Hi everyone. Wfa here at
smoke and Ash in Arlington,
where we are about to have a Texas
Ethiopian BBQ feast. I'm Ryan wood.
I'm an executive producer at WFAA,
joined by my colleague.
Hi, I'm Brianna Hawkins.
I'm with Wfaa's digital team and we are
here with the owners of smoke and ash.
Walk us through what we're
going to be trying today.
That takes this BBQ with Ethiopian
spices as well as the Ethiopian
traditional daughter watch which
is a chicken Stew and we have some
collard green with some smoked brisket
and we have the smoked lamb chops.
This one is the vegan combination,
100% vegan and 100% gluten free
option as well for the one who
wanted to enjoy that amazing.
Now one thing that's missing.
Our plates. Oh yeah, there's a very.
But there's a very specific
reason why we don't have those.
That's right, yes.
And Ethiopians eat their
food with their hands.
That's exactly why we found out that as we
be creative and come up with the BBQ, so
the enjoy our bread is which is right here,
I'm going to lift one is your utensil
as well and what you do is you tear
it off and you pinch the amount you
want and before you feed yourself
you feed your partner,
which is my husband here.
And that is what the fork is about.
I love it. OK.
So before we begin,
we're going to bring some
sanitizer in just so we're there.
You go. Yeah.
OK, there you go.
I'm gonna go for the general bread
and this is the daughter white.
Yes. OK, I'm in.
Ohh, you're an expert already.
Here we go.
That is delicious. Thank you.
And I know the injera bread is made from tap.
Tap. Yes. Which is not a grain,
not it's a grass. It is.
It is, yes. And it's gluten free.
There you go.
And that's where you get kind of that tangy.
The Tanginess comes from sourdough base.
That's how we process it.
But you're right. How's the rib?
I feel like I don't need to talk.
Talking, but it's just that.
Can you talk to us a little bit about
the history of the Ethiopian cuisine?
I know it like dates back to like the 1400s.
It's very rooted in earthy spices.
What do we need to know?
The whole thing is about blending
spices to get a perfect match
on whatever you're cooking in.
The spices are, for example,
the Burberry spice.
That is the main spice that we
use to cook anything back home,
and that spice is made with about about 12.
To 15 different kind of spices together.
The whole thing about the Ethiopian
traditional food is about even together,
which is, as you can see,
things are plated for a group,
not just for individuals.
This might be the best group I've ever eaten.
It's so tender, but it's juicy and you get
the crispy texture on top with the spice rub.
Can you tell us what is it just the Burberry
spice that's on the ribs or is there more?
It's more like garlic orange peels.
Um, onion powder, Rosemary.
There's a lot to it than just that in
can you explain the significance of
bravery spice in Ethiopian cuisine?
I remember growing up when my
mother prepared the Barbary spice.
It's just a community affair.
Everyone brings their own batch
of ingredients to prepare,
so that is there is also social value to it
because that's when they catch up on events.
That seems like a running theme
here you mentioned. I mean.
The making of the Burberry
spice is a community affair.
Just look at this platter of
food where everybody can dive in.
Community really is at the
heart of Ethiopian food.
And similarly to Texas BBQ,
right Ethiopian Orthodox,
we have 60 days that we go vegan.
Started yesterday actually,
and during that time we.
Avoid eating different things,
including meat,
dairy.
And there are other restriction as well,
but I mean I always enjoy length
because this plate right here you
you don't miss anything at all.
Protein is there,
vegetables are there and enjoy.
Our bread is filling, it's got,
I mean as soon as you you just done eating,
your ribs are cooked good with it.
The the vegan dishes are not made.
Specifically to be vegan, they're just,
they're just, they're just vegan.
Yes, that will happen.
It happened to be.
And along with Lent, we also have Wednesdays
and Fridays every week that we don't.
We just don't eat meat at all.
So vegan is. You have to have so
I have cabbage and carrots there.
Those are split peas too.
Beat same potatoes,
collard green lentils and that is
Ethiopian salad and it's a line based.
What should I try? You should try
the lentils too, the lentil Stew.
Can you walk me through
what's in the lentil Stew?
There is garlic, ginger, basil, onions.
Ohh, what else is there?
Of course they're reading the lentils.
Tomato paste.
I get the tomato immediately.
That's good. It eats very clean,
like it's like crisp and where like the
BBQ is very rich and fatty from the ribs,
but that it just eats very clean.
It's very fresh and yeah.
We use a vegetable oil.
So it is just what one of those things
that's kind of good to your body as well.
So whoever you are a guest too,
they will make sure that you eat,
you continue to eat.
Not just that, they also hand feed you.
Oh yes.
And that's a tradition in
and if they don't feed you,
that means they don't care for you at all.
That's not the case here though.
I don't want to judge for that.
You always don't eat
from other people's side.
You can ask to turn the tray towards you.
But you cannot reach to other
people or other person's side.
And also you don't lick your fingers.
That is. I caught myself earlier.
I was, I almost did it.
And then I was like ohh no,
can't do that.
So I totally I will fully own up to.
I almost did it and it's on camera.
And also will you feed yourself?
You shouldn't have any contact with
your lips, you have to drop it in.
So when you eat back your fingers
are clinging to dying back in.
That makes perfect sense.
We are in the process of moving our
new location is 5904 S Cooper Street.
I would love to know how social
media has impacted your restaurant.
I know just before this there
was a customer who said that they
came all the way from California
after seeing you on Instagram.
Yes, customers are coming from every
corner and we're so grateful with that. Well.
I can see and taste why they're coming.
This is so amazing. Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I just wanted to say thank you
so much for inviting us in.
Thank you very much for giving
us this incredible experience,
learning about and enjoying the best
qualities that Ethiopian cuisine
and the mashup that you have in
the Texas Ethiopian BBQ Fusion.
It's delicious.
It is well worth the trip to Arlington.
So thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Thank you for. Same here as well.