Washington Post
Tajitu, a Master of Ceremony
By Eve Zibart
'' So many restaurants these days make a point of exotic or escapist decor. Though exotic, to be sure, Tajitu, a meticulous and welcome Ethiopian outpost in the heart of Frederick, takes the opposite and most traditional of tacks: It does its best to make customers feel as if they were guests in someone's home.
 Although the front lounge and middle dining room of this former diner have table and booth seating, the backroom has been made over to resemble an open-air gathering place, with straw matting overhead, hourglass stools and round-topped tables, lanterns and weavings on the "posts," and a few musical instruments and portraits of honored rulers hung about. Dining in this transplanted gazebo is not only a reminder of the hospitable traditions of this ancient nation but also that in a fast-food world, a leisurely meal with friends can be a special event.
The ultimate example of Tajitu's desire to recreate a culture is the coffee ceremony, which is a more appropriate term for it than mere service. Long needles (plastic, but meant to evoke the fresh reeds that would be customary in Ethiopia) are scattered on the floor by the table as a bed for a tray of small coffee cups. The beans are freshly roasted in the kitchen and the skillet brought to the table; it smells sharper and spicier than the oven-roasted coffee most Americans know. Then it's ground, covered in water -- the water is not boiled, but gets its heat from the beans -- and steeps until the waitress pours it in a deliberate stream from several inches above the tray. It's rich and complex, a subtle reeducation from the country where coffee originated. (Expect this to take a little time; remember, this is a social activity, not a franchised pick-me-up.) ..." >>more (photo:
By Katherine Frey)
Ethiopian restaurant opens downtown
The Frederick News-Post -by Ed Waters, Jr.
''... FREDERICK - Ethiopians developed their styles of cooking and eating during thousands of years, and now that unique cuisine is available in downtown Frederick.
Nuru Befekad, part of the family that has opened Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant at 7 and 9 E. Patrick St., said many people from Frederick are familiar with Ethiopian food as they have dined at some of the restaurants in Washington.
"We are the only one in Frederick. The next closest is Silver Spring," said Mr. Befekad in the dining area of the remodeled restaurant, which once housed the Snow White Grill. The customer is greeted with artwork, bamboo wallpaper, bamboo chandeliers and fire-resistant grass on the bar and in decorating eating areas.
"Ethiopians have been in the U.S. for 40 years, many in the D.C. area," Mr. Befekad said..." >>more
The Gazette
Frederick strong for restaurants -
by Kevin M. Smith
''...
In the last four years, 13 new restaurants have invaded the desirable downtown area bordered by East, Bentz, All Saints and 7th streets, which now has 40-plus dining establishments. Most have been open at least five years. Three more opened this year, including two in the last month: the Wishing Tree Café on E. Church Street by Shab Row, and Tajitu, an Ethiopian restaurant in the former Snow White Hamburger Grill building on E. Patrick Street. The new downtown eateries opened in a relatively strong market..." >>more
The Gazette - By Carol Lewis
Culture, flavor found at Tajitu
''
Thousands of years of culture have come to Frederick. The Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant, open for two months, is located at 9 Patrick Street. Don't be fooled by the Snow White Grill sign. The owners are waiting for clearance to put up a sign of their own.
When we entered, quiet Ethiopian flute music filled the air, and a lady in a traditional hand woven dress seated us. She asked us if it was our first time at the restaurant, and when we told her it was, she informed us that the buffet was the only choice at lunchtime. She then led us to the buffet table where she eagerly explained each dish. Gleaming chafing dishes with glass lids and spotless aluminum buffet serving dishes, allowed us to see each item on the buffet. There were also small cards with a brief description. But, her friendly "tour" was the most helpful. The first item on the buffet table was Injera, a crepe like bread that is an essential part of an Ethiopian meal. It is made out of Teff, which is a cereal grain rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, calcium and potassium.
Indigenous to Ethiopia, the grain is now being grown in the United States. It is the custom to tear a piece of Injera off of a large piece, hold it flat in your hand, place the Injera over your choice of food, grab and hold the food and eat the whole scoop, called Gursha. Gursha means mouthful. It is also the custom to place the food in another's mouth as a gesture of affection. In a secluded, small dining area in the rear of the restaurant, diners can be seated on low stools at tables that resemble large baskets. When the lid is removed, there is an area on which to put a large tray of Injera..." >>more
Step back to a culture thousands of years old, Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant will take you to another world and you won't need your passport. A Truly exceptional dining experience, dine in traditional tables and chairs or immerse yourself in the culture with Ethiopian style seating in the rear of the restaurant. The only restaurant in Frederick where eating with your hands is encouraged. Enjoy exotic dishes such as Doro Wott or Tibs with injera bread. Located at 7 & 9 East Patrick Street, Tajitu Ethiopian Restaurant is open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. >>more
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Tajitu is located in the desirable downtown area in the former Snow White Hamburger Grill building on E. Patrick Street. ( Part of Frederick's history will be kept alive at Tajitu with a Snow White Grill Museum, which was located at the site for many years. )