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| Injera (bread) with various traditional tastes |
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Blue Nile Restaurant
The class ate lunch at the Blue Nile Restaurant in the City Market. The owner, Daniel, gave a wonderful talk about Ethiopian culture and cuisine. The food was great, and all the students came to the table with an adventurous appetite.
I was so busy eating and drinking that wonderful mango juice, I forgot to take photos of the class. If anyone has some pics - please email them to Eric or me.
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I didn't really have many expectations of this restaurant as I have never dined on Ethiopian cuisine. The Blue Nile exceeded my expectations it was really delicious. The session with the owner was informative and I would definitely go back to sample other items from the menu.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree. It was different, yet very tasteful at the same time. I really liked the injera bread!
DeleteThat bread was so good, especially at the end of the meal when all of the spices and sauces from the entree's had time to soak into it. YUM!!!
DeleteI loved the food items..but the thing I liked the least was the Injera bread. The spongy texture just didn't work for me...but I ate it anyway, this time.
ReplyDeleteThe Blue Nile was amazing! I have never eaten Ethiopian before so I had no idea what to expect but it was absolutely delicious! This will definitely be a cuisine I would love to experience again! It was also so cool having the owner come out and talk to us! He was full of information and I enjoyed hearing the history behind his restaurant! The meat was fantastic and I was highly surprised by the yellow peas! The garbanzo beans really reminded me of hummus! As for the markets, everything was so surreal because you see these types of events on TV but experiencing it in real life is awesome! I had never been to a city market before and I had a blast! The lack of food packaging did have me a little concerned just because of the spread of germs and such but it was still a wonderful experience! I love the smell of all the spices!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you had never been to the farmer's market before. How was that wine you guys had with the meal? It looked pretty thick to me. How did it pair with the food?
Delete-Chad
I expected to only really like the chicken and beef at the Blue Nile but I honestly really enjoyed all of the food, except I wasn't a huge fan of the lamb! The owner of the restaurant was very knowledgable in answering our questions and I thought that was great. I thought that the markets were very interesting, the one thing that caught me off guard at the Chinese Market was that they had items that were not Asian. For example the Mexican hot sauces, and the case of French bread with an Asian woman holding French bread. I thought that was very strange. Overall I really enjoyed the trip and want to go back and have lunch at the Italian market at somepoint!!
ReplyDeleteBrian, I agree with you on being surprised at seeing food offerings for different cultures in the Chinese Market. I thoroughly expected to see only items that complemented an Asian cuisine. I saw Italian, Mexican, Indian and others that I am sure I had no idea where they fit.
DeleteI agree with Ben, after going through the markets, I wanted to eat again! I returned to the Italian market for some gelatto - one my personal favorites. Cortni did hit one of the key things that fascinates me about the Chinatown Market - how it has foods from so many other countries - they have lots of Jamaican items as well. I never found the WalMart brand that I heard was in the market though - what was it???
ReplyDeleteThey had great value tomato sauce that Ben and I had found, we also saw lipton tea and there where some other things but I cant remember what they were
ReplyDeleteAngela Putnam
DeleteI also saw Great Value brown sugar, which made me laugh.
I did not have any real expectations of the Blue Nile restaurant since I did not really know what Ethiopian food was like. I really liked the lamb meat the most, but I wasn't too fond of the vegetables. I really enjoyed the bread as well. I know the texture of it could potentially make people not like it as much, but I found it to be interesting and complimented with the rest of the food. I don't necessarily know if I would be willing to go back to try other foods or to have the same sampler dish, but I am glad that I was able to try something different.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't so surprised or impressed with anything at the Chinatown market since I had actually been to that market before. It was interesting to see the reactions of other classmates though when some of us were in the seafood area. A lot of people have commented on how they didn't expect to see such a variety of other cultures/food items in the Asian market but I think that is what makes some Asian markets in the downtown area to be unique and awesome. They shouldn't have to feel like they can only sell Asian items. There weren't any specific kinds of packaging that stood out to me here at the market.
I would definitely want to go back to the farmer's market and look around more at the different food items and spices. Although I don't cook much, it would be fun to go and pick up some fresh food items and spices and experiment at home with them. There was not too much packaging at the places we looked at, but for those type of items, it would be difficult to have packaging on them.
Brian McCormick:
ReplyDeleteI think I had dined at an Ethiopian restaurant once many, many years ago, but I could not tell you what I had to eat. Regardless, I had an absolute blast eating with and talking with everyone in our class on this outing. The communal meal setting made the experience just that much more intimate, and the food itself was deliciously outstanding with a perfect mix of spicy heat and organic purity.
I have visited the City Market area several times over the years, but honestly I had never been in the Habashi market before, so this was a new experience for me to see the different labeling and products from that region of the world. The Italian Market is one of my favorite places in town to get an authentic Italian sub sandwich, and the Asian Market is always just fun to go in simply for people-watching, let alone for the exotic aromas and foods one sees.
Overall, as previously stated, this outing was so much fun and I think that is what surprised me the most. I pictured a typical school "field trip" with unenthusiastic speakers and pointless exercises to fill time, but this was completely the opposite and I am so glad that we got to go.
I agree that the Italian market was great. And I agree that the Chinese market was fun to go in to WATCH people. But I have to politely disagree with the exotic aromas of the Chinese store. Just saying...it was stinky - got hit with the fumes of a bathroom upon entering. That might have ruined it for me.
DeleteAnd the people-watching thing was wild for me. Some guy with a gnarly, gray beard and missing front teeth kept coming up to me and John explaining different recipes, like how to make Catfish head soup. UGH!!!
Angela Putnam
DeleteBrian - I agree with you about the communal setting. While I have eaten at restaurants that serve their dishes that way in the past, I have not been at a table of virtual strangers doing so. It was great getting to know a little bit about you guys, while sharing a dining experience.
The Italian Market is also one of my favorite places. I can't even tell you how many different cheeses and olive oils I have tried from there over the years. I love the atmosphere there, and I hear they do have killer sandwiches. I will definitely be trying one in an upcoming visit.
Also, I was bummed that Bloom Baking Co was closed by the time I got over there. But, if you like breads and pastries, I definitely recommend it. The owner sits outside and gives samples on the weekends, and he will almost always remember you, and have a recommendation. It is probably one of the best small bakeries in the area. I suggest trying the chala bread and he makes a great baguette.
and the weather was perfect.
DeleteThe food was both good and adventurous. I have never eaten Ethiopian food before but jumped right in. The texture of the bread surprised me the most - super spongy. I only noticed the sourdoughish taste of the bread after the owner or whomever talked about it. The chicken was spectacular, but the lamb was quite tough (not used to that texture). The flavoring seemed robust but not spicy. I think my favorite flavors were the the chickpeas and the greens.
ReplyDeleteWhile touring the two different markets, I found the Middle-Eastern one far more inviting. Loved how they stored the spices in the square bins. Didn't see any prices on them, though. I wanted to buy some but scurried along with our group. The Chinese market was so LA for me. We have Chinatown and many Chinese stores there, so this "store" (as opposed to a farmer's market) wasn't appealing. The packaging, although bright, seems so cheesy. The open market makes one feel that the items are fresher.
Jennifer Caughey
DeleteI was also trying to find a way to describe the flavor of the bread, and it wasn't untill they said sour that it finally clicked with me as well. I liked the vegatables and the different flavors used. Honestly the only thing I could really identify was chicken as well, so if you had told me that something else was goat I probably wouldn't have known. I enjoyed eating with you at my table Catherine, you always have the most amazing attitude and smile on your face!!!!
I tend to be very unadventurous when it comes to the foods that I eat. I was truly expecting to take a bite of the food and have to spit it out because I didn't care for it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed what I was able to taste. I really liked the red lentils alot.
ReplyDeleteI often drive by the Chinese grocery and have never thought of shopping there, let alone going inside. I was highly surprised to realize after seeing it that I would probably go back and make a purchase. I loved the fresh seafood and the large meat selection. I actually did see items there I was familiar with and many that I was not. Megan and I say fried gluten in a jar. Ummmm, unsure what that is or what you use it for, but interesting to say the least!
The packaging in the Chinese market was something that I remembered. I tend to purchase many items because of the familiarity of the packaging. If the packaging is not something I have seen before, I will often avoid it. I do this alot when I am in NYC. I know everything is pretty much the same, but because I don't recognize it I tend to avoid it!
At the Al Habashi market, I did make a purchase. I bought some of the bulk nuts. I have recently become addicted to soy nuts, and the ones I bought there were incredible.
I often go to the River Market to pick up lunch during work, but have never taken the time to really shop through it. I definitely will return in the future!!!
Darah Matheis:
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised by the food at the Blue Nile Cafe. I am usually very timid about trying new food, especially when it comes from a completely different culture than the one I have grown up in. I am very glad that I actually tried some of the food that they brought us; I the chicken was absolutely amazing and the beef was really good too.
I thought that the markets were very interesting to walk through. I really enjoyed walking through the Al Habashi market and looking at all the different types of nuts and dried fruit that they had. I actually ended up buying some walnuts and pecans (which were very good). While walking through the Chinese market I enjoyed seeing the different types of food that they eat. Some of it didn't look too different from what we eat here but other things I had never seen or heard of before.
I got a lot more out of this weekend than I originally thought I was going to. I am looking forward to what the next two weekends have in store.
Jennifer Caughey
ReplyDeleteI thought the food at the Blue Nile cafe was actually pretty good. Honestly, it is not a place I normally would have chosen to eat at due to fear of the unknown, so I'm glad I got to experience this because of the class. I tried to go in with an open mind, but the one thing I didn’t want to try was goat so I was really relieved it was not on the menu.
As for the two markets, I thought they were great. I had never been down there so I thought all the different spices and authentic foods were amazing. If I actually cooked it would be a place I would go to get fresh ingredients. I wasn’t surprised by the packaging; however there were some things I wasn’t expecting to see like the octopus at the Italian market. I am not a seafood eater so I didn’t really enjoy the smells of the market, but it was nice to see culture and tradition alive and well in Kansas City.
Where I am from in California, they have many swap meets and street fairs that are similar to the markets and it felt a little like home for me. I thought it was a little funny that the Chinese market had Wal-Mart products in it and it was fun to hunt for those items. I personally didn’t buy anything, but I do plan on going back to try some of the other little restaurants and walk around when I have more time.
Angela Putnam
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the Blue Nile, the food, the atmosphere, especially the talk by the owner. I came away from there with a much greater appreciation for the culture for sure. I had eaten at one Ethiopian restaurant previously, and while I liked the dishes, I cannot say as much about the bread. At Blue Nile, I found the bread to be much less acidic and more palatable for my taste. I also bought the spice Burbere while we were there. When I talked to our server, he said that the lentil dish, which was probably my favorite was seasoned with that, along with a reduction of onions and tomatoes. Can't wait to try to make it!
The Chinese market was awesome! I went back and bought some rice noodles, along with some candies and snacks. I had to get something! I was also surprised by the number of other types of foods they carried. I wondered if perhaps they cater to some folks that only feel comfortable shopping there, so they carry everything they would need from a normal grocery store. I could see how someone coming to KC from China or any Asian country really, would feel more comfortable doing all of their grocery shopping at a market like that.
At the Mediterranean market, I really took the time to pay attention to the items on the shelves. I have been in there countless times, and never truly paid attention. I found that a lot of the items they carried are visually appealing by the way they are packaged or presented in jars, which made it interesting. I typically buy a LOT of my seasonings from that market and on that day, I restocked my dwindling supply of hickory seasoning (which I HIGHLY recommend) and dried cilantro. I also got some great deals on cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow squash. The zucchini was quite ugly and beaten which would shorten its lifespan quite a bit, so I was able to talk the supplier down to giving me them for half price.
I had a nice experience with the class at the City Market, and hope that carries over into the way I view my usual trips there in the future. I will definitely be bringing the family to Blue Nile and hitting the seafood tanks at the Chinese Market.
The Blue Nile Cafe was really inviting. It was really clean, but I did not expect it to be that size. I thought it was bigger because so many of us had reserved tables, and they needed room for others. As far as the menu, I didn't really know what they offered. The mango juice tasted really fresh. I'm a fan of mangoes. It was interesting when I heard the owner, Daniel say that when you go to a different country, you bring it with you. I thought that was inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI did not know the reason why there's hunger in Ethiopia is because of farmers not being able to own their own farms, and sell what and when. The goat meat was good. The food was fantastic as I expected before our journey there. I did like the atmosphere, and it was interesting to see other cultures from outside Ethiopia come in. I'm actually planning on going back to eat there. According to the website, they have a buffet! Do we have to take the food with the bread from the buffet line? Just wondering...
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed the entire experience at the River Market! Blue Nile was most enjoyable! I am very intrigued by Ethopia, since I was very young. The cuisine is amazing, and so healthy! I have been several times to Blue Nile, and enjoyed sharing with teachers and classmates. I was appreciative of the owner sharing with us as well! I hope to have more experiences with other classmates again like this one!
ReplyDeleteI love City Market on a Saturday morning. My wife and I enjoy taking the kids there as a special family outing. I didn't even know Blue Nile Cafe was there. We usually snack on kettle corn and snow cones with the kids. If I'm lucky I get a turkey leg. We always leave with a bag full of fresh fruit and vegetables, some dates and pita form Al Habashi market, a strawberry rhubarb pie from an Amish booth, and some cheese from the Italian Deli. I had never been to the Chinatown Market. That was a great experience. My wife and I dream of living on the coast, so we can have fresh seafood all the time. Now, I may just visit Chinatown a few times a month for some crabs or catfish heads (just kidding Catherine, about the catfish heads). I have been to Japan, South Korea, Iraq, and Turkey so packaging is nothing new too me. In fact, many of the flavors in the Ethiopian dishes were familiar as well. Many of the same spices are used in Iraqi and Turkish foods, just not in the same combinations.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the Blue Nile restaurant. I am a super picky eater so I was a little nervous. I really enjoy meat and spicy food so I was open to trying it. The food was excellent and I would definitely go back.
ReplyDeleteIn class we discussed the spices that are signiture to ethiopian dishes. I had anticipated the food to be much spicier than it actually was. I wonder if there are spicer dishes on the menu. If so, I would like to try them!
Liz Winke
This past weekend I have to say was a good change of pace being able to actually go out and experience some of what we were talking about. I tried to keep an open mind, but I did have some expectations or mental images of eating with our hands and feeling nauseated thinking about movies that I've seen it in and how non-appealing it looked. Using the bread though was a good change and actually tasted decent. I also thought the food would have been spicier so I was a little shocked by that as well. I really enjoyed the potatoes and chicken, and by the way, a Boulevard Pale Ale does compliment the subtle spice in the chicken and beef very well. I was happy to get out of my comfort zone and try something new even though I don't think I will voluntarily go back. It was good but I just like my food with a little more substance. The chinese market was a maze to me with product being stacked upon product to the ceiling and not really understanding most of what was written on the packages, but I did appreciate the eclectic style or availability of items ranging from jackfruit and banana leaf to jackfruit and woks. I thought the farmers market/Al Habashi market was a nice open venue with the opportunity to actually see and smell the fruits and spices. The Hickory BBQ seasoning and fresh clove and coffee really were pleasing to the senses and sometimes it just goes to show that lack of packaging is the best kind of packaging.
ReplyDelete