‘Celebrating diversity’ aim of food festival

Food from across the world was on the menu at the Southland Multicultural Food Festival.

Hundreds of people flocked to the ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill on Saturday to taste the cuisine of other countries, including Korea, Brazil, Jamaica and Colombia.

Southland Multicultural Council co-ordinator Meggy Bartlett-McBride said the event, which had 30 food stalls, was also an opportunity to acknowledge Race Relations Day, celebrated yesterday.

"The event is pretty much about coming together, celebrating the diversity of our Southland region."

The event also had cultural performances throughout the day.

Chinese national Amanda Huang has been living in Invercargill for the past two years.

Along with her husband Allen Huang and daughter Eva, she enjoyed the opportunity to try food from different countries.

"We always eat Chinese food at home — almost every day. So it is good to try something different."

South African family Anton and Lize Jooste were a bit disappointed they could not find any food from their home country at the festival.

However, this did not dampen their spirits as the couple and their daughter Line Joost (3) made the most of the event by tasting some dishes

— "it is great to have everyone here celebrating the diversity," Mrs Jooste said.

"Maybe next year we can bring a bit of our South African food to the event. It would be great."