The International Student Association (ISA) hosted its 43rd international dinner on Friday, March 8 in the Hamilton Room. Despite most students having left for the weekend, over 100 people lined up before the event.
Students, faculty and community members of all stripes attended, tickets only being $5 for students and $10 for non-students. Using recipes shared by exchange students, campus food services created a buffet of items from various cultures.
“We get their opinion on what they would want to see on the menu,” said ISA President Paige Benton. “Maybe if there is a dish they haven’t had since they were home.”
This year, the menu included unique items from the different cultures. Mango Lassi, a smoothie-like drink from the Indian subcontinent, was served as a beverage. Spanish Pierrana Salad was presented as a starter.
Indian Chicken Madras, German Schnitzel and Red Cabbage, Korean Gochujang Noodles, Irish Potato Pancakes and Latin Spiced Plantains as entrees. English Sticky Toffee Pudding topped off the spread as a dessert.
Resident District Manager for food service on the UW-W campus, Tess Walker, was manning the Mango Lassi station.
“It’s been exciting to see the students’ reaction to food they have never tried before,” Walker said.
Accompanying the dinner was a number of performances including a Hungarian folk song performed by Viktor Martinson, a dance number by the Whitewater Warlettes, an improvised handpan solo by Joe Balistreri and a vocal performance by MC Emmanuel Sama.
Besides the delicious food and performances, which were well received by the crowd, this dinner was special for the ISA. Not only was this one of their largest dinners to date, it was the last for some of their executive board and advisors.
Frank Bartlett is giving up his role as advisor of the club. However, he is leaving on a happy note, as the Chancellor’s Office and Whitewater Student Government passed a resolution to honor his excellence in providing the student dinner along with burgeoning connections around the world.
Besides the large-scale awards being handed out, students in t
he crowd enjoyed the food and each other’s company. One of the requests of the MC was for students to talk to each other and to explain where they would want to travel.
Elijah Buck, a junior, said of the dinner: “The food was otherworldly. My friends told me to go; had a great time.”
