What is a college student without a passport, a very small budget and an urge to taste the foods of other countries to do? Well, you could have gone to the International Food Night in the Exhibit Hall of the Memorial Student Union at North Carolina A&T this past Thursday night.

The Student Union Advisory Board (SUAB) hosted a night of free food, good music and fellowship to students as they were allowed to stop at each table and sample foods from different parts of the world tasting various dishes from places such as the Caribbean, Italy, Mexico and Japan to name a few. Each area was decorated with its country and surrounding countries’ flags. Music from the each of the areas played in the background competing with the loud chatter of hungry students. The mood was exciting, yet very relaxed for an evening event.

The room was dark, but lights from each table led the way around an array of food. With many in attendance, the line was long, but well worth the wait. My first dish was a chicken taco representing the food of Mexico. The taco, I found, was very spicy as there were several spices and peppers within its soft shell. The chicken was very tender and well seasoned.

After fanning my mouth from the lack of beverage to wash it down with, I traveled next to Japan where sushi was being served. I coaxed my friend to try it and he tasted the vegetable sushi, which consisted of carrots and celery wrapped up inside a small piece of fish, and I sampled the meat sushi. The meat was encased in rice and then rolled into fish providing a new and natural taste since there were no added seasonings. Compared to the foods I usually eat at A&T, it tasted healthy, but still something I could enjoy as a snack.

As the line traveled on, I spotted a seemingly dark corner where drinks were being served; I think it was lemonade. Obviously, the person or persons who prepared it knew what sugar was because it was very sweet, but helped to relieve my mouth of the still burning remnants of pepper. The next table served meatballs and mozzarella sticks; this country was Italy. The meatballs, as I expected, were warm, tender and gushing with Italian sauce.

I forfeited my cheese stick for a friend of mine who doesn’t eat meat and was only given one stick. According to her, they were good and very crispy with a soft, gooey and cheese-filled center.

The next table was probably my favorite. As soon as I saw the fried plantain, I made sure my plate was within the server’s reach. I wished that we could sample more, but each food was limited to one or two per person. With my appetite slowly decreasing since I had eaten each food on the way to the next stop, I was satisfied with one piece of soft, sweet plantain and two pieces of jerk chicken. The chicken must have been in abundance because it was being served in two locations. It proved to be a crowd favorite as it was the dish most people came back for. I agreed. It was good chicken, not too crispy and just enough seasoning to soothe the taste buds.

Overall, I would say that the event was well put together and a success. The food was appetizing and came with variety to suit each person who entered the room. It is something I would go to again if the opportunity arose.  

• Stacie Bailey