International Food Fair

Since we are in the topic of food, I came across these 2 clips yesterday while browsing in youtube .. these clips was taken during International Food Fair in Campus East in 2005. I'm sure to those who studied overseas before have this kind of event. This is when all international students shared their country's food specialty with other fellow students. Basically even though you can't cook, you just can't get away from this. This event simply force you to cook but amazingly fun.

- part 1 -

- part 2 -

(thank you to whoever made this clip, it brought back lots
of beautiful memory)

Anyway, Campus East was my hall of residence when I studied in University of Wollongong. I stayed there for 2 years before moved to another hall closer to uni. Campus East is located in the suburb of Fairy Meadow, a very small village like suburb. It was a nice place ... Wollongong isn't a big city but it was the best 5 years of my life ...

- good place growing up -

So back to International Food Fair (IFF), I've experienced twice of IFF in Campus East (CE), in 1998 and 1999. Every year (since I don't know when) they requested the same from Indonesia - Chicken Satay with the famous saus kacang and kecap manis (peanut sauce and sweet soya sauce). The preparations were difficult and painful, crushing and grinding the peanuts, mix it with various ingredients and not to mention sticking those chicken in bamboo sticks. Lots of blood was sacrifice during this preparations :D and roasting the satay took forever and why did they have to hold IFF during winter? But everyone was happy at the end of it, though we would be very full and nauseated. Little that they know Indo team suffered a lot afterwards. Even after 3-4 showers, we still smelled like satay and don't forget the wounded fingers.

In 1999, we kinda refused to make satay and offered something easier, other than it was difficult, we didn't have enough Indo students to help out. But it was special request from the head of the hall, we made them at the end. Few Aussie friends helped out the preparations and we also added another recipe, we made es cendol -- it's a tough one too, 'cos one of our friends insisted on making from scratch. But again, we were praised for making good food and delicious beverage. Well done Indo!! :D

- cendol preparations -

- indo team in action -

I moved out from CE the next year. But during my final year in 2001 I was called up to help the Indo team to prepare -- again, the one and only "Chicken Satay". At the previous 2 IFFs, I didn't get the change to try lots of food, but that year since I was only needed during the preparations, I got to try lots of different and interesting food .. from crocodile meat (from USA team) to kangaroo meat (Aussie rules) .. if you think crocodile has tough meat, guess again, it was actually very tender. In fact kangaroo meat was tougher than crocodile meat. Interesting ... :)

- chicken satay preparations -

Surprisingly, 'till the year 2005 (learning from the clip), Indo is still making satay. What is it about western and satay? Is it really taste that good? I wonder is satay still THE special request 'till now? Anyone still in CE?