International Food & Culture Night at Foxcroft Academy draws huge crowd despite inclement weather

By Fern Morrison
Foxcroft Academy sophomore

    Foxcroft Academy hosted more than 100 guests for the third annual International Food & Culture Night. Students, staff and community members prepared food ranging from Korean to Ukrainian to Spanish cuisine. Citizens from all corners of the globe came to share their culture and stories through food and music.
    John You prepared one of the most popular entrees Bulgogi, which translates to “fire meat” in Korean. This dish is made of thin slices of marinated beef and vegetables that is grilled to perfection. Another standout dish was Volodymr Pyzhov’s Borscht — a traditional Ukrainian soup. To add to the ambiance, FA’s music ensemble played a variety of songs as guests tasted cuisine from various backgrounds.

    After attendees had shared and tasted each other’s cultures through food, the focus turned to center stage for the student performances. The talents began with a rising rock band consisting of M.C. Hammer and Steven Xu on the guitar, Harry Gong on drums and vocals by Findley Feng, who sang “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day.
    The crowd broke into a wild craze cheering and chanting as Feng screamed into the mike. “I just like to rock,” he explained to a local reporter, then added “I like this feeling.” The beat slowed for the next act ‘Thinking of You” by Frank Ocean, performed by the band Vlad Sea and Selina Pond. The talents concluded with an instrumental duo.
    Although the storm of the century, Nemo, blew in on the same day of the event, participants as well as attendees braved the weather to come. “Nemo brings the community together,” chimed the excited chef and vocalist Selina Guo. “I’m really happy, satisfied, and glad to have every one come even in the snow storm,” added Winnie Li.
    The original $3-$10 door fee was waived due to the storm. “We figured it would be nice to let the people in for free because they ventured out into the storm,” said the main coordinator of the event James Kuhn. Despite the wind and snow, the event was a major success.
    International Food Night & Culture Night inspired not only unity within the community but also new friendships and collaboration among FA students. Students from China, the Czech Republic, Dover-Foxcroft and various places in between laughed and played a Chinese hacky sack game called shuttlecock kick and Chinese chess. Cultures and backgrounds mixed, breaking out of the social norm, livening the night. “We worked as a group and I liked that team spirit!,” said world-renowned chef John You, who then added, “I hope for many years to come we can do this over and over.”
    “It was just amazing,” declared sophomore Alex Barcelo.
    Everyone who attended International Food Night & Culture Night found it to be a unique, interesting, and unifying event. “This is one of the greatest nights that we have each year because it really brings our community together through food. People from all around Dover-Foxcroft and even other cities come here and enjoy this night,” said Pyzhov.
    When Daniel Lee was asked how he felt about the event, he answered, “Fantastic! I felt…some kind of emotion you cannot describe in words. My heart was just pounding so fast watching everyone from different cultures and nationalities in harmony, sharing their ideas and food in happiness.”