Zane State’s Annual Ethnic Food Fair

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Cultures around the world share an appreciation for food that usually varies by the regional resources that are available to be prepared and eaten. 

Zane State College’s Department of Culinary Arts program held an event today in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which showcased foods from around the world and underscored how tastes can vary by culture.

“This is an event that we at Zane State College are very proud to have,” Zane State Chief Academic Officer Dr. Karen Reed said. “It’s a 30-year tradition here, and it’s all about celebrating community and all of our likenesses and our differences through food. And so we’d like to thank the public for their support. 30 years is a long time to have this kind of a celebration, and to know that we sell out every single year and people are clamoring for tickets tells us that this is the kind of event the community wants, and we’re just delighted to be able to support it.”  

The event began with a few words from Zane State College President Chad Brown before bowing for an invocation by Miles’ Mission President Michael Bullock. Each of the cuisines was prepared by culinary students at Zane State and Mid-East under the tutelage of Chef Marco Adornetto.

“We have four different categories,” Reed said. “We have a Mexican, we have an Asian, we have a Southern, and we have, of course, Italian, because how could we not have Italian. Everyone can choose whatever they so like. So you can do a swath of all of the different things to taste test what you think would be best.”

More than 300 people attended the event that funds scholarships for area minority students.