anything like that. Just that big plate in the middle, your fingers, and a couple of napkins in case things get messy...
I know the food looks gross in this picture, but it was some of the most amazing food I have ever had. Believe it or not, what you see here was actually for two people -- we did add one chicken dish for $13 as well that is plopped in the middle somewhere, but the rest was part of this combo special for couples. We couldn't even finish it! Here is some of what we had (I am taking this from their menu, and "injera" by the way is that bread I was talking about):DORO WOT
Chicken stewed in pepper sauce with an assortment of spices served with Injera.
SIGA WOT
Strips of beef, braised in red pepper sauce with assorted spices, served with Injera.
YEBEG SIGA ALITCHA
Mild lamb stew, delicately spiced with garlic, ginger and other assorted spices, served with Injera.
KITFFO
Finely chopped, lean beef with spiced butter and mitmita (hot spiced chilies). Served with Injera.
YATAKILT ALITCHA
Steamed Vegetables with onions, seasoned with garlic and ginger. Served with Injera.
YEMISER WOT
Split Lentil in red pepper sauce, seasoned with assorted spices. Served with Injera.
COLLARD GREENS
Steamed and delicately seasoned with garlic and green chilies. Served with Injera.
With fresh garlic, Tomato, onions, green chilies. Spicy or Mild.
We also experienced what they call, gursha. This essentially means hand feeding each other, and is supposed to be a very important part of the communal experience. One thing I read on it said that essentially gursha removes cold metal from the equation and leaves nothing but the food to be conveyed between hand and mouth. There are also legends and stories associated with the practice.
When Lisa and her date were feeding each other, her date accidentally spilled food down her shirt. And she subsequently dropped her food on his shirt. It was so funny. All part of the fun! Here is a picture of the moment right before chaos busted loose on their (coincidentally) matching pink shirts.
To close what was already a fantastic evening, I have to say that one of the owners was constantly checking on us. He explained the traditions, showed us how to eat the food proper Ethiopian style, and at the end of the evening we all exchanged email addresses and took a picture as a group.
So if you are ever in Los Angeles, you have to check this place out! And wander around some of the surrounding markets afterwards. You may even run into a celebrity or two ... there are a couple (Bono, Queen Latifah, etc.) who frequent the area.
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