How the International House at UC Berkeley fosters authentic food experiences

If the International House at UC Berkeley had a beating heart, it would be the high-ceilinged, chandelier-festooned Dining Commons—specifically, the communal tables where residents from 76 countries converse in dozens of languages and try foods from one another’s homelands. “It’s a vibrant, energetic, special place,” says Maureen Spolidoro, foodservice manager at International House. “It’s not just dining but a learning area, too, where the students find out about other customs and traditions. The space is lively and special.” “I-House,” as it’s fondly known, is a unique part of UC Berkeley: a bustling community unto itself, filled with 600 residents who range from Berkeley upperclassmen and postdocs to visiting scholars from dozens of countries, including Senegal, Serbia, Rwanda, Laos, Myanmar, Cyprus, Ecuador and the U.S. All of these home countries present a delicious opportunity—and a great challenge—for I-House’s foodservice staff. Read on to see how they meet it.Photograph courtesy of I-House at UC Berkeley