Call it diplomacy over dessert. Winning hearts through the belly. Politics on the plate. Whatever you want to call it, the Fort Wayne Cities International Gala is sure to awaken your taste buds at Parkview Mirro Center.
On Saturday, March 25, some 300 people will enjoy authentic dishes from Fort Wayne’s sister cities Takaoka, Japan; Gera, Germany; Plock, Poland; and Taizhou, China; and Mawlamyine, Myanmar.
Along with dishes from around the world, the evening will be flooded with song and dance.
Fort Wayne Sister Cities International board member Stephanie Mack says the meal is really a tasty way to fund their relationship-building programs. The gala does its share of enlightening, too.
“It truly is a taste, and there will be people you know from all of these cultures there,” she said. “Fort Wayne has a very robust immigrant society.”
The Sister Cities program is the brainchild of former President Dwight Eisenhower. After witnessing the devastation of World War II, he thought there was a better way.
“He was convinced the only way to prevent a third world war was by citizens meeting citizens,” Mack said. “He was blunt. Governments start wars, but when people develop relationships it’s harder to separate those friendships.”
Polish dishes include hunter stew; fresh, smoked, and cured meat; sauerkraut; perogies; and paczki. Chinese specialties are sesame orange ginger chicken and mango cake. Thuringer sausage, kartoffelpuffer (potato pancake), and black forest cherry cake make up the German table. The Japanese table features Shoyu ramen, pork belly scallions, kambu, spinach roll, sushi rolls, and matcha cake. At the Myanmar station, diners will enjoy chicken curry, samosa tamarind and coriander chutney, and coconut jello for dessert.
The foods will be spread out over buffet stations.
“You can literally sample all of them,” Mack said. “Many of them are vegan and gluten free.”
Organizers want the dishes to be unique, authentic, and accurate to each city’s cuisine. These are the foods that are being eating in homes in each of the five cities.
“You can’t get any more authentic,” Mack said. “Unless you know someone from that culture, you may not have had them before.”
Green Frog Inn exchanging hands
Cindy Henry is in the process of selling Green Frog Inn, 820 Spring St.,to Corey Noble and Stephanie Bonner.
Henry, the wife of Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, has owned the historic Spring Street watering hole that dates back to 1933 about 20 years.
Noble, a local native, has returned after running bars in New York City. The purchase is expected to be complete in April.
Country Heritage prepares to add distillery
It was recently revealed that County Heritage Winery and Vineyard is planning to open a distillery next year.
The announcement from the DeKalb County winery was posted on their Facebook page, but did not mention any more details.
Country Heritage has locations in LaOtto; Nashville, Indiana; and downtown Fort Wayne in the Ash Skyline Plaza.
Joseph Decuis receives national award
Roanoke fine-dining favorite Joseph Decuis recently captured the Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award.
The award is one of the most sought in the industry and is based on unique and flavorful menu. Organizers base the award on “well-thought out” selection of international wines and spirits, exceptional service, and ambiance.
Of about 650,000 independent restaurants, only 650 earn the mark.
Off the Eaten Path is the Whatzup weekly column that covers Northeast Indiana’s restaurant and food news. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.
