Take a bite of a dozen countries at Saturday's multicultural food festival in South Yarmouth

Have you ever wanted to try something new ― say, Indian food ― but been hesitant to visit the local restaurant because you worry you won’t like the cuisine?

The 2nd Annual Bass River Multicultural Food Festival, from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in South Yarmouth, has a solution for that dilemma.

The festival will offer food from around the world prepared by more than a dozen restauranteurs.

“Once you buy the ticket, everything is included so you can afford to try everything,” said Jeni Wheeler, executive director of Family Table Collaborative, which cosponsors the food fest with its neighbor, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

“It’s all sample sizes and that makes people much more likely to try it,” Wheeler said. “I always tell people to treat food as an adventure. I think last year’s festival exposed and expanded people’s palates.”

About 200 people attended the first festival last year and organizers are hoping for more on Saturday.

Molly Demeulenaere, the cultural center’s executive director, said, “The Cape is not all fried seafood and ice cream. We do have multicultural foods. And there’s a lot of talk about immigration. We don’t just want to get (immigrants) to assimilate into our culture, we want to celebrate their cultures.”

Where is the festival?

The festival will be held in South Yarmouth in the small walkable stretch between the collaborative (formerly Riverway Lobster House) at 1338 Route 28 and the cultural center around the corner at 307 Old Main St.

How much does the food festival cost?

Tickets are $30 for adults ($35 at the door) and $10 for those 10 and younger. Buy tickets in advance at artscapecod.org. The price includes all food (there is a cash bar) as well as Wheeler’s cooking demo at the collaborative, Demeulenaere’s talk with artists, performers and activities for kids.

What are some of the cuisines and vendors?

There are a baker’s dozen of foods to try including Indian, Asian, Greek, German and Jamaican, as well as sweet treats from Caffe Gelato Bertini and pastries from Woolfie’s Breakfast Bakery and Coffee.

Restaurants, some set up in food trucks parked between the family collaborative and the cultural center, are scheduled to include: Aplaya Kitchen + Tiki Bar in Chatham, offering Filipino-inspired food and owned by Tom and Delinda Deegan of Mom & Pops Burgers in Chatham; Ardeo Cafe & Catering Company in West Dennis, serving a Greek dish; Island Cafe & Grill in Hyannis and z.eatz.co from Zavia Empey, both serving Jamaican food, Ella’s Pizza, Nick Caplice with German cuisine and Sanjay Palit with Indian food.

Is the festival a fundraiser?

Festival organizers are covering the cost of food but 12 to 14 restaurateurs are donating time and labor. Proceeds equally benefit the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, which provides art shows, author events, cooking classes, art classes and more, and the Family Table Collaborative, which feeds people in need and helps people learn about choosing and eating healthy foods as it works to provide for all of Cape Cod's food-insecure people.

"I believe that good healthy food should be a basic human right," said Wheeler, adding that the collaborative will be adding a monthly multicultural meal for clients, which can be purchased from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sunday and Monday when the collaborative's marketplace is open to the public.

How can I get help from the collaborative if I or my family need food?

People in need of food can text Wheeler at 508-348-9777 with their first name and the number of meals needed. They will get a text confirmation and directions on where to pick up the meals.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Follow her or X, formerly Twitter: @dailyrecipeCCT

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cultural center, Family Collaborative host South Yarmouth food fest