Ase Theodros by Emily Monaco
What with the economy the way that it is, most food-related articles that you read nowadays seem to lean more towards "the best way to cook for less" as opposed to the best places to go. While I agree, in theory, that many dishes that we eat out can be recreated just as easily at home, there are some places that you should always go to for the real thing: when I was growing up, my mother was an incredible cook, but she always left Japanese and Indian food alone--why try at home when there are so many amazing places to eat out?
That's how I feel about Ethiopian food, especially because at Ase Theodros, in the 5th arrondissement, you get so much delicious food for so little.
There is a large and varied menu, but the only thing I've ever ordered and--based on tastes of other people's dishes--the only thing, in my opinion, worth ordering is the Beyanyennatou, an assortment of Ethiopian dishes served on Ethiopian bread called injera, not because the other dishes aren't good, but because with this assortment, you don't have to choose between them.
On the plate, you'll get several different dishes including stewed vegetables and lentils, stewed meat that literally falls off the bone in a savory and complex sauce, salad, spinach, Ethiopian cheese similar to Mexican queso fresco, boiled eggs... the possibilities are endless and often change. The food is generously spiced but not hot, complex but not overwhelming. Most Ethiopian dishes, as many Indian dishes, start with a varied base of spices that are then built upon with the addition of other ingredients. I don't know how they do it, but nothing that I've ever tried has come close.
The best part? The price: one order of Beyayennatou costs 16.50--it's easily enough for two to share if you're not ravenous, but after one trip here, you may be hard-pressed to find anyone who wants to give up half of this unique and interesting meal.
Ase Theodros
7 rue de La Collegiale, 5th arr. Tel. 01 43 37 70 60
http://www.asetheodros.vpweb.fr/default.html
Emily Monaco is an American student/expat from New York who has (hopefully permanently) moved to Paris. She spends her time in Paris seeking out artsy movie theaters, eating in amazing restaurants and trying to figure out how to use the Vélib.
I was thrilled when The Obeserver Magazine, which is part of the British newspaper The Guardian, asked me to write an article for their travel section about what to do if you've got an hour to spare between trains in Paris.Checkout what I wrote.http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/sep/20/paris-spare-hour-between-trains
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Thanks for the GREAT blog!!! Wonderful pictures , really enjoyed it,especially when I can't go myself,I can see it here-Francis
Posted by: francis | September 26, 2009 at 01:19 AM