I Tasted Genius

There are only so many different kinds of food available back where I come from, ie MI; there's italian, the fancy italian, american, the fancy american, korean, japanese aka sushi, and the occassional Thai and high-end 'French' restaurant. There is only ONE Ethiopian restaurant in my hometown as far as I know, and I'm sorry I missed out all these years!

After journeying to Dukem Ethiopian restaurant, I discovered that Ethiopian food is one of the loveliest foods I've tried in awhile...Just reminiscing about the dinner makes my mouth water. I say loveliest because that's how the food is, the tastes just melt ino your mouth. The food appears very basic in appearance, ground beef, chick peas, kale, etc. ...but then you actually eat the food and there's a literal explosion of mmmmmmmmmm in your mouth (as my food-crazed auntie puts it, that's because of the enormously fattening ghee butter that Ethiopians cook with).

Unfortunately, I don't remember what was ordered - but I'll get back to you on this, my knowledgeable french counterpart had ordered for the group, and I'm sure he'll remember. (And, as a note, you should really go to an Ethiopian restaurant as a group, the nature of Ethiopian food calls for group get-togethers; 2 people will hardly suffice.)

A few fun facts, the food that is pictured is actually sitting on a large, round, spongy flatbread called injera. After you clear enough of the dish you get another special treat - you get to eat the injera that was below the food and has soaked up every amazing bit of flavor (and ghee butter). Also, you eat with your hands (specifically just your right hand if you'd like to be polite); you use pieces of injera that's given alongside the dish to scoop up the various wat (stews) that you've been served.

The flavors, the minute they enter your mouth, will seem recognizeable and homey. The Ethiopian taste can't be considered complex or overwhelming for the average tongue (avg. college tongue at the very least) but more along the opposite. The food is very simple and each individual flavor can be sifted through and soaked up by your tongue; however, simplicity shouldn't be used as an undermining factor. The basics are always refreshing when done right, and the food was cooked superbly for its price. Everything seemed to melt in my mouth and ghee butter or not, it was worth the calories!!

The only downside, inja swells in your stomach with water and makes you full faster - I so desperately wish I had been able to eat more.

As you can see, me and my friends had no qualms about the extra calories.

Dukem: The service may be a little...frenetic, the space is packed, and the food is excellent. Everyone in this loud space seemed to be enjoying the night and the food itself sits as an exceptionally warm invitation for your friends to gather together and genuinely enjoy themselves.