My First Time Eating Ethiopian Food Changed Me
A friend dragged me to an Ethiopian restaurant last weekend. I had no idea what to expect—I pictured rice and stew, maybe something spicy. What landed on the table looked nothing like I imagined.
There was no fork, no knife. Just a giant sour flatbread called injera, rolled up like a pancake, and bowls of lentils, chicken, and greens on top. The waiter said, “you eat with your hands.”
At first, I felt awkward. I grew up thinking eating with hands was “messy” or “wrong.” But tearing off a piece of injera, scooping up sauce, and sharing from the same platter—it felt less like “eating out” and more like being invited into someone’s home.
The flavors shocked me too. Sour, spicy, earthy—it was nothing like the usual “safe” meals I default to. But it hit something deeper: food that makes you slow down, taste, and connect.
I walked out thinking: maybe we’ve been doing dinners wrong. We eat fast, alone, with screens. But here? It was about togetherness.
Would you try injera with your hands—or stick to forks and knives forever?
#FoodCulture #EthiopianFood #DifferentTastes
