By the time we were done with the V&A waterfront, it was nearly 2 pm (if I recall correctly). I would have preferred going directly to the airport to return the car, grab a bite either along the way or over there, and head right out to Hermanus in the second rental car.


Table Mountain, as seen from the V&A waterfront

However, rightfully so (in hindsight), family had other plans. They wanted to check out an Ethiopian restaurant for lunch. Now, those who know me well know that I am very resistant to change in cuisine. Being a vegetarian, the only cuisine I am very comfortable with is Indian. Next (in no specific order) come Mexican, Italian and some American. I had never tried Ethiopian before and didn't want to do so in Cape Town, of all places. Besides, I was really queasy about parking in Cape Town and walking around town, even in broad daylight.



Majority prevailed. I followed DS's GPS directions to a street parking spot somewhere in the CBD area more or less. It was a metered parking spot and immediately, an attendant materialized from somewhere and handed me a receipt of parking and stuck another one on the dashboard. We had stuff in the trunk, in the back seat and on the front seat. I was distinctly uncomfortable leaving the car with so much stuff there, though the attendant assured us all was good. We started walking. Every other minute, I asked "are we there yet?" - finally, after what seemed like eternity to me but was really less than a km probably, we found ourselves at AddisinCape.












Once we had seated ourselves and checked out the tastefully decorated surroundings, used the restroom etc, the server came over and asked us if we were ready to order. When we explained that it was our first time in an Ethiopian restaurant and that we were vegetarians, he made it a point to explain how Ethiopian food worked. Funnily enough, except for the communal aspect of it, it is exactly how we would have been eating in South India :-)








They would be serving different entrees depending on our choice, laid over a big circular plate with a - for lack of a better word - crepe bread (its closest cousin in India would be the Dosa). These would be in bowls which then would be upended directly onto the bread. They would also be supplying similar bread rolled up similar to - for lack of a better comparison (sorry folks!) - toilet paper is wrapped. We were expected to - just like in India - eat with our fingers/hands, tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it into one of the entrees we ordered. Among the four of us, we ordered six entrees I believe. The food was delicious and filling, to say the least. I am now on the lookout for my next Ethiopian day out :-)





Last but not the least, when we walked back to our car, we found it safe and sound.