Students flock to International Week Food Fair

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Tuesday, 06 April 2010 10:22 PM

Material science graduate student Alex Huang stirs milk tea Tuesday during the International Week Food Fair on the University Center mall. Fifteen international organizations represented themselves at the annual fair and sold foods like Russian cookies, Laotian meatballs, and Hindu vegetarian burgers. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

As the wind carried the smell of spices and noodles over the University Center mall, students rushed to get a taste of cultural food at the International Week Food Fair.

For three hours, the fair attracted more than 1,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni from different cultures and backgrounds on Tuesday.

The fair, organized by the International Student Organization, had 15 multicultural organizations selling their food.

Journalism senior Brian Chen said he attended the fair for the fourth year and considers it his favorite I-Week event.

He ate Russian cabbage rolls, Filipino dessert and Indian mango lassi — a yogurt mixed with mango.

“It was so packed I couldn’t move,” Chen said. “I enjoyed meeting with all the different people from different backgrounds and cultures.”

Food options included Indian samosas, Chinese noodles, Laotian spring rolls, Japanese sushi and Napalese aaloo achar, mashed potatoes cooked with spices.

Students bought tickets for 25 cents each or could pay $5 for an entire meal.

ISO vice president Genaro Grajeda said 20,000 tickets were sold at the fair. The English Language Institute bought 200 tickets in advance, he said.

“We got much more people than we expected,” Grajeda said.

Chemistry assistant professor Subhrangsu Mandal said he liked the Sri Lankan and Thai food because it was prepared well.

The Filipino Student Association’s fact sign stands in front of their booth Tuesday during the International Week Food Fair on the University Center mall. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

“I saw many of my students eating and serving food,” Mandal said. “The students’ interaction was very nice. I like diverse culture.”

Chemistry research associate Mrinal Sengupta ate Bangladeshi and Nepalese food and said he thought the prices were reasonable.

“The fair was colorful,” Sengupta said. “It was like a mini bazaar.”

Alumna Irene Lazarus said she loved the experience at the fair.

“I like to learn everyone’s culture,” Lazarus said. “It was awesome like always.”

Jennifer Cortez, League of United Latin American Citizens president, said the fair brought diversity and culture to the university.

“I liked Indian veggie burgers,” Cortez said. “It was nice to see cultural diversity compact in one event.”

Prashant Dwivedi, Hindu Students Council vice president, said 25 people from the organization helped cook and serve vegetarian food. The members started preparing food the night before and finished right before the food fair began, he said.

Hao-Chiang Cheng, Taiwanese Student Association president, said 10 members of his organization cooked Taiwanese food for six hours straight.

“I’ve never seen so many people grouped together,” Cheng said. “I tasted some food from different countries and made some money for my organization.”

Journalism senior Rajan Koirala said the food was cheap.

“In a few dollars, I got lots of food with different tastes,” he said. “I hope ISO organizes it every semester instead of every year.”