As the first light snow of the season fell on Kent State University, the Student Center Ballroom radiated warmth and camaraderie during the International Cook-Off Competition.
The event, part of International Education Week, brought together hundreds of students, faculty and staff to celebrate global flavors and cultural diversity.
The Office of Global Education sponsored the cook-off with support from University Culinary Services. Seven teams represented countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. Each team presented traditional dishes.
To ensure the highest quality and authenticity, participants underwent food-handling training provided by the University Culinary Services staff.
When the panel of judges, Maureen McFarland, Ph.D., Leigh Greenfelder, and Doug Delahanty, Ph.D. tallied their scores, Team Bangladesh emerged as the top winner, earning both the grand prize and the coveted People’s Choice Award, which event attendees voted on.
The winning dish, Bangladeshi Thala, featured rice, chicken and prawns.
Team Sri Lanka’s recipe, Milk Rice & Chicken Curry, earned them a well-deserved second place, while Team India’s Aloo Poori & Aloo Tikki secured third place.
Beyond the accolades, the event underscored the spirit of unity and celebration. As snowflakes swirled outside, the cook-off became a tapestry of stories and traditions, with each dish offering a unique window into the cultures of the students who prepared them. The event showcased food's power to unite people, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for the rich diversity within the Kent State community.
As attendees left with satisfied palates and full hearts, the International Cook-Off once again proved to be a highlight of International Education Week, which is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education.
The week was created in 2000 and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. The objective is to promote educational programs that prepare Americans, as well as international students, to succeed in a world that is becoming increasingly globalized.
