BHSU TO HOST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL

International food festival: Black Hills State University international exchange students serve their traditional dishes at the 2014 International Food Festival. The third annual festival is Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Hive in the BHSU Student Union.

Community members are invited to the Black Hills State University International Food Festival Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Hive in the BHSU Student Union. Representatives from 17 countries will be serving food, playing traditional music and students will be available to showcasing memorabilia and information from their home countries.

The third annual event is sponsored by the International Student Organization (ISO) and presented by international exchange students who will cook traditional meals and serve them to students and the community.

The International Food Festival kicks off Curiosity Week, a one-week event that showcases the unique opportunities around campus. Curiosity Week also is organized by the ISO.

"Last year 280 people attended the festival. This year we are expecting more. We will have representatives from 17 countries cooking so there will be huge variety of new and unique foods to try," said Kie Tatsukawa, the event&rsquos organizer and international exchange student from Japan.

Student from Lithuania will be cooking a national dish called Kugelis, which is potato pie, eaten with sour cream and onions. Another student from Slovenia will present Gnocchi with Golaž, a dish cooked potato cubes and meat.

Tickets are $1 each. BHSU students, faculty and staff who have meal plans will be able to use them for the food festival. Cash proceeds will go to ISO and will be used to create new international events and projects for the community, said Tatsukawa.

"We will have not only food, but display tables downstairs in The Hive. Each country will have a table showcasing memorabilia and information from the country. Some students will be wearing their traditional clothing, as well," said Tatsukawa.

According to Tatsukawa, A&rsquoviands dining services at BHSU and Northern Hills Rotary club helps ISO to make the event possible. The services will cover half of the costs for ingredients and let students use the kitchen. The Northern Hills Rotary Club donates food.

"It&rsquos a great opportunity for international students to present their countries and cultures and for the community to experience and learn about other countries from all around the world," said Tatsukawa.

Participating countries include:

Bahamas

Brazil

China

Germany

Ghana

Indonesia

Japan

Lithuania

Madagascar

Mexico

Mongolia

Nigeria

Pakistan/India

Portuguese

Slovenia

South Korea

United States