Most people are uncomfortable when others watch them eat. But that wasn't the case for the 250 adventurous taste testers who gave their palate a world tour on Wednesday night.
Sponsored by Volunteers for International Student Affairs, the International Potluck featured cuisine prepared by various multicultural organizations on Norman Field.
Participants received five free tickets to exchange for food and immediately flocked to booths to devour plump sushi rolls and spinach pies.
Eight organizations competed for audience approval, which was determined by the number of tickets each booth received.
Charalas, the Mexican version of a minnow, was one of the dishes served.
As the eaters ogled the snack-sized dried fish they were about to consume, beady blue eyes stared back at them.
Though the lines were long, Andre Bostwick, a third-year UF student, said he didn't mind waiting for the free food.
"The thing about the line is, if you're full, you won't be full by the time you get up there," said Bostwick, who is studying Japanese.
While partial to the Japanese food, he felt it was important to sample a little from each table.
Then the Greek American Students Association rolled out the Parthenon cake, a three-dimensional, blue-and-white vanilla confection that would've made Zeus proud.
Kim Siomkos, president of the Greek group, spent eight hours constructing the cake and had mixed feelings about seeing her masterpiece reduced to rubble.
But Siomkos dished it out nonetheless for the sake of promoting her culture.
"A lot of cultures are defined by their food, and that's what makes us different," she said.
"Plus, it's tasty."
Her efforts paid off with a first-place win.
The Japanese Club took home second and Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars snatched third.
Seeta Rebbapragada, a first-year public relations and political science student, smiled as she took a slice of cake.
Rebbapragada said the potluck offered a close taste to the cuisine she eats at home.
She explained her mother is Colombian and her dad is Indian, so she eats a lot of Spanish and spicy foods that she can't get in the dining halls.
"You'll never know what you're missing out on unless you try new things," she said.
And new things were plentiful at the Mexicans In Gainesville booth. Not only did the booth feature dried fish, but it also boasted a Pay Azteca, a vegetarian casserole made with Nopales cactus.
Antonio Tovar, a doctoral anthropology student, brought the prickly pear to show students what they were eating.
"I wanted people to appreciate the work that goes into these recipes," Tovar said.
Ashton Connell, vice president of Volunteers for International Student Affairs, said the festival was such a success.
"It's becoming an increasingly small world, and I just think it's really important to start embracing other cultures," Connell said.
