rendezvous

Tonight we were sick of eating at the same old place that we have been (hotel restaurant) and decided to head up the street to the pizza place (rendezvous). We arrived, ordered beer, and found out there was no cheese, no pineapple, and no tomatoes. Shit. No pizza. As the group beer drinkers chugged their beer, we were curious to see that one skinned, and gutted sheep (“Beg” in Amharic) carcass was being hung up in the middle of the restaurant courtyard. We soon realized that this, and the other two carcasses that were brought out, would be cooked on the big pile of wood next to it. We decided to stay. Soon the restaurant began to fill up with people, and the butchers started their show. They used curved knives and cut the carcasses clean of all meat, not wasting anything. The butchers danced and seemed to cut to the rhythm of the music. It was a very ceremonial, and joyful, way of preparing meat. Frankincense was added to the fire filling the restaurant with its aroma. The freshly cut meat was cooked in oil in a large wok on the fire and the waiters began serving it up in fondue pots with hot coals that kept the meat warm. The waiter came back, informed us that there was cheese, and we had our pizza with our deep fried beg. It was delicious – not unlike a typical pub night in Saskatoon, apart from the men who were willing to showcase their dance moves. They moved their shoulders, and it seemed as though they could control every part of their body. Our boys in Saskatoon could learn something here (hint hint)!

Melissa, Alexis, Dani, Jenn, Amanda, Michelle