{"id":60579,"date":"2026-02-10T04:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=60579"},"modified":"2026-02-10T15:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T20:42:15","slug":"international-food-festival-offers-students-a-taste-of-cultures-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/international-food-festival-offers-students-a-taste-of-cultures-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"International Food Festival offers students a taste of cultures around the world"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
EMU\u2019s 12th annual International Food Festival returned to University Commons on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The festival, hosted by the International Students Organization (ISO) and the International Food Festival Committee, is one of the most popular events on campus. It provides a chance for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to share traditional dishes from their cultures and enjoy delicious foods from all over the world.\u00a0This year’s event drew 233 attendees, including more than 175 students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the one night of the year where the University Commons transforms into a global buffet and your taste buds get a passport,\u201d a blurb promoting the event read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ABOVE: The winning teams and cooks from Friday’s International Food Festival pose for a group photo at the Student Union. BELOW: Community members and students serve traditional Albanian (left) and Ethiopian cuisine (right).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A total of 11 teams participated in the competition. Those sampling the dishes could vote on their favorite cuisines through a QR code at each table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As announced on Friday, the winning individuals\/small groups were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2nd place: Ethiopia<\/strong> (injera, misir, and tibs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
3rd place: Albania<\/strong> (lasagna, white rice with chicken and sauce, byrek with beef, byrek with cheese, and byrek with leek)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
3rd place: Black Student Alliance\/BSA<\/strong> (jollof rice, African-style fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and bissap juice)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Other cuisines competing included those from Jamaica, Pakistan, Palestine\/Syria, and the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ABOVE: Members of the Latinx Student Alliance won second place in the competition. BELOW: Students serve dishes from Palestine\/Syria (left) and from the Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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As a first-year student at EMU, Reuben Wenger<\/strong> was attending the International Food Festival for the first time. The biochemistry and peacebuilding double major from Hutchinson, Kansas, said he enjoys trying new foods and had been looking forward to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choosing just one dish from the night was tough, but the food from Kurdistan stood out to him. \u201cIt was well-seasoned,\u201d said Wenger, who was penning an article on the event for The Weather Vane<\/em>. \u201cThey had different salads with textures and tastes I\u2019ve never had before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aram Hanson<\/strong>, an instructor for EMU\u2019s Intensive English Program (IEP), was among the winning team of cooks serving Kurdish food at the festival. He credited his teammates, who were all IEP students from Kurdistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt feels absolutely great,\u201d he said. \u201cOur students are the ones who deserve it, because they cook really well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nMembers of the Black Student Alliance serve food at the International Food Festival.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Daven Molina<\/strong>, a sophomore majoring in international business and marketing, said his favorite part of the night was \u201cseeing all the smiles.\u201d He added that it was his first time trying shawarma, and it was an instant hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never had it before,\u201d he said. \u201cI got hype from the Avengers<\/em> movie\u2014editor\u2019s note: character Tony Stark suggests trying shawarma in the 2012 film<\/em>\u2014but when I actually tried it, I was like, This is very delicious<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another student, EMU senior Jean Betancourt<\/strong>, said he liked the Kurdish food most, particularly the kuba<\/em> (a dumpling\u2011like ball filled with seasoned meat) and biryani<\/em> (a hearty rice and meat dish). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the festival\u2019s culinary diversity, he said his favorite part was the sense of community. \u201cThere\u2019s always a lot of people here. You can talk to them, and it\u2019s just a fun vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adding to the fun vibe was DJ Adam Wirdzek<\/strong> (also known as EBRO), web content and strategy manager for marketing and communications, who dropped deep dubstep and cultural recommendations from the crowd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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