Photo by Edsel L.

Dish of the Week: Injera

Where: Zenebech Injera

D.C. is famous for both the presence and quality of its Ethiopian fare, but injera—the spongey bread that doubles as both a plate and a serving utensil—is often a greater divider. Eating with your hands in one thing, but injera’s slightly sour taste and bubbly texture can be disconcerting to those unaccustomed to the cuisine. Still, if you’re going to learn to love injera, there’s no better place to try than at Zenebech Injera (608 T Street NW).

A take-out joint with a handful of tables and minimal ambiance, Zenebech Injera bakes its own injera fresh and supplies it to many of the Ethiopian restaurants dotting Ninth and U Streets. The bread is traditionally made of teff, an iron- and calcium-rich grain native to Ethiopia, though it can also be made with wheat or rice. The batter, a mixture of flour and water, ferments for several days, giving injera it’s signature sour flavor. The cooking process is similar to a crepe, with a thin layer of batter poured onto a round griddle and covered to steam.

Zenebech’s injera is hefty in the hand, but also incredibly soft and pillowy. There are no dry, crumbling edges, gummy texture, or off flavor that comes from sitting out for too long. A sea of uniform bubbles helps soak up all the rich, spicy flavors, from silky lentils to saucy tibs. Be sure to save room for the bottom layer lining the plate; it’s the best part of all.

Small Bites

Toledo No More?
Toledo Lounge, an Adams Morgan institution for nearly 20 years, has temporarily closed for renovations. According to the bar’s website, the renovation is designed to “appeal to the increasingly upscale patrons who descend on the neighborhood.” The bar was sold in February 2011 to the owners of The Black Squirrel.

Reading is Delicious
MLK Library and the D.C. Food Truck Association are sponsoring “Books and Bites”, a weekly event designed to encourage folks to check out the library while grabbing lunch. Trucks will gather at Ninth and G streets NW every Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Shake Shack Gets a Neighbor
The Spy Museum is getting a host of new tenants. Aside from Shake Shack, Ashok Bajaj, owner of Rasika, Bombay Club and Bibiana, will be taking over the former Zola location at the corner of Ninth and F streets NW. Bajaj doesn’t know what the new restaurant will serve yet, though he tells Eater that it definitely won’t be high-end dining or a rehash of one of his current concepts.