In Sonoma County we are so blessed to have such a variety of great cuisine from other parts of the world and to have the only Ethiopian restaurant found for miles around. Everything in the meal is laid out beautifully on the injera and one tears off pieces of the bread to scoop up the eatables with one’s fingers. Injera is made from teff, one of the worlds tiniest grains and earliest domesticated plants on earth. One of the many things that make eating Ethiopian food so fun is the bread, injera, a delicious sourdough flat bread with a slightly spongy texture. The Doro We’t is considered an Ethiopian delicacy, a spicy chicken stew cooked in a sauce made with Berbere. When we ordered our entree the other day, we opted for the Abyssinia Combo, a nice mix of both vegetarian and meat choices with the Doro We’t highlighted in the center of everything. It might have a mix of chilis, garlic, fenugreek, allspice and cinnamon, or another spice that represents a region. It also varies from region to region, so if you visit one of the Ethiopian restaurants in Berkeley, Doro We’t, the national dish of Ethiopia could taste a bit different than at Abyssinia, here in Santa Rosa.

One of the oldest and most used mix of spices is Berbere which goes deep into the roots of Ethiopian history. One of our fondest memories of visiting Abyssinia was watching the original owner roast and grind the coffee herself in a time immemorial fashion, to make us a very special cup of the brew.Įthiopian food is different from Indian, Thailand or any other spice loving culture and its importance in the spice trade, those thousands of years ago, give it a unique position and understanding of the delicate mixing of spices for cooking. When we came across Abyssinia on fourth street near the library, those years back, our spirits were lifted, knowing we could get our Ethiopian food fix so close to home. We missed the flavors and spices in the tasty dishes of Ethiopia we had so often enjoyed, food that leaves such a wonderful flavor in one’s mouth, a very savory memory that our taste buds hold. When our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the Haight disappeared a number of years ago, we were deeply saddened. One can feel as if they have been welcomed into a very friendly and gracious family circle. Daughter, Menen brings a young and cheerful vibe to Abyssinia and shares in both cooking and greeting guests. New owner, Dawit, recently took the restaurant over from his mother, who had opened the establishment in 2008. Arm chair travelers and anyone chomping at the bit to jump on a plane and visit somewhere exotic, try new foods and once again, see the world, can discover and enjoy the gastronomic offerings of one of the most ancient of cultures brought current by a very charming gentleman and his daughter, right here in Sonoma County.

Cooking madness guide