After another gruelling set of Design Reviews, the IDDS participants had a chance to enjoy the lighter side of things over the last couple of days. The Reviews once again gave the teams many questions to ponder, and many assumptions to test, and I will have a full update on each project in my upcoming post about the final presentations this Wednesday. Teams have settled back into work mode now, with only two days (and subsequent late nights) to go before their final project pitch.
It wouldn’t be IDDS without the International Potluck Event though, something that never fails to capture the hearts and minds (and stomachs) of everyone lucky enough to experience it. A fresh challenge this year was the fact that we didn’t actually have our own kitchens to cook in, as we’ve been getting our meals in the dining hall at CSU this year. Big shout out to Zach Youngerman who led up the organisation of the event and he somehow managed to cobble together a group of kitchens, cooking utensils and ingredients. Thus Friday’s multi dimensional, multi lingual and multi cultural cooking bonanza finally could finally begin!
Sulava measures ingredients for her Nepali dish
The different groups cooking together were given a four hour window to get their cooking done, dusted and laid on a plate outside our dorms in CSU. Surely that would provide ample time for the respective cooks to serve up their culinary works of genius? Think again. One group(of which I may have been a part) took some liberty with the concept of timekeeping, and arrived a full hour behind everyone else. The group had been cooking off campus and rumour has it that the football they brought with them had some part to play in their tardiness. The group’s spokesperson, Barry Lovern, has declined to comment on said rumour.
Andres proudly presents the Guatemalan speciality...on time!
The offenders in question were a collection of Irish, English and Americans who were introducing the world’s first ever International Spud Fest. Many people have pre conceived(and limited) notions of how to cook potatoes and the aim of Spud Fest is to attempt to teach people about the wonderful unappreciated power of the Spud. Still no excuse for being so late for the Potluck though, apologies to everyone on that one!
Amy opened the event with her usual unique brand of effervescent enthusiasm and the hungry participants could finally tuck in to the sumptuous array of treats on offer. The Indian group had made some Mango Lassie and that disappeared pretty fast, and their Palak Paneer didn’t last too long either! Dishes from Guatemala, Nepal, Zambia, Spain and Brazil were personal favourites of mine, but everyone had their own preferences from the huge variety on show. Of course, the assortments of spud variations on show( cottage pie, mac and cheese, baked, roasted, fried, mashed and many more!) were a huge hit with the IDDS crowd.
Amy gets the Potluck show on the road
Laura(centre) chats to some of the spud festers
Crossman holds the group in the palm of his hand as he tells a story
Tombo and Andres, Malawi and Guatemala, best mates
After an extensive clean up and rather hilarious off the cuff outdoor dance party(once again, all thanks to Aron’s Solar Powered Boom Box) the group got some much needed sleep before their all day hike in the Rocky Mountain National Park. I guess I’m always aware of the huge diversity that exists within the IDDS family, but I guess it takes an event like the Potluck Dinner to actually force one to appreciate it. To be among so many cultures, and so many wonderful characters, is something that is pretty unique, and I feel privileged to be a part of something so special.
An impromptu dance party? Blame Jackie.
As I sit and type this post we currently have a group of IDDsters silk screening the t-shirts for this year’s summit. They’re looking pretty awesome. Thought you guys might like to see some of the food on show, so here’s a few quick shots…and yes, it tasted as good as it looked!
Buckeyes from Ohio
Nkhukhu? Ha Tombo just reprimanded me for not knowing where this one was from - Malawi!
Biscuits made out of charcoal, tasty!
Perogi!