Lately we’ve had the opportunity to try cuisine from a variety of cultures, so I thought I would weigh in on each type of food and say whether I enjoyed it.
Ethiopian: Abyssinia Restaurant on 38th Street
The atmosphere at the restaurant was quaint and accommodating. In order to get the most out of the experience, we decided to try a shared dish. The food came on a large round plate with lamb, beef, lentils, corn, spinach, and chicken. In the Ethiopian culture, it’s traditional to only eat with the right hand when sharing food because the left is considered unclean according to the Old Testament. Brendan found this a little more difficult since he is left-handed, but by working together, we managed to eat heartily. There are no utensils, and the proper way to eat the food is by ripping off a little of the “injera” or the Ethiopian bread and using it almost like a little claw between your thumb and pointer finger to take a small portion off of the plate. Feeding one another in the Ethiopian culture is considered one of the most loving gestures one can do, but after doing that a few times, Brendan and I decided to chow down on our own. It was very different taste-wise and custom-wise from what we are used to, but there was something about sharing a plate that made the meal feel more intimate. You cannot stare down at your own plate and have to help each other in order to eat anything. Although the taste of the food was so foreign to me it was difficult to really enjoy it, I thought the atmosphere was pleasant, and overall it was a really fun experience.
Italian: Mama Carollas’
Being there made me feel like I was in Italy again. Three of my girlfriends took me out to celebrate my engagement, and it was the perfect place to relax and just chat. The restaurant has twinkling lights and is an old house turned restaurant. I ordered lasagna and a glass of wine. I felt so grown up toasting my engagement with alcohol. I think it would be the perfect place for a rehearsal dinner.
Brazilian: Fogo de Chao
Talk about swanky – Fogo de Chao was an excursion sponsored by Butler and easily cost over $50 per person. It is a steakhouse with over 15 types of meats brought around on platters by the wait staff. There is also an extensive salad bar with vegetables I’ve never seen before and cheeses that are to die for. My favorite type of meat was the parmesan pork, but everything was delicious. There were also three side dishes, mashed potatoes, plantains, and fried bananas, which were replenished regularly. It was definitely more of an anniversary type of restaurant, but it was so delicious and very worthwhile.
Belgian/French: Brugge Brasserie
The wait took over an hour, and the service was not great, but we were with a fun group. International club sponsored eight people to enjoy an end of the year celebration. I had the ham crepe as my entrée, and I didn’t love it, but Brendan tried the duck, and thought it was delicious. We also shared frites (fries) with blue cheese and pesto to dip them in. For dessert, we shared a Nutella crepe. The food was decent, but it was nothing like eating the food in Paris, and it was grossly overpriced. I think it’s definitely a restaurant that can be skipped.
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