Ethiopian dining is as much about community as food. From the unique coffee ceremonies to the shared platters of flavorful dishes, Ethiopian restaurants offer a cultural experience that extends far beyond the meal itself.
Nazret Ethiopian Restaurant: A Culinary Journey
I am Chef Endalk Mekonnen. I would like to cordially invite you to visit my Restaurant, NAZRET ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT, located in the back of the shopping strip mall Build America at the Skyline shopping center. Our Restaurant serves authentic Ethiopian food. I am the owner and operator.
In a very recent article, Washington Post has selected my restaurant NAZRET RESTAURANT as the third-best in their list of top ten Ethiopian Restaurants Washington area. Ethiopian dining is as much about community as food. A businessman from Addis Ababa has dined on occasion during the pandemic at Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant (3821 S George Mason Dr. D, Falls Church, 703-347-9911; nazretethiopiarestaurant.com).
To give you a little background about myself, I am an award-winning professional Ethiopian Chef. I graduated from Culinary arts school both here in the USA and Ethiopia. I have won numerous trophies from cooking contests. While in Ethiopia, I was the Chef at the Addis Abeba Hilton for more than ten years. During this period, I also owned and ran my own culinary arts school for several years, and I have more than six hundred graduates to my credit. Currently, I own and operate NAZRET RESTAURANT located at 3821D South George Mason, Dr., Falls Church, VA 22041.
The Warmth and Culture of Ethiopian Dining
Say what you want about the entitlement of the rich and their ability to bend the world to their will with the flash of a little cash. But when it comes to the warmth, culture and exchange of the Ethiopian table, this businessman is as bereft as the rest of us. The pandemic has cast its shadow over our lives for almost a year now, and it has been particularly cruel to the restaurant industry.
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Zagol: A Taste of Home and Tradition
Born in Nazret, Ethiopia, Shita Yenenh knew she wanted to own a restaurant from a young age. Culturally, a mother’s recipes were passed down generationally. Shita lost both parents while still very young, so she learned the art of cooking by remaking the recipes she tasted while at other people’s homes. When she moved to the United States with her daughters years later, she worked a few jobs before finally opening Zagol.
Vegan Ethiopia Episode 1: Injera Bread
“When people come to my restaurant, they will get real food.”Because of her unique exposure to multiple family recipes and styles, Zagol’s menu offers a wide range of flavor. As the sole chef and owner of the restaurant, Shita describes her cooking style as “...real. It’s real food, made with real love, and passion. I don’t stress about how much of something to put in. I make everything from scratch, by hand. When people come to my restaurant, they will get real food.”
A Culinary Highlight: Zilzil Tibs
Her favorite dish to serve to her guests is Zilzil Tibs, a savory dish of seasoned beef and sweet onions. Clouds of steam parade the dish from the kitchen, and it is still sizzling from the fire. “When I bring it out to them, their faces light up,” Shita states, gleaming.
The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony: A Tradition of Gathering and Friendship
Ethiopia is famous for its coffee, and for good reason. The sweet, pure, aroma of fresh brewed Ethiopian coffee beans is hard to ignore. There is a coffee ceremony traditional to Ethiopian culture, and it is performed at Zagol, by the chef herself. According to what Shita was taught as a child, the coffee ceremony originated long ago when the women in the villages stayed home while the men went to work.
Early every morning, the women would prepare the coffee in clay pots, hand-grinding and roasting the beans, releasing decadent aromas that filled the air. Once the men had finished their cup of coffee and left for work, the women would gather whatever sewing or cotton they were working on that day, bring the coffee, and meet in the village to gossip together and have a good time. The idea of gathering to have a good time with the best of friends is what kept the tradition alive.
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The Essence of Ethiopian Culture: Community and Generosity
Zagol reflects some of the amazing qualities of Ethiopian culture. “In my country, there are no babysitters. There are no senior homes. Nobody needs that. Your family and neighbors are there. Everybody helps everybody. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is. It doesn’t matter if you are related, or a complete stranger. If you need something, they will give it to you, even if it was all they had. If you go to someone’s door, they will bring you in, make you comfortable, and feed you. No one goes to bed hungry.”
Amet Bal: Celebrating Togetherness
“Amet Bal. It means holiday and family and food and all the joy.”When dining at Zagol, be prepared for a flavor-packed, family-friendly cultural experience. All of the dishes are presented on traditional Injera bread. There is no silverware, because the bread acts as a wrap, to scoop up the items by hand. The best way to get a full taste is to bring a few friends. The meal is shared, so the more people there are, the more choices can be ordered. Every day is treated like a family holiday at Zagol. “It’s my favorite. Amet Bal. It means holiday and family and food and all the joy.”
Zagol is an inviting place to bring friends and family, enjoy time together, and dine on delicious food.
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