
Pre-order online until THU Jun 24, 10pm
Pick up on FRI Jun 25, 6-7:30pm
Eritrea is an ancient, complex and diverse society. Nine ethnic groups, each with their own language, inhabit ecosystems ranging from coastal Red Sea lowlands, to fertile mountainous highlands, arid desserts to sub-tropical rainforests, each home to distinct ingredients and cuisines. Tonight’s dishes are inspired by those typical of the rural, agrarian highland villages: predominantly plant-based and complexly spiced. Chef, urban farmer and nutritionist Selam Teclu gives these traditional recipes a contemporary twist, combining regional herbs and spices with local ingredients for a unique dining experience.
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Birsin
A spicy Eritrean spread of red lentils, enriched with a coconut-oil version of the spice-infused butter known as tegelese tesmi (or niter kibeh in Ethiopia), and finished with Eritrean wild basil; served with mini pitas.
Bamya Duba
Pumpkin and okra are the stars of this traditional village dish, made with small cubes of lean, grass-fed beef simmered with clarified butter, a smoky & piquant berbere spice blend, and rue, an aromatic herb once popular in Mediterranean antiquity, but now rarely used outside of East Africa and some parts of the Balkans. Served with whole grain teff taita (aka injera), a fermented sourdough flatbread; teff is a highly nutritious grain unique to the Horn of Africa and an important staple in Eritrea.
Also available vegan, without beef.
Arugula and Mixed Spring Greens
The rich, spicy stew is balanced against this fresh, summery green salad with a creamy raspberry-dill vinaigrette.
Chocolate & Black Cardamon Teff Brownies
Made with nutty, gluten-free teff flour, dates, raw chocolate, and coconut milk, and spiced with black cardamon cultivated in the Eritrean highlands.
Beef, Vegan, or 1/2+1/2
Eritrean Dinner for 2 $48 • for 4 $90
ALSO AVAILABLE
Birsin – Eritrean spicy red lentil dip | 125ml | $6
Silsi – Eritrean spicy stew base: onions, ginger & garlic cooked with berbere & vegan tesmi | 125ml | $6
Tesmi – Clarified butter infused with onion, garlic, turmeric and 14 Eritrean herbs | vegan -or- regular | 125ml | $12
ORDERING FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. PICKUP IS FRI 6-7:30PM
Selam Teclu was born in Eritrea and immigrated to Canada at an early age. She currently lives in Toronto where she works as an Urban Farmer, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), Holistic Chef, Culinary Instructor and Writer. Selam is also part of Village Kanteen, a catering project that aims to offer nutritious vegan and vegetarian African fusion cuisine made with ingredients that are sourced from the eclectic bounty of the village of Toronto.