Students enrolled in the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism at Purdue Northwest are getting real world experience when they host the inaugural Global Food Festival.
Junior Kayla Harmon, marketing chair for the event, said the global food festival is part of Purdue Northwest’s 5-75 celebration, which represents five years since of Purdue Northwest and 75 years for its legacy institutions Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central.
“The whole celebration is about how far Purdue Northwest has actually come,” Harmon said.
The Global Food Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday rain or shine in the parking lot adjacent to the school of hospitality at 2300 173rd St., in Hammond. The event is run and managed by students from the White Lodging School of Hospitality and Tourism.
Vendors will provide a bite-size samples of their foods while offering additional items for sale. Vendors include Las Mamacitas Food Truck, Naan & Kabob, La Katrina Autentica, Tocayos Express, Curbside Dogs, Chef it Up, Purdue Indiana Student Association, Fudge Puppies, Power Nutrition, Potbelly and Chick-fil-A.
Harmon said planning and running the event gives the 18 students who are part of the school of hospitality and who want to enter the hospitality and tourism industry hands-on experience at event planning. The event itself gives students, faculty, stakeholders and the public a chance to sample the foods northwest Indiana has to offer.
While this is the inaugural event, students are hopeful if all goes as planned it may become an annual affair.
“We want students to really come and see what we have to offer in the hospitality programs,” Harmon said. “It’s a good way for us to be prepared. It’s really exciting.”
Carrie Napoleon I a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
