Let’s Get Ready to Eat!

By Andrea Wright –

Addissae is an Ethiopian farm-to-table restaurant which offers Asheville a culturally diverse place to have a meal.

Ethiopian food is an ancient cuisine that hasn’t been mixed much with outside influences. Traditional ingredients, such as Berbere (a combination of powdered chili pepper and other spices) is an important ingredient used in many dishes. Ayibe is a cottage cheese that is mild and crumbly; the texture is similar to crumbled feta. It is often served as a side dish to soften the effect of very spicy food. Another is Niter Kebbeh, a clarified butter infused with ginger, garlic, and several spices. Teff is a gluten-free grain that grows in abundance in Ethiopia. These tiny grains are ground into flour, fermented, and used to make injera (bread).

Traditional Ethiopian food is served family style, and your hands are your utensils. It is a common practice to feed others by putting the rolled injera, or a spoon full of another foodstuff, into another’s mouth; however, if you rather use silverware, it is available.

My first time trying Ethiopian food, I chose to have the meat mesob (basket), which consists of spicy beef Kay w’at (beef simmered in hot and spicy berbere sauce), Ethiopian cottage cheese and gomen (collards) on a gluten free injera bread platter. There is also a selection of meats (beef, chicken and lamb), and vegetarian and vegan dishes. Delicious!

Ethiopians are also proud of their coffees, which is understandable, since it was reputedly in the “Kaffa” region of Ethiopia that the plant originated. Coffee ceremonies are popular, with the preparer ritualistically walking throughout the room with the roasting beans. The ceremonies are rituals allowing for fellowship with family and friends: while the coffee beans are brewing, there is time to share stories. A “jebena” clay coffee pot is used to boil the coffee; and when brewed, the coffee is served in small cups.

The husband-and-wife owners, Vicky Schomer and Neeraj Kebede, say that “Addissae is all the things that we kind of represent as a couple.” Community-oriented, they participate in a number of fundraisers and teaching in schools. Neeraj says, “I love to see the childrens’ faces when they are learning, it warms my heart.”

The prices are reasonable and portions are generous. The service is great with knowledgeable staff.

Addissae will celebrate its one year anniversary in December with a party.

Addissae is located at 48 Commerce Street, downtown Asheville. Open Monday–Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Phone (828) 707-6563 and visit www.addissae.com.