Restaurants
M&B Yummy
Already veg-friendly Ethiopian food is kicked up a notch at Parkdale's M&B Yummy where faux beef and chicken dishes allow vegetarians to see just what this tibs thing is all about. The menu includes vegan dishes, chickpea, lentil and other non-mock-meat options. Beef seekers beware - M&B proudly claims to be Canada's only pure veg Ethiopian restaurant.
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I spent a long time in this resto, where you are made to feel welcome and in no time at all feel like you're part of Ashine's family.
With the way the ritual is done, you get 6 demitasse (approximately) sized cups (like a tea cup but half as big), with each round progressively weaker and more bitter. Hey, That's what she told me! But I couldn't drink any more after the first (of three) round and didn't bother with the full ritual. (You really needn't worry about religious elements because you do this ritual your way and partially or fully.) Because the joint is vegetarian, I wasn't going to not eat. I am not a vegetarian but might as well be. I only eat seafood (for meat) and I don't eat much of that. And I am always comfortable in vegetarian restaurants.
The coffee wasn't bad, but I found it a bit weak. When it's too weak, you can't taste it and judge it. But it was clean and, like tea, refreshing. I might have really liked this had it been a bit stronger. But I won't be doing the $12 ritual anymore (by myself), although the popcorn works. While the conversation over coffee is happening, popcorn is surprisingly handy to munch mindlessly. Although mine wasn't 'sugared', as I see Corey Mintz's was (in another review I read online that was written back when the ritual coffee was $10). I had a handy combo sea salt/organic pepper corn mill on me that I applied to the undressed popcorn. Ashine should look into offering some sea salt with the popcorn. If she wishes, she can advise against using too much. :-)
Also, I didn't get the full 'at table' ritual service (again, judging by what Corey Mintz got), which wasn't what I was after anyway. She did bring the pan of roasted, smoking beans over for me to smell. I might have learned more about the beans and the whole coffee ritual if there wasn't a bit of a language barrier. But we managed and I really enjoyed my visit. I came in alone, but had Ashine's company for much of the time.
I'm never going to be a big Ethiopian, or Indian, food lover. I don't like hot spices nor do I handle them well. Fortunately, M&B's veggie platter wasn't so hot that I suffered. Indeed, the assorted stew-like items were quite tasty. I definitely need practice eating 'messy style' though.
I wouldn't mind trying some of the other veggie items M&B's offers and if I'm in the hood again and hungry, I very well may stop in and do so.
I recommend M&B's for healthy food and a pleasant space and a very pleasant, hard working owner.