First Annual Intercultural Food Market Held On Old Campus

Henry Liu, Contributing Photographer

On Sunday afternoon, nan First Annual Intercultural Food Market transformed Old Campus into a ceremony of world cuisine, euphony and community. More than 300 students gathered to sample dishes from astir nan world, prepared and presented by 16 student organizations.

The event, led by Junior Class Council President Kingson Wills ’26, aimed to foster cross-cultural relationship while supporting nan section New Haven community.

“It each started pinch nan Junior Class Council’s Harvard-Yale T-shirt fundraiser successful nan fall, [which meant] we doubled nan JCC’s budget,” said Wills. “We wanted to do an arena that would springiness backmost to New Haven and link students pinch different cultures.” 

The JCC gave $200 to each student statement to thief hole nutrient for nan event. $800 went toward raffle prizes, including 2 crocheted whales from Whales of Yale and 50 gift cards to section New Haven businesses. According to Wills, nan arena drew much than 700 registrants connected YaleConnect.

Among nan groups successful attendance, Mecha de Yale served aguas frescas, while Contigo Perú offered empanadas and Peruvian cola. Club Venezuela distributed arepas and tequeños, and La Unidad Latina provided tacos. Ecuatorianos y Amigos Unidos, aliases ECUAU, served accepted Ecuadorian candies pinch visitors.

The Caribbean Students Organization presented curry and naughty chicken, and nan Black Student Alliance astatine Yale, aliases BSAY, served psyche nutrient classics from Sandra’s Next Generation. The Brazil Club offered empadas, coxinha and pão de queijo.

Several Asian student groups besides contributed location specialties. Kasama, nan Filipino student group, served pancit, lumpia and buko pandan. Korean American Students astatine Yale offered kimbap, a seaweed atom roll, while nan Nepali Students Society served momo dumplings, and nan Asian American Students Alliance — aliases AASA — offered Mediterranean dishes from Pitaziki Mediterranean Grill.

In addition, nan Yale Afghan Students Association featured qabuli, mantu and bolani, while nan Nigerian Students Association, aliases NSA, presented dishes from Ade Kitchen, and SAQIN, a student-founded catering group, served challah and rugelach. The Ethiopian and Eritrean Students Association provided sambusas.

Gloria Baek ’27 helped service kimbap astatine nan KASY table. 

“I deliberation group really enjoyed nan assortment of nan taste foods they were capable to effort — immoderate group conscionable kept coming backmost for seconds, thirds, and fourths!” Baek said. “Definitely really bully turnout, and I had a awesome time.” 

At nan KASY table, 2 afloat trays of kimbap were laid out, totaling an estimated 300 slices handed retired to attendees.

The KASY array besides had ddakji, a accepted South Korean children’s crippled popularized by nan Netflix show Squid Game. Participants who successfully flipped complete nan quadrate won a ddakji tile arsenic a prize. 

“I thought it was a awesome event, having truthful galore different organizations pinch foods from various cultures,” says Nico Upegui ’27, an attendee astatine nan event. “Hosting it successful specified a cardinal location for illustration Old Campus was a awesome move.” 

Wills said he hopes moreover much groups will participate successful early years, noting that nan 16 featured groups correspond only a fraction of taste groups astatine Yale. 

Old Campus is located astatine 344 College St.