Taste of Culture
TASTES OF CULTURE HISPANIC

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Take a walk downtown for lunch and step into another world

Taste of Culture is an afternoon event that teaches about Roanoke's incredible diversity. The events are sponsored by the City of Roanoke as well. Each month one country will celebrate their culture with food and entertainment. The Taste of Culture will be held in downtown Roanoke's Century Plaza, located on Church Avenue across from Fire Station #1 and behind Center in the Square. The Sister Cities Columns are located in Century Plaza along with the tables, chairs and a stage, all of which were added to draw in the afternoon lunch crowd of downtown Roanoke.

Admission is free and students are encouraged to attend.
The event is held rain or shine.

In the event of rain, Taste of Culture will go ahead as planned!
 

Visit Taste of Culture for your lunch, and you'll be glad you made the trip to a new community

Map to Century Plaza

Upcoming Taste of Culture events:
Tastes of Cultures are the 2nd Friday of each month, during the Summer.
When :   11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Where:  100-150 Wall Street, Downtown Roanoke

Authentic Food for sale, entertainment, merchandise, language, fashion, crafts and exhibits. Audience participation  greatly encouraged!

Taste of Culture, Hispanic
Friday August  13 , 2010
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
MENU:
Empanadas, Spanish rice
DRINKS:
Provided
 
Entertainment:
Music and Salsa Dancing including Salsa lessons from Salsa "Noke" Come dace, or just watch. !There will be picnics tables, so come enjoy the food and watch the dancing!
 

Past Taste of Culture events
 

Taste of Culture, Scandinavia
Friday October  9 , 2009
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
MENU:
Foods from Iceland, Sweden, and Norway
DRINKS:
Provided
 
Entertainment:
Music of Iceland - Saga Speak - Return of Stone the Politician  - Holmganger  Viking Duels  with Swords and Shields  - Ancient Viking Runes.   
Taste of Culture, China
Friday September  11 , 2009
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
MENU:
Traditional Chinese Food from Fiji Island Restaurant
DRINKS:
Provided
 
Entertainment:
Entertainment by China Sister Cities and Chinese Association, Chinese Fashion Show Ving Tsung Demonstration  , Calligraphy Demonstration, Chinese Merchandise for sale !
 
Taste of Culture, Vietnam
August 14 10 , 2009
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Vietnamese Fashion shows,  Vietnamese Dancing, Free Cooking Lessons, and more!
 
Taste of Culture, Polynesia
July 10 , 2009
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
GET  READY TO HULA !!!
  • Authentic Polynesian Food.
  • Poi Ball Demonstration
  • Hula Dancing
  • Hula Lessons
    • Taste of Culture, Latin
    August 8, 2008
    11:30 am to 1:30 pm
  • Green Chile and Chicken Enchilada casserole, Rice Apostelado (rice with pork meat), arepas (Colombian corn bread), rice with vegetables, and Latin Slaw.
  • Mexican and Colombian cookies, tropical drinks, and maybe Cuban Churros (donuts)
  • Ecuadoran, Honduran, and Mexican crafts and other ethnic items
  • Ecuadoran musicians, latin american guitarists, music on CD’s
  • Games: Pin the Tail on the Country, Loteria, a piñata, your name in Spanish
    • July 2008
    Taste of Culture, Haiti
    Musicians Mohundas and Rudy showcased upbeat drumming
    Marie’s Caribbean Café served up delicious authentic Haitian dishes at a very reasonable price.
    June 2008
    Taste of Culture, China
    Roanoke Valley Sister City Lijiang, China presents:
    Dragon Dance, Tai Chi, sword dance, fan dance, Chinese music, calligraphy, art and culture, Chinese minority clothing for sale.
    Food catered by Fiji Island
    November 2007
    Taste of Culture, America
    Food provided by Blues BBQ.
    Entertainment by:
    • Singer Randall Gilbert
    • Hip hop/graffiti artist Leonard Straub
    • Flatpicker and singer Cheryl Lunsford
    • The Rumbo Drum Corp
    • Singers Randolph Walker & Britt Mistele.
    October 2007
    Taste of Culture, Scandanavia
    Featuring Sweden & Norway
    See videos of the event
    in Roanoke.com (Roanoke Times)
    in Roanoke VA Guide
    Musical entertainment, video plus traditional foods and activities such as:
    • Lutefisk (dried, salted cod served in cream sauce)
    • Våfflor (waffles)
    • Gula Ärtor
    • Viking displays and demonstrations
    • Swedish Christmas ornaments for sale
    September 2007
    Taste of Culture, Korea
    Musical entertainment plus traditional foods such as:
    • Bulgogi (korean bbq beef)
    • Mando (dumplings withmeat and vegetables)
    • Kim Chi (spicy pickled vegetables)
    • Rice
    August 2007
    Taste of Culture, Latino
    Featuring Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, and Venezuela
    Musical entertainment plus traditional foods such as:
    • Alcapurrias (yuca stuffed with meat)
    • Papa rellenos (stuffed potato balls)
    • Pinchos (chicken or pork on a stick)
    • Yellow Rice
    • Caribbean wrap (shrimp with mango salsa in tortilla wrap)
    • Coquitos (frozen desert)
    • Smoothies (banana, strawberry, pina colada, peach, mango)
    July 2007
    Taste of Culture, Caribbean
    Featuring Haiti and Jamaica
    See videos of the event
    Taste of Culture, Caribbean
    Musical entertainment plus traditional foods such as:
    • Griyo (fried pork)
    • Bannan'n fri (fried platain)
    • Patat fri (fried sweet potato)
    • Diri cole (rice and beans)
    • Diri ak djon-djon (rice with mushroom)
    • So'ce poi rouge (red bean soup)
    • Poul fri (fried chicken)
    • Poule nan so'ce ak nwa (chicken/cashew stew)
    November 2006
    Taste of Culture, Scandinavia
    October 2006
    Taste of Culture, Cuban
    September 2006
    Taste of Culture, Haiti
    August 2006
    Taste of Culture, India
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