By ASI GAL
Aug 21, 2008
I recently went to Habash, an Ethiopian restaurant located in the ever so depressing area of the Opera Tower on Tel Aviv’s promenade. This was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant, though I have eaten Ethiopian food in the past and loved it. But, more than the food, I loved the atmosphere. In the past, I’ve worked as a guide in a hostel and, as such, was invited into the homes of different Ethiopian families. The visits were never short. Food was served, drinks were poured and the injera in ample supply. It always amazed me, the ever-present bowl of dough, waiting to be made into the Ethiopian version Yemenite lahuh.
Of course, I might be stereotyping. There might be some Ethiopian families who eat mainly hamburgers and fries and rarely consider purchasing the unique teff flour used in making injera. Yet, I believe that is the case with the younger generation. For that reason, according to Yitzhak, Habash’s manager, the restaurant was established. “The younger generation must remember its roots. And, the Israeli people should know of our traditions,” he said. The menu includes nothing but Ethiopian food.
You forget the ugly area outside as you enter the restaurant. The place is designed like a big hut. As E, my dining partner, described it, the atmosphere’s like “entering the dining room of the old temple.” To that end, the main design flaw is the plasma screen showing Ethiopian singers and decidedly ruining the temple vibe.
E and I are both vegetarians, so we ordered the vegetarian mix: four different legumes in different spices and one vegetable dish. All was served on one big injera with an extra four on the side. No forks of course and we dug in, wiping the different dishes away with our delicious sour flat breads – after all, when in Rome. Read more.