Harper students serve up World Cup buffet
Draped in her country's flag with a bowl of tres leches cake in hand, Harper College student Marion Iugovich couldn't have been more ready to watch her beloved France take on Mexico in Thursday's World Cup matchup.
Iugovich, a native of Nice, France, working as an au pair in Barrington, was one of dozens Thursday to sample a cornucopia of food inspired by countries competing in soccer's premier tournament.
About eight culinary program students - just six days into an introduction to food preparation course - prepared the extensive buffet. The spread featured French dishes including poached chicken breast with tarragon and thyme sauce and Mexican dishes such as pork tortillas with mole sauce.
"People all over the globe are excited about the World Cup, and that's been especially true with our international students," said Eric Bohman, a staff member in Harper's English as a Second Language program.
Bohman turned to Hospitality Management professor Pat Beach with the idea and helped set up funding from the International Student Office, which oversaw 105 international students for the 2010 spring semester.
"Normally I wouldn't push so much work on such new students, but this was a great opportunity," Beach said. "We're applying classical French cooking techniques to ethnic food."
The buffet will make a second appearance on Wednesday for the game between Ghana and Germany.
In addition to more familiar German staples like sauerbraten, students will feast on jollof rice, or Ghanaian-style grains cooked in spicy tomato sauce, and a fried plantain and baked-bean stew called "red red."
Hoffman Estates culinary student David Trujillo said he's been cooking since he was little and knows his way around the kitchen, so Thursday's assignment was manageable. But Trujillo and others may have to make more next time since only some fried chips and pineapple papaya salsa remained at kick off.
The empty trays didn't bother 18-year-old Mexico fan Martin Jimenez of Schaumburg, who got permission from his algebra teacher to miss a math test in order to watch the game.
"My dad is a big fan and I've been to exhibition games at Soldier Field," said Jimenez, clad in Mexico's newest black jersey. "I'll make up the test on Monday."