Mmmmmmm.. Magdala! Best Ethiopian Resto in town!
So friday evening Lori and I decide to pop in to Magdala's for another try at the new Ethiopian restaurant's fare.
We'd been there before and although the food was good, it was a disappointing step down from the accustomed greatness that could be found at the now defunct Messob D'Or in NDG. The memory of a previously overcooked Kitfo (steak tartar) was still fresh in my mind when I chose to try it 'one more time, just in case'. We also ordered ordered two starters - their Tematim Fitfit which is awesome, as well as a serving of Azifa - a Lori-pleasing dish of lentils and spices and a Key Wot to complete the feast.
And then guess who shows up, standing by the side of our table like a Guardian Angel smiling benevolently upon us. Yessss; the owner and kitchen-god of the Messob in his very own person had come out of the kitchen to greet us personally. We were thrilled! Ecstatic for both him and, more selfishly, for us - as we now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the food coming out of the kitchen would be awesome - we greeted him with warm smiles and handshakes. I was *this close* to hugging him, so happy I was to see him.
We learned that after the closing he had gone back to Ethiopia but returned when asked to Chef the Kitchen. I take this as a sure sign that the owner of Magdala knows what's what and who's who in the biz.
Anyway, the food was brilliant. The Temetim Fitfit (fun to say, yummy to eat) was light and piquant enough to whet the appetite. The Kitfo was perfect, the Key Wot deliciously fragranced and huggingly good, and the Ethiopian coffee afterwards - served in the authentic manner, was the perfect exclamation to close the meal.
Also, as the keen-eyed readers of the Gazette already know, Magdala has been given a huge thumbs-up in the Saturday food review. A Great Bet, according to Leslie Chesterman, Restaurant Critic.
Restaurant Magdala: 1222 Bishop. Closed mondays. 514 866-7667
We'd been there before and although the food was good, it was a disappointing step down from the accustomed greatness that could be found at the now defunct Messob D'Or in NDG. The memory of a previously overcooked Kitfo (steak tartar) was still fresh in my mind when I chose to try it 'one more time, just in case'. We also ordered ordered two starters - their Tematim Fitfit which is awesome, as well as a serving of Azifa - a Lori-pleasing dish of lentils and spices and a Key Wot to complete the feast.
And then guess who shows up, standing by the side of our table like a Guardian Angel smiling benevolently upon us. Yessss; the owner and kitchen-god of the Messob in his very own person had come out of the kitchen to greet us personally. We were thrilled! Ecstatic for both him and, more selfishly, for us - as we now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the food coming out of the kitchen would be awesome - we greeted him with warm smiles and handshakes. I was *this close* to hugging him, so happy I was to see him.
We learned that after the closing he had gone back to Ethiopia but returned when asked to Chef the Kitchen. I take this as a sure sign that the owner of Magdala knows what's what and who's who in the biz.
Anyway, the food was brilliant. The Temetim Fitfit (fun to say, yummy to eat) was light and piquant enough to whet the appetite. The Kitfo was perfect, the Key Wot deliciously fragranced and huggingly good, and the Ethiopian coffee afterwards - served in the authentic manner, was the perfect exclamation to close the meal.
Also, as the keen-eyed readers of the Gazette already know, Magdala has been given a huge thumbs-up in the Saturday food review. A Great Bet, according to Leslie Chesterman, Restaurant Critic.
Restaurant Magdala: 1222 Bishop. Closed mondays. 514 866-7667