My Perfect Sunday Starts at Alem’s Coffee

I’m partial to the Temescal Farmers Market on Sunday. Or at least, it thrills me to find myself in that parking lot for a reason other than having to renew my license. But an even bigger draw has come from finding myself, time and time again, on the shaded patio of this wonderful little coffee shop with a big steaming bowl of shihan ful in front of me. What to order Eritrean food — with its minimal use of dairy and maximal reliance on vegetables developed through cooking techniques and the robust use of spices — is particularly suited for folks who don’t eat meat and those with lactose intolerance. The cafe’s most popular dish, the shihan ful, is a perfect example. Just $10.95 gets you a brimming bowl of vegetable stew made with ground fava beans, tomatoes, and onions, cooked into bliss with Eritrean spices. Two huge loaves of crusty bread accompany it to ensure you can sop up every last drop. For something heartier, opt for the tsebhi sga ($14), a hallmark Eritrean dish commonly