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The International Cook-Off, an event hosted by ����ֱ�� State University’s Office of Global Education and , is beloved by many international and domestic students. A world of sounds, scents and flavors was on display to delight the attendees.

This year's event was held in the ����ֱ�� Student Center Ballroom on Nov. 20, where cook-off finalists represented seven countries: Brazil, Egypt, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.  

Each country-based team made an entrée and either a dessert, a beverage, or a side dish. Students, staff, faculty and community attendees were invited to try all of the team's dishes and vote for their favorite.  

Vance Voyles, safety and security officer; Joe Robinson, associate director for the Center for Student Involvement; and Jennifer Cunningham-Minnick, staff attorney from Student Legal Services, were the three judges for this year’s cook-off.  

Donnay Hatcher, a junior nursing student and first-time attendee, started her night off by trying the shepherd's pie from Team Brazil, but she was most excited about trying food from the Nigerian team.  

“This is my first time. I like the vibe. It's a lot more people than I was expecting,” Hatcher told ����ֱ�� State Today.  

Each team had to meet before the event to plan the menu and prepare the dishes they wanted to present at the cook-off. 

“I’ve been loving it. It is really crowded,” Nicholle Tavares Marqueti, a business management major and member of Team Brazil, said. “But that’s amazing to see how many cultures there are here, and it’s been a really great experience here so far.”  

Her sentiment was reflected by many participants who were equally energized by the global environment.

“This is amazing, the opportunity is great. I love meeting different students from around the world, it’s amazing,” Omar Karar, a student in the mechatronics engineering master's program and member of Team Egypt, said.  

As the night progressed, attendees were able to walk around the ����ֱ�� Student Center Ballroom, where the cook-off was being held, and try all the various dishes, sides, desserts and drinks the student teams had to offer. Attendees were able to scan a QR code on the back of the menus they were given upon entry to vote for their favorite country's dish.  

Awards were divided into two categories: three Judge’s Choice awards and a People’s Choice award.  

Team Sri Lanka won the People’s Choice award for its entrée of milk rice with chicken and cashew curry, and a beverage of ginger tea.  

The Judge’s Choice award winners included:

• First place winner: Team Brazil’s entrée of cassava shepherd’s pie with plantain farofa and dessert of banoffee pie.
• Second place: Sri Lanka’s entrée of milk rice with chicken and cashew curry, and a beverage of ginger tea.
• Third place: Team Nepal’s entrée of chicken dish and rajma paneer with ghee rice and the beverage of atyadhik lassi.

The International Cook-Off is an event held during International Education Week, which is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education. The week was created in 2000 and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. The objective is to promote educational programs that prepare American and international students to succeed in a world that is becoming increasingly globalized.

Learn more about the International Cook-Off teams and their cuisine.