A favorite of us all! International Food Fairs combine ethnic and national pride, delicious and interesting food and creative outreach. This is an event that demands the involvement and promotion of the local church members. Some events call for less support from the church; but for this outreach to work the church must support it. Food Fairs work well for multicultural churches that are outreach minded.
Announce the idea of an International Food Fair to your church and ask for cooks. You want as many cooks from as many regions as possible. For this occasion, variety really is the “spice” of life. Once you are comfortable with the number of volunteers and the level of variety, select the date and advertise it well. This outreach is fun for members and non-members alike, so advertise internally and externally. You can even raise the bar from time to time by asking local ethnic restaurants to participate.
Ask each participant is to offer small portions or a “taste” of an ethnic dish. The idea is not to fill up at one table or booth because you want people to move around. Cooks and their assistants should be provided a space to decorate with native flags, maps, pictures, etc. They should also dress in native garb if possible. The room should be festive and filled with music. Make it fun!
Note: This is the perfect transition point to future cooking classes. Have materials available and sign them up!
