With a student body representing more than 51 different nations, diversity is at the heart of the JIS community—and there is no better way to celebrate that than through delicious snacks and meals!
Food has always been a unifying power. It shapes unique cultures, as well as merges traditions and groups of people together. Around the JIS campus, food from all corners of the world is offered, making sure our multicultural and welcoming environment is expressed, recognized, and honored.
Sodexo, the company behind the cafeteria counters, transforms lunchtime from being just a meal to an experience that connects students to the broader globe every day. Since Sodexo joined JIS roughly 13 years ago, they spread their belief that serving international cuisine (in a place far or close from home) brings the community together through shared cultural appreciation.
Within the Wantilan Cafeteria, dedicated stands serve Mediterranean, Indian, Western, Japanese, Korean, and Indonesian cuisine.
Every day, Sodexo prepares 60 to 80 unique dishes. Some staple dishes, like pasta, noodles, fried chicken, and fries, are served regularly due to their popularity among students, while others change to provide variety.
Within each dish, Sodexo takes into account student suggestions (like spice factors), making adjustments to cater to the diverse student body while still maintaining the essence of the dish. For Indian and Korean stalls, where food normally requires a higher spice tolerance, Sodexo either moderates the spice or offers students the option to choose their preferred spice level. The Sodexo staff themselves also make suggestions based on observation, personal preference, and current trends. With the input of student requests and staff recommendations, Sodexo comes together to create a carefully curated and delicious menu for our community.
On special occasions, Sodexo takes the celebration of diversity one step further with themed cultural events that showcase traditional dishes, music, and decorations from unique holidays and cultures. For traditional holidays, like Diwali or Lunar New Year, the whole first floor of the Wantilan is adorned with culturally significant elements: marigold flowers and flavorful bursts of panipuri fill the cafeteria with color and culture or Chinese lanterns hanging above a manifold of plated dumplings are vibrantly showcased.
To achieve authenticity in their presentation and taste, the Sodexo staff members make conscious efforts to capture real flavors of local street food. They carefully select ingredients, recipes, and cooking methods to reflect the essence of each unique cuisine.
Upon planning these events, Sodexo puts in remarkable effort, time, and dedication, following a carefully planned calendar with menus and decorations mapped out from August to June. Their themes are based on responses from students in previous years; if an event does not strongly resonate strongly with the community, it is reconsidered for the following year.
Whether a familiar comfort dish or an exciting new flavor, each meal is a connection to the world and perhaps even ourselves. By celebrating culture through food, Sodexo ensures that every meal offers more than just delicious flavor and nourishment to the students—it instills a taste of home.
