Jennifer McMurtry
public relations representative for the UNK International Student Association, 308.672.7309
“Taste the World on Your Plate” is the theme of the Scott D. Morris International and Cultural Food Festival on Sunday, March 6, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
More than 10 countries will participate in the event including: Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Japan, China, Korea, Colombia, Benin and Liberia. Each country will serve three traditional food dishes. The annual international food festival will be held in the UNK Health and Sports Center from 4-7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Scott Morris of Morris Press in Kearney sponsors the event and publishes a complementary cookbook.
“There will be every kind of food imaginable– fried, barbecue, chicken, pork, rice, desserts, soups, kebabs and pancakes,” said Jennifer McMurtry of Bayard, public relations representative for the UNK International Student Association. “Even a picky eater will find something they like.”
Among the dishes to be served include: tenmusu, a Japanese rice ball; miso soup, a Japanese soup containing miso flavoring, seaweed and other vegetables; momo, a Nepalese dumpling; Jhaneko, a barbecue pork from Nepal; yogurt with cucumbers, which is a spicy salad often served with rice or chicken in Saudi Arabia; and torta de pan, a pancake from Columbia.
According to McMurtry, there will be more than three hours of performances including traditional dances such as Japanese Sohran performed by the Japanese Association of Kearney, modern dance by Korean students and a fashion show put on by the Black Student Association. International students will also represent their countries by wearing traditional clothing.
“Not only can you fill your plate with free food and watch performances, but many students will have booths set up with activities and facts about their countries,” McMurtry said. “This is perfect for the entire family.”
The Scott D. Morris International and Cultural Food Festival is the opening event for the World Affairs Conference, which will take place Monday and Tuesday, March 7-8. “Water and Survival: From the Platte to the Nile” is the theme of the 2011 conference. For more information, visit: http://go.unk.edu/international/education.aspx?id=10031
