Seattle Restaurant Guide

In Ethiopia, cooking and preparing food is regarded as an art and science that requires special skill and rich knowledge about spices, herbs, vegetables, meat and a variety of grains, roots, fruits and nuts. An Ethiopian woman is most proud, not so much about her great looks, as about her cooking ability and skills. She is most proud when the food she cooked is admired by family, friends and all people. The art of cooking is a strong tradition that is passed on from generation to generation. Both men and women have their own special and different roles when it comes to preparing food.

The man's role begins by selecting the right size and type of animal to be killed, and cutting the meat at the right places into portions without fragmenting the bones. When a dish is served to guests, the meat and the vegetable parts should not fall apart. They also have to be the right size and type. Poor cooking ability may bring shame and disgrace. Name and reputation of a man or woman may be ruined, and it may bring major problems to a marriage, possibly leading to dissolution!

Meseret has extraordinary cooking skills. Sharing some of her secrets of cooking and preparing Ethiopian food, she says that every body should consider cooking fun, creative and a great adventure. Meseret says that the satisfaction and gratification of cooking comes when others become impressed and admire the food. Thus, she points out, it is important to know and understand other people's taste and preferences. Meseret admits that good cooking skill is acquired through years of experiences. Cooking requires knowledge about each spice and how each compliments the other when mixed and cooked together.

Meseret indicates that it is also important to start cooking with the right ingredients and amounts first, and then adding gradually and tasting the sauce frequently. Come check us out!