While the body needs food for survival, the sharing of food is an age old custom designed to unite communities and build new alliances.  Across cultures food is at the heart of every milestone in human existence. Through food we celebrate life and we honour those who have gone before us. Food brings people together and keeps them gathered long after the last morsel has been swallowed. This proved true on November 9^th, 2012 as 14 groups with a total of 137 participants cooked up a storm in preparation for the 13^th annual international food festival.

The food festival was created as yet another celebration of the multiethnic community that makes KDI so vibrant. Laughter filled the air as staff, students and faculty filled their plates with savoury foods and desserts from all parts of the globe. The atmosphere was made festive by the creatively and colourfully decorated food stands loaded with tasty samples. A lively competition ensued as teams with names like, Nyam Don, KDIS Majib, Aririang Uz and Melting Pot, lured hungry KDIers to sample their foods.  

Once again KDI students proved, that we are truly a community of talented individuals rich in culture and spirit. As Chef Grace of the Phillippines said “ We didn’t enter to win, we entered to have fun “; “ and we ended up expanding our taste buds beyond our comfort zone” chimed in Cham, also of the Phillippines. The event was truly international. Each team was a fusion of friends from different countries cooking, laughing and swapping recipes. Chef Regina of the winning team, World’s Top Foodies said “ We gained so much from this experience. We became more sensitive and respectful of each other’s cultures. We wanted to ensure that everyone could enjoy our food, so we prepared halal and vegetarian foods.”

 Virgina Woolf once said “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” We definitely dined well on November 9^th and now return to our work with full bellies and hearts. Many thanks to the chefs and decoration teams whose food and décor made for an event aesthetically pleasing to both the eye and belly. A big thank you as well to the KDI Staff who worked tirelessly to make certain the festival happened. Congratulations to the World’s Top Foodies for placing first and to the other teams who did well in other categories.

By Florence Goldson (2012 MDP Belize)