When morning dawned on November 8, 2013 amateur chefs were already hard at work in the KDI School dorms. Sauces were simmering on stovetops, vegetables were being chopped, ovens were blazing, and meats were stewing and roasting. It was the culmination of weeks of planning and preparation as students sought to showcase the best culinary offerings from their respective countries and cultures for the 2013 International Food Fest.

The approximately 140 students in the 12 teams participating in the festival is a testament of the diversity that the KDI School has become known for and shows the range of food available for sampling at the Food Fest.

But the competition is judged not only on food, but also on culture. So while some team members were cooking up a feast, others were just as busy deciding how best to creatively showcase their culture when designing their booths. The competition was revved up a notch when groups started advertising their groups on Facebook in an effort to drum up excitement and of course, votes in the days and hours leading up to the event!

By mid-afternoon on Friday, the hubbub of activity had moved from the kitchens to the 7^th floor as groups started setting up their booths. Enticing smells wafted throughout the corridors as the steaming dishes made their appearance. Then came the swarm of students moving from booth to booth sampling the dishes before casting their votes.

When the results were announced, “¡Vengan a Comer!: The Latin American Taste” took the top prize of 300,000 KRW ... The group had a sampling of 9 dishes and drinks from 7 countries in Central and South America; each chosen to highlight the diversity of the region. During the event the Latinas dressed in their traditional wear from Colombia, Dominican Republic and Ecuador, made the rounds handing out souvenirs and promoting the booth.

Second place was a tie between Asian Harmony and iEat; each receiving a 200,000 KRW prize.

According to Dao Huong Tra (2013, MPP, Vietnam) Asian Harmony tried to live up to its name by using Korean ingredients to deliver the traditional taste of their South East Asian dishes. Believing that students will find the food more enjoyable if their eyes are attracted to it, they paid particular attention on ensuring that their full course menu of appetizer, main dish, dessert and beverage, was neatly and beautiful presented.

For Husan Haydarov (2013, MPP Uzbekistan), iEat was happy to expose students to Uzbek culture and food. They had 13 dishes; the most popular were Plov: lamb paired with a carrot rice and Dolma: bell peppers stuffed with rice and meats.

The colorfully decorated booths, the students in their traditional wear, the mouthwatering food; the 2013 International Food Festival was truly a feast for the senses and a resounding success!

By Kendra Griffith (2013 MDP, Belize)