Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassahun Kebede.
Kassahun, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a child, I would say in late 70’s, I was always called inside the most famous Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine kitchen at the time, to come and taste the different dishes before they make it out from the kitchen. As strange as it may seem now, my confidence began to develop as the chefs trusted the taste bud of a child- mine. My Mom was the owner of the original “Yenat Guada” in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. I believe her amazing hospitality and her earnest desire to serve food tastefully inspired me at a very young age. My entire teenage years, during the summer, were spent helping out doing grocery shopping and watching the ladies go through the preparation of all the ingredients that make our food as distinct as its taste. I learned then, behind each main ingredient that is used to make Ethiopian dishes, there was a story behind it as it takes months to prepare it – Yes, months.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, it has not been a smooth road especially after I opened the door of Yenat Guada. In preparation for opening the restaurant, I spent 7 months buying best quality restaurant supplies, attending auctions and writing the business plan along with obtaining food and beverage licenses.
I also single handedly took the responsibility and pleasure of decorating the restaurant. The Restaurant opened its door on Saturday, April 2nd, 2016 and since then I have not been able to take time away for myself as it has consumed my time and energy. The financial burden is also to say the very least, insurmountable. In order to minimize the expenses, I wear different hats at different time of the day inside the restaurant. To get a reliable help with the expertise of preparing Ethiopian dishes has been very tough. I also want to keep the high standard I had in mind before opening this restaurant.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Yenat Guada Ethiopian Cuisine – what should we know?
Yenat Guada is an Ethiopian Cuisine that specializes in serving the many famous Ethiopian dishes. I believe from the comments and review we receive, we are known for our “Goden Tibes” (Beef Ribs roasted served on hot skillet) and “Kitfo” (spiced ground beef sautéed in spiced special Ethiopian butter) Vegetarian dish. We also get a lot of compliments on our house Ethiopian Style Salad. I believe what sets us apart from many like restaurants is the food taste, ambiance and how fast we try to carry out orders.
What were you like growing up?
I had been raised if not inside the restaurant kitchen then literally near the kitchen. My Mom’s first restaurant was our home and we sometimes used to clash with the patrons who frequented our restaurant on the hallway. I must admit, I really really enjoyed playing soccer and going grocery shopping for the restaurant with my Mom few helpers used to be the highlight of my childhood. I learned how to negotiate and run a restaurant business at a very young age. I was also very handy. I used to help fix kitchen tools that broke or mend it in order for the helpers make their time using the tools easy and less tedious.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7015 Greenville Avenue,
Dallas, Texas 75231 - Website: yenatguada.com
- Phone: (469) 547-1624
- Email: kasp@yenatguada.com
- Instagram: yenat_guada
- Facebook: yenat guada ethiopian cuisine
- Yelp: yenat guada ethiopian cuisine
I would like to thank my wife Dagmawit Belaineh (pepesh) carrying all the burden behind the scene if it wasn’t for her support and hard work, I wouldn’t be where I am right now and my beautiful daughter to be part of my life.
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