It would have been so easy not to. There was already enough on my plate as a critical care nurse in San Francisco and expectant mother. 

Despite the long hours at the hospital, I felt called to start Shirowhat as a way to honor my country’s story.

Ethiopia is a magical place. It’s literally the birthplace of humankind. And, as the herders noticed their goats become more energetic chewing berries, it is the birthplace of coffee.

Ethiopia is the only African country not to be colonized, having successful fought off the Italians in the 1890s. Ethiopians take tremendous pride in this.

As a result of not being colonized, our culture has preserved, and nothing defines our culture more than our food.

Our Food Culture

Eating a meal in Ethiopia is a shared and sacred ritual. In part, because there have been times when food has been so scarce.

But even in times of famine, food was prepared to be shared.

Meals are served on a single platter. Friends and family gather around and use their hands to scoop delicious stews and sauces with injera, a spongy flat-bread. 

Sharing a single plate requires being conscientious about your portion. Having now acclimated to the U.S., I realize that this way of eating taught us values such as empathy, generosity, and compassion.

These are the values that now guide Shirowhat as an organization.

Shiro

The sauce that every Ethiopian loves, rich or poor, is Shirowot. The simple sauce is creamy, spicy, and comforting.

Ethiopia may not have a national dish, but it certainly has a national spice. That’s berbere.

Each household makes their own berbere that goes into the Shirowot, and there is a friendly rivalry amongst neighbors as to who makes the best Shiro.\

My mom believes hers is the best and I don’t disagree!

Taste of my home to yours

When I think of home, I crave my mother’s food. Yet despite all the flavor and growing familiarity with Ethiopian food, when I walk down the aisles of my local grocery store, I see no Ethiopian products.

This is why I felt called to start Shirowhat.

It’s a way for me to honor my family, and most of all my mother, who labored in the kitchen for much of my childhood making sure we were well-fed and taken care of.

With Shirowhat, I seek to deliver to you a taste of my home. But more than the sauce itself, it’s an opportunity for me to express the Ethiopian values that I believe make the world a friendlier place.

I don’t know if we’ll be a success, but our mission is to spread the spirit of Ethiopian generosity. If just one person offers Shirowhat to a friend or dare I say, stranger, that would make it all worthwhile.