SRU’s Nov. 12 International Dinner dishes global cuisine

Nov. 4, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. ­- You'd probably have a hard time convincing celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Mario Batali that pairing Irish stew with a Belgian waffle would make for a memorable dining experience. However, for attendees of Slippery Rock University's 42nd Annual International Dinner, it could very well be an appetizer.

With cuisine from 40 countries being prepared and presented by a bevy of SRU's international students, the 7 p.m., Nov. 12 affair in the Smith Student Center Ballroom should have something to delight every diner's palate.

In addition to the aforementioned pair of dishes, other offerings will include: chicken curry, sushi, twice-cooked pork, tostadas de pollo, Vietnamese spring rolls and takoyaki, a Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special moulded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.

"The event provides our domestic students with a truly international experience," Noora Allie, international student adviser for the Office of Global Engagement. "Not everyone can afford the cost of studying abroad, so for this one night, we try to bring the rest of the world to them."

   KARMACHARYA

The event will begin with an international flag ceremony, feature a talent show and the awarding of scholarships. Rajeev Karmacharya, a 1995 computer science graduate, will receive the International Distinguished Alumni Award. Karmacharya, who also earned an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, heads the strategic sourcing and category management group for Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C.

The dinner is the closing event to SRU's Nov. 6-12 Internations Week.

"There are not many opportunities in western Pennsylvania to showcase the unique cultures of our international students," said Allie. "Internations Week and the International Dinner are an opportunity for students to share their culture with others, and feel like they have brought a little piece of home to SRU with them. The languages, foods and cultures are great communication points with strangers. Our students are very proud to showcase their heritage to and for others."

Tickets for the dinner are priced at $25 for the general public, $15 for students and $10 for children 12 and younger. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Smith Student Center Information Desk or at the door the night of the event.

MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu