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Anyone who’s cruised the parallel thoroughfares of El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue has seen how African communities have imparted their culture, music, art, and cuisine onto the diverse palate of San Diego.
For several generations now, the so-called “City of Villages” has become home to transplants from countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and Jamaica, and, in fact, was among the first U.S. cities to harbor South Sudanese refugees starting in 1991 (read more about Dep Tuany and his non-profit Water for Sudan here).
In order to showcase and promote African businesses and culture in San Diego, several El Cajon Boulevard establishments will be taking part in African Restaurant Week running from Friday, October 19 through Sunday, October 28.
“There are scattering of Ethiopian, Kenyan, Eritrean and Somali restaurants in San Diego, particularly in City Heights where refugees from other countries first move to when they arrive here,” reads the event website, AfricanFoodSD.com.
“A business district is a reflection of the local community, and African Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the food, music and culture from this region of the world, that now has a growing presence in the San Diego's diverse neighborhoods.”
The week will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at the World Beat Center with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and drum call followed by an Ethiopian beer/wine tasting and food from participating restaurants: Awash, Asmara, Fatuma, Red Sea, Flavors of East Africa, Laylah's Patties & Jerk, and Island Spice.
The World Beat Center’s resident chef will host a free vegetarian cooking class before the night peaks with an African music dance party.
In addition to a variety of special meals hosted throughout the week, select restaurants will host free cooking classes on week nights and African dance/music on the weekends.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/oct/02/32719/
Friday, October 19
African Restaurant Week Opening Event
Celebrating African Cuisine, Music & Culture in San Diego
7pm: Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and Drum Call
7:30 – 10pm: Taste of African Cuisine
8pm: Free African Vegetarian Cooking Class
10pm: Live African Music
Admission - $10
World Beat Center - 2100 Park Boulevard
Saturday, October 20
9pm – 1am: Featuring Goade: Traditional Ethiopian Music at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
Sunday, October 21
8pm – Midnight: Featuring Goade: Traditional Ethiopian Music at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
Monday, October 22
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Kenyan Cuisine at Flavors of East Africa
2322 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Tuesday, October 23
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Kenyan Cuisine at Flavors of East Africa
2322 El Cajon Boulevard
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Somali Cuisine at Fatuma
4869 University Avenue
Wednesday, October 24
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Ethiopian Cuisine at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
6 -7 pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Jamaican Cuisine at Laylah’s
5712 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea Ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Thursday, October 25
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Somali Cuisine at Fatuma
4869 University Avenue
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Friday, October 26
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Ethiopian Cuisine at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Saturday, October 27
12 – 10pm: Re-Grand Opening of Flavors of East Africa
Featuring Traditional Dance from Kenya, Musicians from Ghana and Senegal, along with Lunch and Dinner Specials
2322 El Cajon Boulevard
Anyone who’s cruised the parallel thoroughfares of El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue has seen how African communities have imparted their culture, music, art, and cuisine onto the diverse palate of San Diego.
For several generations now, the so-called “City of Villages” has become home to transplants from countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and Jamaica, and, in fact, was among the first U.S. cities to harbor South Sudanese refugees starting in 1991 (read more about Dep Tuany and his non-profit Water for Sudan here).
In order to showcase and promote African businesses and culture in San Diego, several El Cajon Boulevard establishments will be taking part in African Restaurant Week running from Friday, October 19 through Sunday, October 28.
“There are scattering of Ethiopian, Kenyan, Eritrean and Somali restaurants in San Diego, particularly in City Heights where refugees from other countries first move to when they arrive here,” reads the event website, AfricanFoodSD.com.
“A business district is a reflection of the local community, and African Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the food, music and culture from this region of the world, that now has a growing presence in the San Diego's diverse neighborhoods.”
The week will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at the World Beat Center with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony and drum call followed by an Ethiopian beer/wine tasting and food from participating restaurants: Awash, Asmara, Fatuma, Red Sea, Flavors of East Africa, Laylah's Patties & Jerk, and Island Spice.
The World Beat Center’s resident chef will host a free vegetarian cooking class before the night peaks with an African music dance party.
In addition to a variety of special meals hosted throughout the week, select restaurants will host free cooking classes on week nights and African dance/music on the weekends.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/oct/02/32719/
Friday, October 19
African Restaurant Week Opening Event
Celebrating African Cuisine, Music & Culture in San Diego
7pm: Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and Drum Call
7:30 – 10pm: Taste of African Cuisine
8pm: Free African Vegetarian Cooking Class
10pm: Live African Music
Admission - $10
World Beat Center - 2100 Park Boulevard
Saturday, October 20
9pm – 1am: Featuring Goade: Traditional Ethiopian Music at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
Sunday, October 21
8pm – Midnight: Featuring Goade: Traditional Ethiopian Music at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
Monday, October 22
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Kenyan Cuisine at Flavors of East Africa
2322 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Tuesday, October 23
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Kenyan Cuisine at Flavors of East Africa
2322 El Cajon Boulevard
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Somali Cuisine at Fatuma
4869 University Avenue
Wednesday, October 24
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Ethiopian Cuisine at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
6 -7 pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Jamaican Cuisine at Laylah’s
5712 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea Ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Thursday, October 25
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Somali Cuisine at Fatuma
4869 University Avenue
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Friday, October 26
6 - 7pm: Free Cooking Class: Introduction to Ethiopian Cuisine at Awash
4979 El Cajon Boulevard
7 -9 pm: Coffee & Tea ceremony at Asmara
4155 University Avenue
Saturday, October 27
12 – 10pm: Re-Grand Opening of Flavors of East Africa
Featuring Traditional Dance from Kenya, Musicians from Ghana and Senegal, along with Lunch and Dinner Specials
2322 El Cajon Boulevard