East Africans share community values, plates of food

By Alyssa Fetini | October 18, 2010
Ethiopians and Eritreans traditionally eat with their hands from platters for meat and vegetables. Oakland has become a popular destination for the estimated 20,000 members of these populations living in the Bay Area. Photo by Alyssa Fetini.

Oakland has become a popular destination for the estimated 20,000 Ethiopian and Eritreans living in the Bay Area, according to the Ethiopian Community Center in Oakland. The East Africans have been steadily migrating to the Bay Area since the late 1980s and early 1990s, seeking refuge from the brutal military dictatorship of then Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam. But now, the community is flocking to the area on a more positive note. Drawn to the city for its temperate climate, reminiscent of East Africa, and its food-centric culture, many Ethiopian and Eritrians have settled in North Oakland—bringing the flavor and color of their customs and cuisine with them.

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OAKTOWN EATS: Injera and Berbere Sauce on Telegraph

By Alexia Underwood | July 5, 2009 |

By ALEXIA UNDERWOOD (Shilanda Woolridge and Ayako Mie contributed to this review.) The proliferation of Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants along Telegraph Avenue is one of North Oakland’s less celebrated features.  Yet, once you’ve tried it, who can turn down a soft, spongy handful of slightly sour Ingera (flat, pancake-like bread) combined with a thick, spicy…

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