The Sodexo Global Chef Exchange Program Brought the “Flavors of Colombia” to the University of Mary Washington Community

University of Mary Washington junior Matt Kastrinsky called the school's recent "Flavors of Colombia" luncheon the best meal he'd ever had there. The food wasn't exotic, but it was fresh. "It tastes like real food that's not coming out of a large packaged container," Kastrinsky said.

Prepared by Colombian chef Joaquín Suârez, the meal included grilled chicken with passion fruit, yucca, small tomatoes stuffed with mashed potatoes, baby carrots with mint, three-potato and chicken soup, and rice pudding.

The event, which was open to the public, was sponsored by Sodexo, which provides dining services for UMW and more than 850 other colleges in the U.S. It's part of the company's month-long Global Chef Program.

The lunch was held in the South Market dining room where UMW usually serves stir fry and wraps. The South American menu's sweet and sour flavors make it one of the program's more popular offerings, said Suârez, a culinary trainer for Sodexo South America in Bogota, Colombia.

“To me, it is important to share my culture," said Suârez, who was scheduled to visit Seattle Pacific University next. "You get to know a culture through the food." To add to the experience, he greeted students with a "Cómo estâ?", and some of the attendees responded in Spanish.

Students weren't the only ones seeking a cultural experience. Basil Doumas, 74, of Fredericksburg, said he decided to treat himself because his wife—a graduate of Mary Washington College—was out of town. He had just about cleared his plate when he said, "It's all you can eat, which is dangerous for me. But maybe it's great for those folks who are still growing."

For more information, visit www.globalchefprogram.com.