Let's Try This For Real: Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

I was a little scared, I must be honest. I wasn’t sure this Ethiopian food thing was going to work out. After a big failure in the kitchen (despite long hours in prepping and cooking), I was nervous about the validity of Ethiopian food as a viable cuisine. If, judging by what I made, it all tasted like that…well, we were going to be in for a bad situation.

However, with the help of a knowledgeable friend, I ventured out to a little restaurant called Blue Nile. Quiet and with only a few tables occupied, it sat in a quaint strip center on the Southwest side of town. Inside, the tables and walls were furnished with traditional artifacts and an aroma of incense permeated the air. It smelled faintly like myrrh, maybe. Or frankincense. Something old, possibly Biblical. And all of the waitresses were beautifully dressed in traditional clothes, carrying themselves with the same grace that the Queen of Sheba must have possessed.

After we studied the menu, my friend steered me toward a platter that had a little bit of the highlights from several meals. There was Doro Wat, some sort of ground beef dish, some lamb, green beans, salad and, of course, the Injera. It was a great sampler for the novice who was yet unwilling to pick favorites.

When it came out, the platter was much bigger than I thought it would be. At $19.99, it was a great deal in that it could have easily served three or four people! And the Injera that came was wrapped up so neatly and folded into a little basket on the side, if I hadn’t known any better I would have mistaken it for a napkin.

As for the taste, once I got over my fears and dug into the food, I noticed a huge difference between what I had made and home and this…true, traditional Ethiopian food. It was WONDERFUL! The Injera was perfectly spongy and not at all dense like the one I had made. The beef and lamb were delectable, with just enough spicy after bite. The Doro Wat was even good and not at all reeking of onions like the one I made. The meal was a success. And we even had leftovers to take home! (Which, by the way, my family all enjoyed…even my toddler son!)

Yes, I would go back to Blue Nile and revisit the cuisine I never thought I would enjoy. It serves as just another reminder of how life is full of surprises and endless possibilities for happiness. Even after failure. As long as we open ourselves up to it, that is.

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