International Food Festival celebrates diversity

Henry Bensurto ’20

The annual food festival featured foods from various cultures.

Henry Bensurto ‘20, Staff Reporter
October 23, 2019

Archbishop Riordan High School hosted its annual International Food Festival on Sept. 21 in Chaminade Hall.

More than a dozen booths represented various cultures, showing what food they have to offer. Riordan, a multicultural school, has been hosting the festival for a few years now to promote understanding and appreciation among different cultures that are represented in the school.

“The reason why we have a food festival is because the one common thing that everyone shares is food,’’ said Religious Studies teacher and Food Festival participant Kenn Swan.

The festival started like other events in Riordan, with a prayer. While people were eating, a DJ played songs from different countries.

The entertainment started with Francisco Lopez, his fourth year at the festival, serenading the crowd with his guitar, playing tunes such as “La Bamba.”

“I think the best part is that everyone is having fun,” he said. He was followed up with a couple of hula dances, some performed by Swan.

A food festival would not be complete without food. The food served from the event ranged from lumpia from the Philippines to Shepherd’s Pie from Ireland and curry from Japan to the kimchi fried rice, cooked by the members of the Asian Students Association Club.

“It’s important to celebrate your culture and other people’s cultures,’’ said Jordan Forte ’20, the president of the Asian Student Association. “I think it’s really important that we keep this around for the Riordan community to experience different cultures.”