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2025 International Food Fest

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When: Tuesday, September 30
Where: Star Commons
Time: Starting at 5:30PM
 

Registration for cooks is now open! Registration closes at 5:00PM on Friday, September 26. 

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2024 Food Fest

 

We invite all students, faculty, and staff to participate in Food Fest by preparing a dish—alone or as part of a team—that speaks to one’s cultural or national identity or background. And to make sure all of our community members can participate, the Office of Student Affairs has graciously offered to reimburse each entry for the groceries they use in preparing the dishes, up to $125.  More information about reimbursement will be provided to the participating cooks/teams after the registration closes.

2025 Categories

  • Best Comfort Food
  • Best Dessert
  • Best Vegetarian Dish
  • Most Representative of Your Country or Culture 
  • Best Fusion Dish (LLM/SJD/JD collaboration)
  • Best Faculty/Staff/Student Collaboration

Event Rules and Guidelines

  • Choose a category and submit a dish. You may also compete in more than one category by submitting a separate dish for each category.
  • You may compete individually or in teams of maximum 5 people.
  • Cooks are welcome to wear traditional garments or decorate their tables with items from their countries, if they wish.
  • Whether prepared by one cook or a team, each dish should feed at least 35 people.  We request that you reserve 5 servings for the other participating cooks/teams.
  • Cooks/teams should arrive and set up beginning at 5:00 P.M. The Fest begins at 5:30 P.M. and voting will begin promptly.
  • Tables will be provided for participants to display their dishes.
  • NO facilities will be provided to cook, heat, or otherwise prepare dishes. Please bring dishes fully-prepared and ready to display.
  • You may bring a crock pot, warmer, etc. to keep your dish warm. You may request a table near an electrical outlet when registering, but please bring your own extension cord.
  • Torches or other open flame devices are not allowed inside the Law School building.
  • Plates, tableware, and napkins will be provided to serve attendees. Please bring your own utensils, platters, etc. to serve your dishes.
  • Alcohol is not allowed at the Food Fest.
  • Winners will be announced at the end of the event.

Food Safety Guidelines

  • The cooks must remain with their dish to serve food to Fest attendees at all times; Fest attendees may not serve themselves.
  • Participants must wear serving gloves (will be provided by OIS) when serving food.
  • Participants must wash their hands prior to beginning or resuming food service.
  • Attendees must use disposable utensils (will be provided by OIS).
  • Attendees are encouraged to use hand sanitizer at each station (will be provided by OIS).
  • For additional information about safe preparation and handling of food, refer to this website through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Contact Isik Cotten (isik.cotten@law.duke.edu) or Josue Jimenez (josue.jimenez@law.duke.edu) in the Office of International Studies (OIS), if you have any questions about the Food Fest.

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