The Office of Internationalization is breaking down cultural barriers one plate at a time.
Through the center’s international luncheons, everyone at DU is getting the chance to try different foods and learn about countries across the globe.
Each month, they offer a free catered lunch with cuisine from a local ethnic foods restaurant. This year attendees have enjoyed spicy Mexican food from Little Anita’s and a taste of the Mediterranean from Pita Jungle.
International Student and Scholar Services (ISS), a department of the internationalization office, organizes the lunches and encourages different campus departments and organizations to sponsor the events.
The next lunch, sponsored by the Office of Graduate Studies, is Nov. 6 and will be catered by Old Saim, a local Thai restaurant. Dishes will include vegetarian pad Thai, chicken curry and beef stir-fry.
Although there is no formal discussion that goes with the lunches, ISS Programming Assistant Amanda Baker says that the food sparks a lot of exchange.
“It provides conversation,” she says. “Quite a few students have never had the food before and it is spurred from there.”
The lunches are no small occasion either. The last event on Oct. 2 drew more than 65 students, faculty and staff from around the University.
“I think it gives them the opportunity to experience other cultures. Even if it’s just the food, it gets them to move outside of the norm and what they’re used to,” Baker says.