Teach Middle East Magazine September 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 2 | Page 39

Taste It - Share It

BONNA ANNEE
TRY
SOMETHING NEW
By Richie Chin
Establishment: Bonna Annee
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Location: Tourist Club Area - Behind HSBC
on Salam [8th Street]
Dish: Bonna Annee Special

A

s a rule of thumb, whenever
I try out a new cuisine, if the
food is not homemade I go to
a restaurant that is frequented
by people for whom this food is local.
This is usually a good indicator that
the food will be authentic and probably
well prepared. Arriving at Bonna Annee
Restaurant, I was pleased to note that
it was filled with many Ethiopian and
Eritrean diners.
Being new to Ethiopian food, my
friends and I decided to order what
the waitress recommended, the
Bonna Annee Special. The special
is essentially a taster platter that is
comprised of small portions of a variety
of popular dishes served on top of
injera, which is, traditional Ethiopian

bread served with most meals. Meal
times in Ethiopia are about sharing and
this one was no different as the injera
came on a large communal bowl. The
waitress served the meat, vegetables
and lentils on the injera, arranging
them in a way that allowed each of
us easy access to sample the various
items.
All of the dishes had a hearty,
homemade taste to them. There were
two beef dishes (one grilled, the other
a stew), a lentil stew, a chickpea stew,
sautéed mixed vegetables and injera
soaked in the house sauce. Most of the
dishes contained a blend of Ethiopian
chilli powder with varying degrees of
spiciness; however, none of them were
too spicy. The waitress gladly provided
the table with pots of the in-house chilli
sauces to increase the heat of each
dish.
The injera bread is similar in look to a
crepe but with a spongy texture. It has

a sour taste and acts as the perfect
complement to the stews. The bread
also does double duty as the vehicle
for the foods as meals are eaten with
the right hand.
I recommend that you finish off your
meal with coffee. It will be served
with popcorn, a surprisingly delightful
accompaniment.
Bonna Annee restaurant has a friendly
atmosphere with wait staff who are
efficient and helpful. The décor could
benefit from some updating, but even
so, it is quite comfortable. Go there at
noon on a Friday. It will be busy, but the
crowd adds to the ambience.
Why This Interests Me?
Though fine dining is great as an
occasional treat, I find much joy in
learning about the blend of cultures
that exist in the UAE, while sampling a
few of the many recommended ethnic
restaurants dotted across the country.

Popcorn and coffee
are usually served
at the end of the
meal.

The Bonna Annee Special.

After The Bell

September 2014

37