I've never really mastered chopsticks, as hard as I try. A Korean friend (ooh, there's another post I should do, Korean food!) lent me the children's training chopsticks, which are hinged together, and that's about the level I'm at. So why not take utinsels out of the equation all together? Hence, Ethiopian food becomes an appealing option.
Ethiopian
There are a couple options for Ethiopian in GR, although I've only been to one. Sometimes when you fall in love with a place, you don't feel the need to branch out and try other options. That's how I feel about GoJo's in East Town (421 Norwood Ave SE, right behind Wolfgang's). As just an added plus, there's even parking! They are closed on Sunday and Monday, just be aware of that. The place is run by a husband and wife team, and Sam is about the greatest guy ever. He's happy to answer any questions, make recommendations, and he goes above and beyond for customer service. He remembered me from a visit months before and made me a special handmade tea bag so I could have Ethiopian tea at home! (More on the tea further down- amazing stuff!)
So, what to order. I personally love everything I eat there, so the lunch buffet is what I usually go for. This is probably the only place I like collard greens, but Sam's are pretty exceptional. Spicy and flavorful but not too spicy that your lips go numb or anything. Any food item ending in "watt" is a thick stew-like dish. If you order traditional dishes (and really, what's the point of going to an Ethiopian restaurant and NOT getting a traditional dish), food items will usually come atop a plate-size pancake-type of bread called injerra. Do be aware that injerra expands as it's digested, so if you feel full, you're going to feel a whole lot fuller in an hour or so! I always have to get an extra order of injerra on the side, as I'm not quite as adept at using it as a utinsel as other people. The beef stew (tibbs watt) is really flavorful and tender, and goes well with some of the vegetable sides, as well as the fava beans (bakela) or mixed spiced vegetables (atkilt alicha). Really though, you'll find what you like through trial and error, which is easiest with the buffet or a combo platter.
The Ethiopian tea is a MUST! It became so popular that it is now sold as leaves for you to brew at home as well. Sweet, a little spicy, and the perfect thing for chilly days!
I wasn't joking about lack of silverware either. It's available upon request, but really, try pinching the injerra bread between your thumb and forefinger to make a little pincer, and pick up the vegetables and meat that way. It's fun, takes you back to childhood, and...mostly it's just fun.
If you're planning ahead (which I rarely do), I highly suggest the sweet potato pie! Available in a small size (for 2-3 people) or a full size, this is one amazing pie! You do have to call ahead to preorder the pie though. Just so you know.
So give GoJo's a try and then I want to hear about it! Or invite me along...
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Ethnic Food Suggestions, Part 3- Turkish
Now, some may think that Turkish and Greek food is the same, and that a gryo is a gyro no matter which ethnicity is making it. Um, no. Similarities, yes, but different cuisines. Let's talk Turkish for a sec.
Turkish Delight
Zeytin, located at 400 Ada Dr, is the only authentic Turkish restaurant that I know of in GR. The owner is from Istanbul originally and still travels there several times a year to visit his sister and family. The chef is Turkish as well, and often can be seen in the dining room during slow times. (He loves it when people speak Turkish phrases to him, just so you can practice...) Hakan is my favorite waiter, usually working the dinner shift. Request him if at all possible. He's another Istanbul transplant and is attending college in Grand Rapids.
What to order? Well, to begin with, hot Turkish tea is a must. In Turkey, no matter where you are, tea will be offered, and usually refilled several times. It comes in tulip-shaped cups unique to the region with sugar cubes on the side and a small spoon.
For an appetizer, I suggest the sampler platter so you can try several mezes (appetizers). If you don't want that much, I am absolutely in love with the eggplant salsa, the hummus, the dolma (called sarma in Turkey) and the feta borek, all of which are authentic. Feta borek especially is a fun treat- phyllo dough with layers of spinach and feta cheese, baked golden brown so it's warm crispy cheesy goodness. A bite of that, and then a bite of chilled dolma (grape leaves stuffed with herbed rice and pine nuts) for a lighter, cooler comparison. Perfect!
For dinner, I always have to get the same thing: Iskender. Meat similar to what you find in Mediterranean gyros is laid on top of fried flatbread, smothered in a tangy tomato sauce with melted butter drizzled over the top and a side of plain Greek-style yogurt. (In case you're wondering, in Turkey it's not Greek-style yogurt, it's just the everyday yogurt they have. No sweet yogurt there!)
Dessert is all good, although I especially love the Sutlac (rice pudding, just trust me on this one) and Turkish coffee, made to your sweetness preference. I like mine semi-sweet. The cup and saucer come empty and the coffee is poured from the tiny pot it was cooked in. Pour slowly to keep most of the grounds in the pot and don't worry about not finishing the coffee. As soon as you start to taste grounds, it's time to realize the experience is over, not keep chewing away at the grounds. Instead, just order another and don't plan on sleeping that night.
Turkish Delight
Zeytin, located at 400 Ada Dr, is the only authentic Turkish restaurant that I know of in GR. The owner is from Istanbul originally and still travels there several times a year to visit his sister and family. The chef is Turkish as well, and often can be seen in the dining room during slow times. (He loves it when people speak Turkish phrases to him, just so you can practice...) Hakan is my favorite waiter, usually working the dinner shift. Request him if at all possible. He's another Istanbul transplant and is attending college in Grand Rapids.
What to order? Well, to begin with, hot Turkish tea is a must. In Turkey, no matter where you are, tea will be offered, and usually refilled several times. It comes in tulip-shaped cups unique to the region with sugar cubes on the side and a small spoon.
For an appetizer, I suggest the sampler platter so you can try several mezes (appetizers). If you don't want that much, I am absolutely in love with the eggplant salsa, the hummus, the dolma (called sarma in Turkey) and the feta borek, all of which are authentic. Feta borek especially is a fun treat- phyllo dough with layers of spinach and feta cheese, baked golden brown so it's warm crispy cheesy goodness. A bite of that, and then a bite of chilled dolma (grape leaves stuffed with herbed rice and pine nuts) for a lighter, cooler comparison. Perfect!
For dinner, I always have to get the same thing: Iskender. Meat similar to what you find in Mediterranean gyros is laid on top of fried flatbread, smothered in a tangy tomato sauce with melted butter drizzled over the top and a side of plain Greek-style yogurt. (In case you're wondering, in Turkey it's not Greek-style yogurt, it's just the everyday yogurt they have. No sweet yogurt there!)
Dessert is all good, although I especially love the Sutlac (rice pudding, just trust me on this one) and Turkish coffee, made to your sweetness preference. I like mine semi-sweet. The cup and saucer come empty and the coffee is poured from the tiny pot it was cooked in. Pour slowly to keep most of the grounds in the pot and don't worry about not finishing the coffee. As soon as you start to taste grounds, it's time to realize the experience is over, not keep chewing away at the grounds. Instead, just order another and don't plan on sleeping that night.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Ethnic Food Suggestions, Part 2 - Thai
This is the second installment of my ethnic food suggestions for Grand Rapids. Each post will have a different cuisine, at least until I run out of cuisines.
Thai
There are two Thai places I've been to that I'd recommend, although I'm sure there are several other delicious ones. I like Angel Thai, which is downtown on the corner of Monroe and Monroe Center, close to the Bigby coffee there. Service is so-so (often slow, not the most professional) but the food makes up for it! My absolute favorite place though is in Jenison. (Totally worth that drive, btw.) Bangkok Taste is on Balwin St, a little ways past the Meijer, only about 3 min from the freeway. Service and food are excellent, although their hours have recently changed (and they haven't updated their site) so if in doubt, call ahead.
If trying Thai food for the first time, Pad Thai is never a bad choice. It's kind of like the chicken tenders meal of American restaurants: on every menu, pretty basic, and yet so good. You can order whichever meat choice you'd like to go in, or there is tofu or vegetables as well. You also specify how spicy you'd like your dish. Egg drop soup is also usually a safe bet. (I'd tend to skip the soup from Angel Thai though; the one I had was disappointing to say the least. Very watery broth and dried mushrooms. And I even like mushrooms!)
I personally love the Peanut Curry Noodle with tofu. It's sweet, a little spicy, the sauce is creamy, and the portion is HUGE! (I can usually make it last three meals.) I also always get an order of Curry Fried Rice from Bangkok Taste, which is spicy but also a hint of sweetness that Indian curry tends not to have. Again, huge portion, so you can make it last. (This dish tends to come out spicier than other dishes, even if you order them the same spice level, so just be aware of that.)
Bangkok Taste does something crazy good with their tofu, it seems like it's deep-fried or something, it's crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and doesn't taste like soybeans, which for me is a definite plus. Depending on who the cook is that day, spiciness can vary, so order conservatively, since it's easier to add more than take it out if it's too hot. (I love spice but I never go more than medium.) Bangkok Taste tends to be more spicy than Angel Thai, just to keep in mind.
http://www.angelsthaicafe.com/
http://bangkoktastes.com/
Thai
There are two Thai places I've been to that I'd recommend, although I'm sure there are several other delicious ones. I like Angel Thai, which is downtown on the corner of Monroe and Monroe Center, close to the Bigby coffee there. Service is so-so (often slow, not the most professional) but the food makes up for it! My absolute favorite place though is in Jenison. (Totally worth that drive, btw.) Bangkok Taste is on Balwin St, a little ways past the Meijer, only about 3 min from the freeway. Service and food are excellent, although their hours have recently changed (and they haven't updated their site) so if in doubt, call ahead.
If trying Thai food for the first time, Pad Thai is never a bad choice. It's kind of like the chicken tenders meal of American restaurants: on every menu, pretty basic, and yet so good. You can order whichever meat choice you'd like to go in, or there is tofu or vegetables as well. You also specify how spicy you'd like your dish. Egg drop soup is also usually a safe bet. (I'd tend to skip the soup from Angel Thai though; the one I had was disappointing to say the least. Very watery broth and dried mushrooms. And I even like mushrooms!)
I personally love the Peanut Curry Noodle with tofu. It's sweet, a little spicy, the sauce is creamy, and the portion is HUGE! (I can usually make it last three meals.) I also always get an order of Curry Fried Rice from Bangkok Taste, which is spicy but also a hint of sweetness that Indian curry tends not to have. Again, huge portion, so you can make it last. (This dish tends to come out spicier than other dishes, even if you order them the same spice level, so just be aware of that.)
Bangkok Taste does something crazy good with their tofu, it seems like it's deep-fried or something, it's crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and doesn't taste like soybeans, which for me is a definite plus. Depending on who the cook is that day, spiciness can vary, so order conservatively, since it's easier to add more than take it out if it's too hot. (I love spice but I never go more than medium.) Bangkok Taste tends to be more spicy than Angel Thai, just to keep in mind.
http://www.angelsthaicafe.com/
http://bangkoktastes.com/
Ethnic Food Suggestions, Part 1-Indian
So a lot of people tell me they want to try some of the ethnic restaurants around town but don't know what to get or are worried the one they go to won't be a good one. Since this is some of my favorite food, I've come up with some suggestions of places and menu items for some of the restaurants. Each of the first few posts will feature a different cuisine. Feel free to give other suggestions and recommendations!
Indian
Palace of India, on the corner of Fulton St. and Diamond St (near Van's Pastry shop for all you doughnut lovers) if my favorite place to go for comfort food. They have a lunch buffet, which I recommend if you want to try a bunch of different dishes and see what you like. The naan (a flatbread that's baked quickly in the tandoori oven) is always fresh and hot, and they do a good job of keeping the buffet from getting stale or cold.
I've never had a bad appetizer, so feel confident to order any of them. I especially love the samosas and pakoras (mostly because they're deep fried, who doesn't love deep fried food?!).
For entrees, Palace of India is known for their Butter Chicken, which is just chicken pieces in a creamy, slightly buttery tomato sauce. It isn't spicy, so beginners tend to like this dish a lot. Whenever I go, SOMEONE has to get this dish so we can all have a couple bites. Chicken Tikka Masala is another good choice for people who need/want to avoid spice, since the sauce is a little sweet and not spicy at all.
I always get the Pudina Paneer Tikka Masala, which is a vegetarian dish with cubes of yummy paneer cheese in a slightly sweet tomato sauce. Another solid choice for a vegetarian dish is the Bengan Bhartha, which is a little spicier but the eggplant is divine in it. Again, vegetables in a sauce, but who knew veggies could taste like this?!
One thing to keep in mind when getting Indian food is ALWAYS GET NAAN! It's so delicious, especially from Palace of India. Very soft, blistered from the contact with the oven, and if you get the garlic one, absolutely delicious with any of the dishes you order.
http://palaceofindiarestaurant.com/index.html
Another good option is Bombay Cuisine on Lake Drive at the corner of Robinson in East Town. This was my first experience with Indian food and their Chicken Korma is still on my must-eat-everytime list. Slices of white chicken meat in a cashew-flavored cream sauce. mmmm. And of course, an order of naan. (The naan from Bombay tends to be thinner and not quite as good as from Palace of India, but it's still a must.) The tikka masala is good as well, and just like at Palace of India, neither dish is spicy. Bombay also has a divine mango lassi, a yogurt drink that eases the spice right out of any dish you order. It's a little more expensive than Palace of India, but slightly dressier atmosphere. Both are good bets, and the food is stunning at both locations.
Indian
Palace of India, on the corner of Fulton St. and Diamond St (near Van's Pastry shop for all you doughnut lovers) if my favorite place to go for comfort food. They have a lunch buffet, which I recommend if you want to try a bunch of different dishes and see what you like. The naan (a flatbread that's baked quickly in the tandoori oven) is always fresh and hot, and they do a good job of keeping the buffet from getting stale or cold.
I've never had a bad appetizer, so feel confident to order any of them. I especially love the samosas and pakoras (mostly because they're deep fried, who doesn't love deep fried food?!).
For entrees, Palace of India is known for their Butter Chicken, which is just chicken pieces in a creamy, slightly buttery tomato sauce. It isn't spicy, so beginners tend to like this dish a lot. Whenever I go, SOMEONE has to get this dish so we can all have a couple bites. Chicken Tikka Masala is another good choice for people who need/want to avoid spice, since the sauce is a little sweet and not spicy at all.
I always get the Pudina Paneer Tikka Masala, which is a vegetarian dish with cubes of yummy paneer cheese in a slightly sweet tomato sauce. Another solid choice for a vegetarian dish is the Bengan Bhartha, which is a little spicier but the eggplant is divine in it. Again, vegetables in a sauce, but who knew veggies could taste like this?!
One thing to keep in mind when getting Indian food is ALWAYS GET NAAN! It's so delicious, especially from Palace of India. Very soft, blistered from the contact with the oven, and if you get the garlic one, absolutely delicious with any of the dishes you order.
http://palaceofindiarestaurant.com/index.html
Another good option is Bombay Cuisine on Lake Drive at the corner of Robinson in East Town. This was my first experience with Indian food and their Chicken Korma is still on my must-eat-everytime list. Slices of white chicken meat in a cashew-flavored cream sauce. mmmm. And of course, an order of naan. (The naan from Bombay tends to be thinner and not quite as good as from Palace of India, but it's still a must.) The tikka masala is good as well, and just like at Palace of India, neither dish is spicy. Bombay also has a divine mango lassi, a yogurt drink that eases the spice right out of any dish you order. It's a little more expensive than Palace of India, but slightly dressier atmosphere. Both are good bets, and the food is stunning at both locations.
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