Ingredient appreciation — what makes Tibs special

What sets Tibs apart is the handling of niter kibbeh spiced clarified butter. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the richly buttery result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Ethiopian communal eating with no utensils from a shared injera is a social and hygienic tradition. The a traditional coffee ceremony setting atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had fresh juice as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Tibs is the place to start.