April Happy Hour Networking at Selam Ethiopian Kitchen

UPTOWN HAPPY HOURS 
Happy Hour networking is the proactive business-forward way to wind down the work day. Get the team together and head over to the local lounge and meet other professionals who do their best work in Uptown. 
This is a casual, structure-free session with a chill vibe.

ABOUT OUR HOST

SELAM ETHIOPIAN KITCHEN 
Selamawit “Selam” Abebe has always been passionate about cooking. When
she was a little girl, she spent hours in the kitchen of her parent’s restaurant in
Addis Ababa, making a mess but learning delicious traditional Ethiopian recipes.
Today, she’s still the same little girl playing in the kitchen. She remains faithful
to the Ethiopian traditions, flavors, and ingredients which are organic and local.
When she came to the United States, Selam kept her magic touch in the kitchen.
However, making the Injera that she always has using US-grown Teff flour was
a challenge. Long before she even dreamed of starting a restaurant, she knew
that US-made Injera requires self-rising flour, which is unhealthy and leaves
people bloated, causing many to stop eating Ethiopian cuisine. It also lacked the
true Ethiopian taste. Hence, she experimented for years, late night after work
and during the weekends. After years of experimentation, Selam discovered the
healthiest, authentic injera. Beyond the taste, it didn’t make people feel bloated.
Her recipe became the reason why she, her family and many other Ethiopians
started consuming Ethiopian cuisine again in The Windy City.
Her husband, Solomon Abebe spent his childhood experimenting with food - meat
recipes primarily. As a teenager, he paid close attention to his family’s cooking in
Addis Ababa and perfected his craft over time. In 1985, Solomon fled to Sudan
where he, as a refugee, kick-started his cooking career in the Embassy of the
United States of America. His hard work and yearning for culinary training at the
consulate helped him diversify his kitchen wonder by working alongside American
chefs. Eventually, Solomon became a master chef at the embassy until his arrival
in the United States where he drove a taxi and cooked only at the comfort of his
home. Of course, that is until he, together with wife Selamawit “Selam” Abebe,
started Selam Market in 2009.
Tucked away in the Uptown Neighborhood of Chicago, Selam Market served
as the community’s Ethiopian store, offering Tiré Siga, Goden Tibs, injera and
Ethiopian spices. This entrepreneurial beginning proved Solomon’s culinary
expertise, earning him the nickname “Tiré Siga” (Raw Meat)—one of the most
popular Ethiopian dishes. As their customer base grew over the years, the Abebes
decided to grow into a restaurant. They closed the market in mid-2016 and started
renovating the current facility located a few blocks south of their previous shop. In
January 2017, Solomon expanded his small market into a full-blown restaurant—
Selam Ethiopian Kitchen. Ever since its opening, Selam has been a feasting
ground, especially for Ethiopian expats who have been craving for an authentic
Ethiopian cuisine.

Uptown Happy Hours occur six times a year as part of Uptown Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Year of Engagement.  Sponsorships are available for businesses interested in harnessing the reach of Uptown's website, social media, eblasts, and onsite audiences.