<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130017.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7203" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130017-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Have you ever eaten Ethiopian food?

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I've been wanting to try it for quite some time now, and this is certainly the year for seizing the day!

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Interestingly, my fair city boasts TWO Ethiopian restaurants about a block away from each other near the university.  Smart move for two reasons: Ethnic food is almost always inexpensive, and college kids are more prone to be adventuresome and open-minded in all things, including food.
<strong>Two reasons why this Late Bloomie couldn't wait to try Ethiopian:</strong>

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<p style="padding-left: 30px;">1.  No utensils.  You scoop up every morsel with their version of a flatbread.  In other words, YOU PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD/EAT WITH YOUR HANDS!!! YAY!!!</p>
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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130019.jpg"><img src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130019-300x225.jpg" alt="" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="300" height="225" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7211" /></a>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;">2.  The majority of the menu is vegetarian, along with beef, chicken and lamb stews.  I am super-adventuresome when it comes to veggies and spices.  Not so much when it comes to meats.  No organ meats, snails, or even raw fish for me, thank you very much.</p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;">3.  O.k.  So there's 3 reasons.  YOU GET SIT ON THE FLOOR WHILE YOU EAT!!!  YAY!!!</p>

My dining partner:  Captain Adventure, of course.  I invited others along, but no other nibbles.  Hmph.

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With all of this self-imposed buildup, I excitedly entered the restaurant to find no floor seating.  The space included all tables, just like your ordinary American restaurant.

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I felt like a child who's balloon just popped.

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Captain Adventure (the eternal early bird) was already sitting at the table.  I plopped down, leaned in, and whispered, "Where is the floor seating?"

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"There is no floor seating.  The other one has the floor seating."

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I made my best sad face.  "It's only a block away."  I made my best happy face.  "Do you want to mosey on over to the other one?!"

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"We're here.  Let's eat."

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I made my best grumpy face.

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Oh, well.  I'll have cherish my memories from last summer when my sister's family and I sat on cushions in a Moroccan-themed loft while gnoshing on THE BEST PIZZA IN THE UNIVERSE!  (www.

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And...you know...I can always try the other Ethiopian restaurant another time.  I simply missed out on a great blog photo op.  That's all.  :-(

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We ordered the yellow lentils, beef stew, collards, and green beans.  I also talked Captain Adventure into trying the Ethiopian beer.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130016.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7206" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P8130016-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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Yummy, delish, comfort food!  (Except for the beer, apparently.)

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Is there Ethiopian food in your fair city?  Are you feeling adventuresome?

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