The “Taste of Nations” food festival shows the kitchen of immigrants in Portland in the Portland region

In order to try a large selection of international dishes this weekend, the residents of Portland do not have to travel around the world or even go along the Congress Street. On Saturday, dozens of different flavors came together under one roof in Mayo Street Arts.

The food festival “Taste of Nations” brought together 10 providers both on Saturday and on Sunday, which emphasized the influence of immigration cultures on the food scene in Portland. With providers who serve the dishes from Cambodia to Ecuador, Iceland to Ethiopia, the participants were able to try a large number of small plates for 5 US dollars with an entry fee of $ 10. Almost 500 entrance tickets were sold during the two -day event.

“It's great to find out everything this area has to offer,” said Michelle Strattard from Raymond.

This is the second year in which the non -profit Mayo Street Arts, which supports the arts in Portland, organizes this event. The idea came from the board member of Mayo Street Arts, Alexus Bond, and suggested that the organization support local artists who express their culture through traditional food.

“A way to bring people to the community and in the door for traditional art is eating,” said Bond, who organized the festival.

For this year's event, Mayo Street Arts worked with Fork Food Lab and Tender Table. Fork Food Lab, a non -profit incubator for grocery store that has shared into the kitchen room, has connected numerous food sellers with the festival with a migration background. Tender table, an organization that celebrates the black, indigenous and people in the color community through storytelling and food, a zine with stories from every provider created what it meant for them.

“I think it is important to see that people sometimes cannot take their culture with them, but they can think of them through the food they do for us,” said the tender table organizer Veronica Perez.

“I hope people take a piece of well -tasting food away, but also a piece of culture that people present,” she said.

Providers of Taste of Nations, which were celebrated from a variety of business models, from stands that usually sell at farmers markets, startups in the pop-up stage on the way to some operative shop fronts who want to spread their business.

The sale of the festival was Royal Chicken & Kebab, a new shop in Lewiston that served Afghan food. So far, her customers were primarily other Muslims in Lewiston who were looking for Halal-Essen and restricted their business, said co-owner Nelofar Ahmadi. The festival gave them the opportunity to present their kitchen new audience who may have never tried Afghan food before.

“When people come to this event, they want to expand and try something new,” said Bond.

Humans gather in the tent behind Mayo Street Arts for sellers, including La Galera with his Puertorican Essen, and Battamang Bistro, served the Cambodian food. Sophie Burchell/Community Reporter

Ahmadi not only said that they exposed Qabuli Pulao, the national court of Afghanistan, and a filled flatbread called Bolani, but also wanted to share positive aspects of Afghan culture with the Americans.

“We want to share Afghan food with the public because it is a really beautiful country. It currently has a bad reputation, unfortunately due to political stress,” said Ahmadi. “It is a very warm, friendly culture.”

Kassandra Cruz-Martinez served Puertorican Empanadas at the event. She said that she started her stand, La Galera, to build up community and does pop-ups when she has time.

“I think I just wanted to find a little more community. Puertorican food before Papi opened was not really there, so I just wanted to share food that brings me comfort with others … who can afford to eat,” said Cruz-Martinez.

For many participants, the event not only stood out with its variety of food, but also because of its affordability and integrative atmosphere.

“I would say that many of the other food events in Portland are really inaccessible, like things at Thompson's point … it will be really expensive,” said Syd Cotter, Syd Cotter, who is living in Portland.

“Although I love food and go to restaurants all the time, this is the first meal event that was accessible to me because I can't afford any of the others,” said Cotter.

In addition to the price, many appreciated the opportunity to discover new companies and to interact with the people who shape the diverse eating culture of Portland.

“You learn through food about people's culture and meet people. And I think it's really cool,” said Cotter.

“It is also nice to support all of these business,” said Michele Butterfield from Portland.

“What could be nicer than getting out and trying delicious migration?” she said.

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