Don’t Miss the International Food Festival

Campus News Clubs Events News

Learning about different cultures is important, and what better way to learn than through food? The International Club, along with multiple other student groups, is giving PVCC the opportunity to experience cuisine from around the globe.

This year’s 27th annual International Food Festival will include foods from local restaurants as well as dishes made by PVCC students.

Kristine Swanson, advisor to the French Culture Club and one of the many people involved in planning the festival, said, “I think [the original goal] was to give our students and the PVCC community an exposure to international cuisine.”

The festival does just that, as it will include traditional dishes from many countries and cultures. Some of the types of food that will be represented are German, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, French, soul food, and more.

The Black Student Alliance, the International Club, the Spanish Club, as well as other PVCC students and faculty members involved in planning the event, will make these dishes.

In addition to the dishes prepared by members of the PVCC community, multiple locally-owned restaurants will be at the festival. These include Mican, The Bavarian Chef, East Garden, Pad Thai, and Crêperie Piémontaise.

For some of these restaurants, this is not their first appearance at the festival.  “One of our steadfast restaurants is The Bavarian Chef. They have come almost every year … They really are the mainstay of the restaurants and they put on quite a display,” said Swanson.

Each year, the proceeds from the event benefit a charity. In past years, the profits have been donated to earthquake relief in Haiti and tsunami relief in Japan. This year’s charity has not yet been decided.

Students can purchase items using tickets; tickets will be sold upon entry and can be redeemed at any vendor.

The festival will be in the North Mall Meeting Room on April 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is a great way to support local businesses, fellow students and classmates, and a charitable cause.