Ethiopian

Delete all those horrible mental pictures from the news of kids eating dust — Ethiopians eat regular food just like the rest of us! Since their country is in the hot zone like ours, they’re keen to make their dishes super hot, but not really spicy. While Thai food burns the lips as a result of chili, Ethiopian harbors a fierce throat burn from the pepper used in their food. Generally, the food is mushy, similar to Indian, but what makes it special is the bread that you eat with it called “injera.” It’s made from Ethiopian grains that can only be found in the motherland. Another thing is that they use ancient-human utensils—hands, which they claim to be the cleanest because no one else uses them but you. How fun is that going to be? Ethiopians don’t eat pork because of their religion—most of them are Muslim or Orthodox Christian. It’s not just their food that you may want to try–their coffee is top of the pops, too. It’s called yiragachfe and traditionally it must be boiled with charcoal—the same as what Starbucks has, only it is more scented and a little bit oily, in a good way.

Must Try:

Kitfo. Freshly minced, extra lean beef seasoned with Ethiopian butter, mitmita—Ethiopian chili paste and cotage cheese.

Lebiled. Lamb simmered in red chili powder, onion, fresh ginger, and garlic with cottage cheese.

Yemisie Kik Wet. A dish of split lentils simmered with red chili pepper powder, onion and spice with some fresh garlic and ginger. Served with vegetable stew and an Ethiopian style tomato salad.

Try them at: Abyssinya Café, 16/11, Sukhumvit Soi 3 (Nana Nua,) opposite Zenith Hotel, 02-655-3436. Open daily noon-10pm.

Greek

If you’re bored with Italian and Turkish, why not try something that claims to be a delightful mix of both? Greek food is well known for being both inexpensive and delicious. However, Greece is not just known for seafood and olive oil. Feta cheese, stuffed grape leaves, and souvlaki are all signature Greek foods. Many dishes seem astonishingly simple, yet sophisticated in a way. They may not look that mouth-watering but in terms of nutrition, Greek is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. Don’t judge a book from its cover—olive oil might make Greek dishes look greasy, but it’s proven to be a good fat that we don’t store in our tummy.

Must Try:

Horiatiki a.k.a. Greek salad. A tomato salad with onion, olive oil, feta cheese and seasoning. Usually has no green vegetables, though some will add green pepper or cucumber.

Souvlaki. Spit-roasted pork wrapped in pita bread together with tzatziki—homemade dip made from yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, cucumber, and garlic.

Arni Lemonato. Lamb baked with lemon juice and garlic and tastes somewhat like a mix of Italian and Turkish cuisine.

Try them at: Athena, opposite Ekamai Soi 21, 594, Soi Ekamai, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-711-6879. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Spanish

Though the Spanish may be known for killing bulls, surprisingly they don’t eat them (they just want to show how manly they are). The Spanish do have some well-known foods, but finding an authentic restaurant in Bangkok is a real trial. Admittedly, Spanish food looks a lot like other Western food—the difference is in the products they use to prepare the dishes. For example, Spain produces succulent Serrano ham, the best of which is from Iberia, that is similar to Parma ham in Italy. Taste-wise, the Spanish are keen on preserving the pure taste of each ingredient, allowing us to enjoy the maximum flavor… and sometimes in maximum quantities. The paella at Rioja, for example, comes in a dish large enough to take a bath in. Spanish drinks and sweets are also not-to-be-missed if you really want to live la vida loca.

Must Try:

Paella de Marisco. A rice dish rich in seafood, Spanish spices and ingredients. Pork or lamb can be substituted for the seafood.

Tabla de Jamón Ibérico y Pan Tostado con Tamate Natural a.k.a. plank of Iberian ham and toasted bread with tomatoes. A heavenly dish yummy enough to deserve the long and hard-to-pronounce name.

Fideua con Salsa AI-I-Oli. Spanish pasta with seafood in aioli sauce, which is a special homemade Spanish sauce made from mayonnaise, garlic, olive and cream cheese.

Try them at: Rioja, 1025 Ploenchit Rd., in the soi between The Metropolitan Power Board and TOT Corporation Public Co., Ltd., 02-251-5761/-2. Open daily 11am-2:30pm and 6-11:30pm.