How To Disappear Completely

Ethiopian Night

Ruth has connections who tell her about Things. So last night, we went exploring Denver's downtown in search of exotic adventure. We found it at the Ethiopian Restaurant on Colfax.

My sketchy knowledge of Ethiopia is made up of entangled bits of Coptic history and Rastafarian diaspora. But I had no idea what Ethiopians ate.

This is not our plate, but looks close enough. First a large platter came to us. The platter was covered by a flat, very spongy bread smelling strongly of vinegar or pungent sourdough. The waiter then poured over the flat bread a variety of meats (pork, lamb, chicken) and legumes (lentils, split peas). We each had our very own hard-boiled egg. We were so full that we nearly forgot our cabbage and potato dish, but that would have been a culinary tragedy. The pseudo-Irish dish was really the best part, with tender potatoes and flavorful steamed cabbage.

With the exception of the bread, Ethiopian food is not very intense in flavor. Even the "spicy" dishes were a bit on the bland side. But the experience was interesting enough that I might be tempted to try it again. It's no Indian curry, but flatbread and lamb could be a dish I might grow to love over time.

After our Ethiopian foray, we browsed The Tattered Cover, a sizable bookstore also on Colfax Street. While in search of the bathrooms (using the large suspended Harry Potter broomstick as a navigational landmark through the giant store), we inadvertently crashed a book reading. Or rather, we tried to sneak quietly past, but the bathroom door creaked in a very conspicuous fashion.

Then we walked across the way to Twist and Shout, an independent music store. I stocked up on selections ranging from Bob Marley to Modest Mouse.