It’s that time of the year again when Ignacio and I celebrate our wedding anniversary. Grateful for the year gone by and excited for the year to come.

Agelgil Ethiopian restaurant, on the Caledonian Road in North London, is named after a hand woven Ethiopian basket, and it is a traditional Ethiopian food container. Food in Ethiopia is served on a platter known as gebeta. a large circular plate. Injera is placed on the gebeta, then the different stews, curries or vegetables that are ordered are placed on top of the injera. Eating together is an essential part of the Ethiopian culture and feeding each other (Gursha) is a loving and caring thing to do. So this seemed to be a perfect place for us to go and celebrate together.

I must confess this cuisine is not unfamiliar. In another life in the other person that I was, I used to come and eat happily at a number of the Ethiopian restuarants along the Caledonian Road – the thing I remember the most was the injera, that delighfully sharp sour, spongy bread that was the base for the meal and the spicy meat and vegetable dishes served on the top of it.

We started off with drinks – mango for him and Ethiopian Honey wine for me. I have decided to be more curious and exploratory about drinking alcohol when out and when I don’t have to drive. I was not disappointed with the wine – it was very sweet and went down quite well with me!

For the main course – it t was a it seemed that the easiest thing to order was the a Agelgil special, which was an assortment of many dishes, meat and vegetables, including kitfo, doro wot, lega, awaza tibs, cheese and tsome beye –aynetu) with piece of injera. I initially did not have a clue what these items were, not without looking at the menu notes.

Kitfo – Finely chopped lean and tender beef prepared with special Ethiopian butter.

Doro Wot (Hot) – Chicken cooked with hot pepper & spices sauce.

Lega Tibs – Cubes of lean lamb will fried with onion & spices.

Awaze Tibs – Lamb cubes well fried with onion, Ethiopian pepper and spices.

The food itself was not as spicy as we feared, although there were some times when I was overwhelmed by the spice but all-in-all, totally manageable and enjoyable.

There was quite a lot of food and we didn’t manage to finish all of it. Therefore some of it came home with us in little plastic container.

I think I would like to come back one day, it’s a lovely place to eat the atmosphere was calming and peaceful. I do wonder if there are any Ethiopian restaurants closer to where I actually live. I will have to investigate.

I think, aside from the food, it was a good time think about what I am, what we are nourishing these days? What are we feeding and investing in? Where am I / we putting my energies. I have realised in the past year, that perhaps I have focussed on the wrong things, maybe to avoid the painful things. However, it is becoming clear to me, as time whizzes inexorably by, that I need a change in attitude and approach to life. I need to water and nuture the things that are important. Feed the right wolf.