The Cultural Rhythms Meals Competition, organized by the Harvard Basis, introduced collectively Harvard neighborhood members from all backgrounds by way of meals from myriad cultures on April 4. With 20 scholar teams representing their cultural dishes and over 400 attendees, the Meals Competition served as a precursor to the primary occasion of the week, the Cultural Rhythms Present & Artist of the Yr Dialog.
Celebrating the thirty ninth Annual Cultural Rhythms Competition, attendees gathered on the steps of Memorial Church, tasting the big selection of meals from cultures all around the globe.
“I went to China first, and I acquired the rice, after which I went to Ghana, and I additionally acquired the rice,” Ian Lee ’28 mentioned.
From fried rice served by the Harvard-Radcliffe Chinese language College students Affiliation to jollof served by the Harvard Undergraduate Affiliation of Ghanaian College students, college students have been in a position to strive many various dishes.
“I’m excited to eat extra of the meals in varied eating places and perhaps journey to those nations as effectively,” Lee mentioned.
The Cultural Rhythms Meals Competition served as a technique to ideologically journey exterior of the Harvard bubble by way of the ability of meals.
“Yearly it’s at all times tremendous nice to be part of it, to see all of the completely different cultures come collectively and simply rejoice our ethnic and racial id on this campus,” mentioned Marina Gonzalez ’27, a scholar employee on the Harvard Basis for Intercultural and Race Relations.
The Meals Competition served as a approach for contributors to change into acquainted with organizations and meals that they weren’t beforehand aware of, increasing their horizons and electrifying their style buds.
“It’s been superior. It’s so many various cultures and communities and so many golf equipment that I have not even heard of that I used to be in a position to strive meals from their tradition,” mentioned Maame Forson ’25, co-founder and present Inclusivity Chair of the Harvard Affiliation of Ghanaian College students.
“It’s very good being in such a various neighborhood,” she mentioned.
Spanning from China to the Dominican Republic to Ethiopia, attendees have been transported across the globe by way of the appreciation of cultural meals.
“I believed it was so cool to see a number of cultures being represented and folks sharing their meals and studying about different meals, that was actually cool,” mentioned Naomi Mulugeta ’25, the Vice President of the Harvard Eritrean and Ethiopian College students Affiliation.
The Cultural Rhythms Meals Competition allowed the Harvard neighborhood to study different cultures by way of their culinary traditions and staple meals.
“It was such a cool expertise. There have been so many individuals coming as much as us and being like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve by no means seen this earlier than.’ Individuals being like, ‘Oh, is that this injera?,’” Mulugeta mentioned.
Injera is a sourdough pancake-like flatbread that’s widespread in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
“I believe the perfect a part of the occasion was undoubtedly how briskly the meals ran out, seeing everybody so excited to strive some Dominican meals, and in addition having the ability to share our tradition with different individuals,” mentioned Leandra Bautista ’28, Freshman Consultant of Harvard Undergraduate Dominican Scholar Affiliation.
Nearly all of the meals from the coed organizations’ tables was shortly consumed by guests, examples of which embody moro de guandules (a dish with rice and pigeon peas), plátanos maduros (candy fried plantains), and carne guisada (beef stew).
“It was very nice to see the neighborhood come collectively, have some meals, and alternate cultures,” mentioned Feker Chane ’27, Particular Occasions Coordinator of The Harvard Eritrean and Ethiopian College students Affiliation.
The Meals Competition was an thrilling and sensory expertise for members of the Harvard neighborhood, permitting them to actively have interaction with the meals of a various array of cultures.
