A nation’s cuisine and traditions play a crucial role in defining it’s identity. A significant part of Ethiopia’s brimming rich culture is exhibited through it’s unique spices and enriched flavor that is included in its various types of foods. Like most countries, Ethiopia has different foods that are made and served during different holidays and festivals. 

One of the most prominent holidays in Ethiopia is called Enkutatash which is the first day of the new year of Ethiopia and Eritrea. During this holiday, families and friends gather to share a traditional meal after attending church in the morning. The main dish during Enkutatash is eaten with injera, which is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a spongy texture. However, the main course meal for the Ethiopian New Year is called wot, which is a stew commonly made with chicken and lamb. All these foods that are served are augmented with a special spice blend of chilli powder called berbere. Tim Carman’s article “Hands-on eats: A deep dive into enjoying Ethiopian food like a pro” states that “an Ethiopian meal is a feast for the hands, a tactile experience in which a diner tears off a piece of injera flatbread and uses it to scoop up the stews and salads that cover a communal platter (which itself is covered in injera).” During special holidays such as Enkutatash, Ethiopians tend to share a big platter of food filled with various meat and vegan dishes with injera, as a result, fostering a sense of inclusiveness. Much is not known about this celebration in the Western world, therefore most westerners tend to overlook the sense of community and unity that is created through the simple act of sharing food with one another. 

These traditions are not only encompassed in Ethiopia, yet they transcend across different continents. For instance, Ethiopian restaurants are common all across the world including in North American cities and states such as Boston,Washington D.C, Connecticut, California and many more. However, a prominent question is how authentic are the foods served in these restaurants in comparison to the dishes served in Ethiopia? In Fasika restaurant, an Ethiopian Cuisine restaurant in Boston, they use an authentic spice imported straight from Ethiopia in order to cook and serve their food. After enjoying the flavorful food,it is followed with the coffee ceremony. Often times, especially in holidays such as Enkutatash, the coffee ritual consists of preparing and making the coffee while the place is decorated with small yellow flowers and fresh loose grass spread on the floor. This ceremony is used to bring and get together all family, friends and neighbors. During the holidays in Ethiopia, the variety of dishes served and the traditions are used to bring the people together in order to become one with the community as they all celebrate together. Furthermore, the spread of Ethiopian cuisine and culture all around the world shows the cultural diffusion that is occurring, as a result proving that Africa is a part of globalization. 

Ethiopian Restaurants in Boston Area

Fasika                                   Restaurant: 51 roxbury street                   ★★★★★

Lucy Cafe                             Cafe:  334 Massachusetts Ave                                 ★★★★

Ethiopian Cafe                     Cafe: Jamaica Plane                               ★★★★★

Blue Nile                              Restaurant: 389 Centre St, Jamaica Plain               ★★★★

Asmara                                 Restaurant: 739 Massachusetts Ave                      ★★★★

Sheger                                 Restaurant: 2376 Massachusetts Ave                     ★★★★

Addis Red Sea                      Restaurant: 544 Tremont St                                     ★★★★