World Food Celebration Unites Cultures at Oskaloosa Art Center

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Art Center recently hosted the World Food Celebration, a unique event that brought together culinary traditions from around the globe. This remarkable event was a joint effort by William Penn University Student Services, and FACE (Fine Arts & Cultural Events) of Mahaska County. The celebration showcased the students’ diverse cultural backgrounds at William Penn University through various international cuisines.

The event featured nearly twenty dishes representing twelve countries, all prepared by William Penn University students. These individuals selected recipes reflecting their heritage, creating a tapestry of flavors and culinary traditions for the local community and their peers to enjoy.

Nicole Gragg was one of the organizers of the event, who helped bring culinary tastes from around the world to Oskaloosa.

Gragg said that students and staff at William Penn University prepared the twenty dishes. “We’ve been cooking yesterday and today, and it’s just a really great event that we do every year.”

One of the event’s highlights was the Norwegian flatbread, Lefse, prepared by Madison Van Diest, a Sociology major from Anaheim, California. This dish holds special significance in her family, a tradition passed down through generations. Another notable dish was Sadza ne nyama ne muriwo, or Sadza with meat and veggies, a Zimbabwean staple. Ezra van Rooyen and Tafara Hondonga, both students from Zimbabwe prepared it. Their participation aimed to offer the American audience a taste of their home country.

The World Food Celebration not only offered a variety of dishes but also facilitated cultural exchange. Students had the opportunity to engage in conversations about their cultures, enhancing mutual understanding and appreciation among participants.

Gragg added she likes being a part of the World Food Celebration “because I get a better connection to the students. Working at William Penn, I work very closely with the students, but food really brings everyone together and it’s really cool to hear about their heritage and where they’re from and why they’re cooking what they’re cooking. It’s just a really neat experience.”

Tickets for the event were priced at $10. Children aged ten and under could enter for free when accompanied by a ticket holder, and William Penn University students received complimentary admission. The tickets were transferrable but non-refundable and non-exchangeable.