Want to sample world cuisine available in Columbia? Taste of Columbia event is that chance

Charles Dunlap, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read

A mix of Columbia favorites and new food businesses, with a number owned by refugees who have settled in Columbia, will be available Thursday evening in the second annual Taste of Columbia Food Festival from Kraft-Heinz and City of Refuge.

"It's a great cross section of established caterers and restaurants in the city as well as some new ones we think everyone will enjoy," said Dan Szy, City of Refuge director of development. "It is an opportunity to do what we do best, which is to gather and enjoy each other's company in this great city."

The event is from 5-8 p.m. at the MU Health Care Pavilion in Clary-Shy Park at 1701 W. Ash St.

Tickets are $10 and $15 if a guest also wants to get drinks provided by Macadoodles of Columbia. Tickets for children ages 5-12 are $2. Children four and under can enter free.

Guests will be able to sample world cuisine from Oscar Meyer, Tiger Chef, Abbey's Swahili Delights, Pasta La Fata, GoPo Popcorn, Sodam Korean Catering, CoMo Smoke and Fire, Jamaican Jerk Hut, Tammie's Covenant Kitchen and Hokulia Shaved Ice.

Chloe Kruse receives a chicken shwarma last September from a booth featuring the food from Syrian Kitchen during the Taste of Columbia food festival from the MU Health Care Pavilion at Clary-Shy Park.
Chloe Kruse receives a chicken shwarma last September from a booth featuring the food from Syrian Kitchen during the Taste of Columbia food festival from the MU Health Care Pavilion at Clary-Shy Park.

The pavilion was packed last year with residents seeking a chance to try the variety of cuisine available in Columbia.

Kraft-Heinz and City of Refuge are partnered on the food festival since so many of Kraft-Heinz employees are refugees.

"The partnership meets one of the greatest needs in our city: helping to serve refugees. (Kraft-Heinz) is a great employer for many of the clients we serve. We love to celebrate the diversity of culture with them. We are thankful for their support and their organization in putting the event together," Szy said. "They are looking for a way to give back to the community and their employees to have a special night out for them."

Proceeds from this year's event will continue to support the work of City of Refuge.

"We are continuing to welcome more refugees all the time to Columbia, establish them and develop their skills and talents for the future," Szy said. "We are expanding our refugee artisan programs this year."

Looking ahead to 2024, City of Refuge will work with its clients, asking them about their skills and assets and how they can be developed within the Columbia community, he added.

From 2022: Kraft Heinz, City of Refuge partnership brings multicultural food festival to Columbia

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Taste of Columbia Food Festival supports City of Refuge mission