UAB hosted its annual Taste of N.C. State event on Friday.
The event featured music, dance performances, and a wide variety of food from different cultures around the world.
“This year we’re reaching a bigger audience and allowing for more people to experience different cultures,” said Shelby Jones, junior in agricultural business management and chair of UAB’s Diversity Activities Board.
French, Thai, Japanese, Greek, Jamaican, and Southern American food were all available for students to try.
Saint Jacques French Cuisine offered tartines provencale and mini croquet monsieurs.
Thai Villa had pad prik sod and Thai iced tea.
California rolls and gyudon were available from Waraji Japanese.
Jasmin Mediterranean Bistro offered Greek food like beef schwarma and falafel.
Jerk chicken, fried plantains, and Caribbean shrimp were served by Virgil’s Jamaica.
Southern American food was also represented, courtesy of The Pit. Chopped Barbeque, cole slaw, and slider rolls were available.
Students were excited about the wide variety of food selections.
“We don’t always have the opportunity to try these types of foods,” said Katie Mcgee, a sophomore in meteorology.
Guadalupe Arce, a junior in agricultural extension education and president of Mi Familia agreed with this by saying, “being able to try different things from different countries in one place is amazing. The UAB has done a really good job putting all of this together.”
Bethel Mackele, sophomore in First Year College and member of Fusion Dance Crew, said “it’s a fantastic program. Food is great way to expose people to different cultures.”
Participants who tried at least three different types of food were given a t-shirt commemorating the event. Buttons were also given to students for attending the event.
Mi Familia set up a booth so that students could learn most about different cultures through ways other than food. The display showed traditional items from different Latino countries. Sombreros and traditional jewelry were among the things on display.
N.C. State-based dancing clubs provided other visual learning experiences for students. The dancers performed while students enjoyed trying different foods. Among the performers was Fusion Dance Crew.
Bryan Hum, a senior in international studies and political science and member of Fusion Dance Crew, said he was glad that the team had a chance to perform at the event.
“It has really helped us come out of our shells by performing for Raleigh and the campus and experiencing different cultures” said Hum.
Sube Ritmo Latin Dance Team also performed at the event.
Lisbeth Arias, junior in fashion and textile design and director of Sube Ritmo, said she was “really excited and pumped up” about performing for “such a diverse group of people.”
Saviaton Soumane, a junior in international studies, said her favorite thing at the event was not the food, but Sube Ritmo. “They’re really good and I love seeing them perform,” said Soumane.
