Just wanted to tell you about our experience last night at Horn of Africa on MLK north of Alberta.
http://www.hornofafrica.net/index.html
I had emailed them several months ago about the possibility of dining there and Yousuf emailed me back assuring me they could take care of me. We went last night as part of my birthday weekend. And it was amazing. I called earlier in the day to see if they could make some gf bread for me, which Yousuf had requested I do, and they were more than happy to accommodate. We went around 6:30 and it was not busy at all, which I hope isn't usually the case, because I'd like to see them survive this economy. I told the waitress I was gf, and she showed me the few menu items which I needed to avoid. Their menu also indicated they have gf bread right on the front, but they also said it's a good idea to call ahead so they know you're coming. We had the gf bread with an order of hummus, which was tasty with a bit of spice kick sprinkled on top. We also had two of the chickpea patties, also very tasty with a spicy sauce on the side. For entrees we had chicken curry mild, lamb curry hot, and some red lentils which were amazingly rich with spices. Nothing on the table was a miss - seriously it was all consistently tasty. The portions are not huge, but neither are the prices. We could have left out the hummus, which with the bread was pretty filling, but it's hummus and we love that stuff. Oh, and don't forget to order some of their rice. Yousuf said in his email it was the best rice in town, and I cannot argue. It's really good, and a perfect accompaniment to the curries.
http://www.hornofafrica.net/index.html
I had emailed them several months ago about the possibility of dining there and Yousuf emailed me back assuring me they could take care of me. We went last night as part of my birthday weekend. And it was amazing. I called earlier in the day to see if they could make some gf bread for me, which Yousuf had requested I do, and they were more than happy to accommodate. We went around 6:30 and it was not busy at all, which I hope isn't usually the case, because I'd like to see them survive this economy. I told the waitress I was gf, and she showed me the few menu items which I needed to avoid. Their menu also indicated they have gf bread right on the front, but they also said it's a good idea to call ahead so they know you're coming. We had the gf bread with an order of hummus, which was tasty with a bit of spice kick sprinkled on top. We also had two of the chickpea patties, also very tasty with a spicy sauce on the side. For entrees we had chicken curry mild, lamb curry hot, and some red lentils which were amazingly rich with spices. Nothing on the table was a miss - seriously it was all consistently tasty. The portions are not huge, but neither are the prices. We could have left out the hummus, which with the bread was pretty filling, but it's hummus and we love that stuff. Oh, and don't forget to order some of their rice. Yousuf said in his email it was the best rice in town, and I cannot argue. It's really good, and a perfect accompaniment to the curries.
I did not ask questions about the kitchen practices. We were the only ones in there when our food was prepared, but still it may be a risk for some. However, I do tend to be a canary in a coal mine, and am happy to report I felt great after dinner and today am doing just fine.
If you are looking for tasty ethnic cuisine in Portland, please give Horn of Africa a try. Gluten free or not, their food is fresh, perfectly seasoned, and prepared with the kind of care I take when I cook for my friends. You can tell they love what they make, and they do it well.
Happy belated birthday, Gaile!
Posted by: Kat | August 17, 2010 at 09:03 AM