For the adventurous foodie in search of of new flavours and food experiences, Blue Nile is both an interesting and pocket friendly choice. The Jewellery Quarter restaurant specialises in Ethiopian cuisine, a much underrated food culture made distinctive by its use of slow cooking, unique breads and traditional spices.
One of the most striking things is the way they serve the food. Diners are presented with a gigantic flatbread called Injera, which is a staple bread in Ethiopia. It’s almost table-sized, and serves as the plate on which all other food is directly placed. Traditionally, you eat the food by rolling the bread around the stews, but cutlery is also available.
The menu features heavy use of lentils, chickpeas, beans, nuts and vegetables, making this restaurant more than vegetarian-friendly. Meaty mains include the Tibs Firfir (£8.50), tender lamb cubes fried with spices, hot pepper, onion and Ethiopian herbs. There’s also the Special Kitfo (£9.50) - minced beef meat seasoned with herbed Ethiopian butter and mitimita chilli and Ayb cottage cheese.
Desserts are conspicuous by their absence - not being traditionally part of Ethiopian food culture. Instead, you might want to go in for the elaborately named Ethiopian Tea Ceremony (£10). Green coffee beans are roasted to create an aromatic blend that’s served to you from a traditional clay coffee pot.