The Kickoff

CAC kicked off Worldfest, a week of celebration for not only UCLA’s diversity but the world around us, with tables and tables of culture specific activities, art, music and spirit. Students gathered under on a beautiful and sunny day in Bruin Plaza this past Monday from 11 – 2 pm. There was a live DJ and art happening as students could learn how to make screen prints, traditional Japanese origami, dream catchers, calligraphy and more; all taught by the wonderful members of CAC. There was also a globe painting and live art. The best part? You also got to keep everything that you made. After feeling all the energy, excitement and exposure to new experiences at the kickoff, it was clear Worldfest 2012 was going to be the best one yet.

Iron Bruin

If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen, or at least, bruin plaza. On Tuesday April 10, culinary minds gathered at UCLA’s own kitchen stadium to compete in WorldFest’s, “Iron Bruin,” a take on the Food Networks hit show, “Iron Chef America.” The burners were ignited and the knives sharpened for this particular day of head to head combat between campus orgs, The Meat Club, Chinese Students and Scholars Society and Bruin Culinary Community. Each group was given two rounds to show off their foodie prowess. CAC provided the competitors with a secret ingredient for each round. Competitors were judged on their use of the secret ingredient, portrayal of a cultural style and of course taste. USAC top dogs had the opportunity to taste and judge their plates. Round one featured secret ingredient tofu, with dishes featuring Argentinean (Seared flank steak with fried tofu and roasted scallion chimichurri) as well as modern Chinese influences (seared tofu on top of a Chinese green pancake with ponzu aioli). Following Battle Eggplant, round two, after tough deliberation, judges declared The Meat Club victorious. After some blood, sweat and tears (those onions were hard to chop), all ended a good day of camaraderie, full bellies and culinary prowess.

All bruins, not just the judges were given the opportunity to sample global flavors. By the Bruin Bear, World Fest offered a blind dessert tasting. Blindfolds on, individuals had the opportunity to try and name flavors around the world. Featuring Flan (Spain, Mexico), Eclairs (France) Gulab Jamun (India, neighboring countries) and more, students tried to guess desserts and their country of origin. While they didn’t have the opportunity to sample the gastronomic delights of Iron Bruin, students’ lives got a little bit sweeter on their way up bruin walk.

Global Issues Fair

Wanting students to not only celebrate international diversity but also be aware of international issues at hand, World Fest hosted its first Global Issues Fair on Wednesday April 11. Beating the rain by immediately switching to the cozier and more indoor Kerkoff Art Gallery. With a focus on student action, CAC gathered a number student run organizations or student-initiated programs to educate as well as entertain fellow Bruins. Each booth offered pamphlets on their cause as well as a game to give kids an opportunity to win prizes and test their knowledge on world issues. Of note were organizations SEE, or Social Entrepreneurs for Education, which encourages students to hone their talents and crafts to raise money for poverty-stricken areas and Hands For Africa which fosters self-reliance programs for African Amputee Victims. Each student walked away from the event with a green wristband as a reminder of a call to global student action.