The Cooking in America series heads to Jebena Cafe in Seattle.
Ethiopian residents have been well-established in South Seattle areas such as Rainier Beach for many years. However, North Seattle has become a more recent destination for the community. At the northern tip of Seattle, in the Pinehurst district, lies the center of this expanding population: Jebena Cafe along with an adjacent grocery store.
During this installment of Cooking in America, host Sheldon Simeon converses with siblings Martha Seyoum and Menge Ayele, the co-owners of both the cafe and the grocery store. The star of their menu is a warm injera — a meticulously crafted sourdough flatbread known for its spongy consistency. This bread is a fundamental component of Ethiopian cooking, accompanied by “toppings” like beef tibs, tilapia tibs, spinach, and kitfo — a dish of ground beef simmered in berbere sauce with chili seasoning. “We put our hearts into everything we do,” Ayele remarks. “That always yields results.”
Click to view additional Cooking in America episodes | Follow Eater on Facebook so you never miss a video
