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Culinary students offer up Asian dishes

NANAIMO – Fundraiser for VIU culinary students feature dishes from throughout Asia.

By Janina Stajic

Transport your taste buds to the streets of Asia, where talented chefs cook up dishes bursting with spice and flavor, from ‘kitchens’ attached to the backs of bicycles or street carts.

Vancouver Island University’s culinary students will be preparing ‘street fare’ dishes from across the Asian continent at the South Asian Street Food and Hawker Stall Reception Friday (March 15), in the upper cafeteria from 5:30-8 p.m.

The goal is to raise funds for student field trips and competitions.

“It’s been an idea floating around our department for some time,” said Jason Lloyd, an instructor in the culinary arts department. “We felt it would be a fun, unique way to do a fundraiser. It will be a stand-up reception so guests can wander from stall to stall, mingling with the student chefs and other guests, while sampling a wide variety of delicious food and drink.”

Some of the students are preparing food from their home countries including Arun Sobharaj who comes from a small town in India where one of the specialties is mutter paneer, a rich curry made with homemade cheese and fresh peas and served with piping hot naan bread.

Students Kevin Wang and Erin Xu will tempt guests with dishes from China, including steamed dumplings, sweet potato spring rolls and pan friend gyoza.

The evening will also include dishes from Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia and everything will be accompanied with beverages from the cash bar.

Guests can bid on silent auction items including: gift certificates to local restaurants such as Jar, owned by culinary celebrity and VIU alumnus David Wong; products from the House of Knives; a basket of goodies from St Jean’s Cannery; and dinner for four catered by Lloyd.

Tickets for the event are $35, payable by credit card (non-refundable), and reservations are necessary.

Please e-mail josephine.chong@viu.ca or 250-740-6289.