A Taste of Culture event brings Afghan food to campus

By Emmett Roman
Staff Reporter

On Jan. 20, the César Chávez Multicultural Center hosted its second A Taste of Culture.  This event was created in order to educate and embrace other cultures through food. The first event, held last fall, celebrated Diwali. This event’s focus was Afghanistan.

Food for the event was catered by Noosh Afghan Cuisine, who provided two dishes: qabli plow—often also spelled kabuli pulao—and mantu. Qabli plow is the national dish of Afghanistan and consists of rice, carrots, and raisins. The dish also often includes a meat such as lamb. Mantu are beef dumplings served with a yogurt sauce and tomato paste. “The variety of food in any given culture is huge,” Wesley Canady, executive assistant to the chief diversity officer, explained. “Trying to narrow the choices down was difficult.”

Alongside food, students in attendance learned about Afghan culture and met new people, as well. The César Chávez Multicultural Center is open to all students, faculty and staff as a welcoming and non-judgmental space. The staff encourages students to stop by the next A Taste of Culture event, which will be posted on the LCC events calendar once it is scheduled. Canady welcomes everyone, saying, “[Students] can expect to try some good food, and to experience a slice (pun intended) of the culture that we are looking to share.”