Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant Photo Recap and Review

If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times, "Atticus, please don't eat with your hands." Well that rule was gloriously broken last Tuesday at our gathering at Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant,  where we dipped and scooped our way through the 14 menu items.

I am a big fan of multi-use items, and enjera, the local bread that is part food side item, part utensil, and part plate definitely fits that description. Enjera is made with Teff, an Ethiopian "super" grain. For those who are health conscious, it is high in protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and many needed nutrients. It contains no gluten so it is appropriate for those with gluten intolerance. 

                

The food is not only healthy but really tasty. I left our gathering with about 5-6 items I definitely want to get on my next trip to Abyssynia. Yilma, the owner, did us right. The food was amazing, the service quick, and the atmosphere was, as always,  warm and welcoming. 

Our menu included:

Gored gored (cubed beef)
Lamb

Chicken stew traditional style

Green Beans
Pea stew - chick peas
Red Lentils
Green Lentils
Greens
Seasoned Cabbage
Goat Cheese
Salad
Potato
Salmon
Tilapia fish kitfo

Exit Survey Result Highlights:

What dish(s) did you Like? 
"ALL!"  

"Tilapia and the lamb"
"I liked them all. can't make up my mind, Salmon? Tilapia?"
"Salmon, Veggies-cabbage, Green Beans, & Lentils"
"Lamb and cheese"
"Greens, Lentlils, Chicken, Lamb"
"Green Beans and many others, not sure what they were."


What was your favorite part of the evening?

"the big plate o' food"
"Using the bread to eat" 
"The conversation...and the tilapia."
"Seeing them bring out the big platter!"
"Sharing the big platter"
"THE FOOD!"
"As always, meeting new folks. Oh, and eating!

The winner of the "Group Favorite Award" is...

The Lentils. Two months in a row now, a vegetable has won the group favorite award. The tilapia was a close second, so a protein represented.  

If you are looking for something different to try tonight, I highly recommend Abyssinia. When you go, please spread the love and tell Yilma hello for us.  

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant 2600 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38112 Phone (901) 321-0082

Thanks: Photos are by blogger extraordinaire, Sophorn, aka norococo bad photo quality  via christopher mcrae's photo loading ability. Exit surveys are by atticus , funniest twitterer around.

Trolley Stop Market Review and Photo Recap

One of my new favorite restaurants is reshaping the way Memphians think about fresh food. Trolley Stop Market is owned by Keith and Jill Forrester. If you recognize their names from somewhere, you may have met them at the downtown farmer’s market, selling produce from their farm, Whitton Farms. “Know your farmer, know your food” is their motto, and I for one,  am sure glad to know them.

Trolley Stop Market not only uses their own fresh vegetables in their recipes, they use as much local produce as they can. Here is a pretty impressive list of local farms/mills/bakery they are trying to mainstream:  

Whitton Farms, Jones Orchard, Neola Farms, Westwind Farms, Muddy Water's Seafood, Newman Farms, Top of the World Farms, Shoaf's Loaf, OC Vegan, MsKaskle Farms, McCarter Coffee, My Cup of Tea, Funder Farms, Wilson Farms, Kelly Farms, Matthews Farms, Donnel Century Farms, Richardson Vegetable Farm, King's Point Farm, and my personal favorite War Eagle! Mills (The auburn fan in me added the exclamation mark.)

They may not be Italian, but they make a mean pizza. They may not be Mexican, but they make an incredible taco (Taco Tuesdays) They may not be vegetables, but they make an awesome Vegetarian Lasagna. Okay the joke was bad, but the lasagna was still amazing.

Our menu included:

Appetizers

Shitake Mushroom Bruschetta

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Greektastic Salad

Entrees

Neola Farms Beef Lasagna

Vegetarian Lasagna

Old MacDonald Pizza

A variety of Wraps (Hummus or Chicken)

A variety of Hoagies (Jive Turkey, Philly Style, & Homemade Meatball Hoagies)

Desserts

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Bomb Cake

Fresh Fruit Salad

From the looks on the faces at the gathering, I would have to write everyone had a wonderful time. The service was excellent. I really enjoyed hearing from where all of the ingredients originated. TSM went out of their way to make us feel welcome; they even put welcome signs on our tables. There is a reason people are returning to the TSM. They make everyone feel so welcome, and they make pretty good food as well.  Thanks to Jill, Keith, and the whole crew over there for a great gathering.

What would you try again?

“everything! (esp. the soup)”

“Old McDonald had a PIZZA!”

“tomato soup”

“Meatball Hoagie”

“Pizza, Meatball Hoagie”

“Everything was amazing, I can’t choose just one.”

What meal would you order again?

“Beef Hoagie”

“Veggie Lasagna/ Chicken Hoagie”

“Hummus Wrap/Tomato Soup/Pizza”

“Old McDonald Pizza”

“Lasagna-Great combo of veggies”

What was your favorite thing about the gathering?

“being introduced to food/plates AND where it came from.”

“Restaurant/people were so friendly and welcoming”

“My husband eating so many  veggies.”

“I love the local emphasis of this meal. Local = Awesome!”

“Having Jill and Keith come out & introduce themselves at the end of our meal, nice people”

Restaurant Suggestions?

“put the tomato soup on the permanent menu!”

“None, the food is great! Love the atmosphere.”

“the food was delicious and the service was excellent – I’ll definitely come again”


Trolley Stop Market
704 Madison Ave.
901.526.1361
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hours 8am-9pm


BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER.
Homemade, AWESOME PIZZA!
Draft Beer like: Ghost River
Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials
Farmers Market w/ 80+local food
& artisan vendors!
Family Friendly all the time!


Photos courtesy my lovely bride, Sophorn McRae (thanks!)

Fuel Cafe Review and Photo Recap

Our gathering at Fuel Cafe was a great success. Carrie set up a wonderful menu for us. I know everyone was amazed at the quality and the quantity of food.

Our tasting menu included:

Salmon Dip with crostini and crudite
Cafe Salad
House Cut Fries served w/ trio of dipping sauces
Veggie Nacho's

Meditterranean tuna melt
House made veggie burger on white/wheat buns
Vegan Thai curry tofu with basmati rice

Pasta w/ Springer Mountain Farm Chicken Breast
Chicken Fried Bison Steak

Brownies       
                   

We couldn't have asked for a nicer evening to sit outside on the patio. It was a beautiful cool September evening under my favorite mood lighting in Memphis.

The food came out quickly and frequently. I have to admit, even though I was getting more and more full, the food seemed to get better with each course. I am an admitted 12-step chocoholic, so the brownie was a wonderful end to a great meal.

Thanks to Carrie and the whole staff at Fuel Cafe. They did an amazing job. If you are ever in the mood for vegan fare, or if you are just looking for something healthy, please stop by and have dinner or lunch with them.

Their hours are:

Tuesday - Friday:

Lunch 11:00am - 3:00pm  / Dinner 5 pm -9:30pm   

Saturday :

Brunch 11:00am- 3:00pm / Dinner 5pm - 10:00pm  Sunday, Monday:

Closed

Fuel Cafe is Project Greenfork  which means they are  contributing to a sustainable Mid-South by helping reduce environmental impact of restaurants.  

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1761 Madison
Memphis, TN 38104

901.725.9025

So stop by tell Carrie hello, and don't forget to try a brownie!