Rahwa Habte, Owner, Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine

So you're the owner of Hidmo, an Eritrean restaurant in the Central District that has become a hub for Seattle's hiphop luminaries. What do, say, Blue Scholars typically order?

Geo [from Blue Scholars] has only ordered veggie combos, and Saba likes the lamb kelwa with a side of yellow lentils and spinach.

Are lots of hiphop artists vegetarians?

More than you'd think. Gabriel Teodros, for example, only orders lentils and cabbage—with injera, of course.

Who are the meat lovers?

Suntonio Bandanaz comes into the kitchen and orders a mountain of meat every time. I don't think he knows any of the items on the menu—he just walks straight into the kitchen and demands meat. The women of Canary Sing always order green chicken with spinach, onions, and garlic. Khalil [also known as the rapper Khingz] likes lamb, but only on the bone. I really don't understand the appeal of the bone, but to some people it's a deal breaker.

Any picky eaters?

None come to mind, but the first time One Be Lo came in, he was so indecisive! He was like, "I don't know... I want it to be spicy like Zegni [lamb or chicken stewed in a pepper sauce] but with carrots and potatoes... or maybe something else..." So I just created a new dish for him. It's still impossible to get him to order something off the menu.

What about Shabazz Palaces?

Shabazz Palaces haven't ordered anything from me, but Tendai used to come in and play Zimbabwean music with his parents. It's funny that he's blown up, because I have so many memories of him just hanging out here with his family.