by Jan Dixon
Special to The Leaven
OLATHE — Potlucks have long been a popular way of bringing people together over food and fellowship. Communal meals, in fact, are ingrained in the fabric of the community at Villa St. Francis, a Catholic Care Center here.
The initial inspiration for holding a cultural potluck for the staff came from the staff members themselves. They wanted to share their own and each other’s culture. They wanted to connect, learn and appreciate their diversity. The potluck now is held a couple times a year.
“We love to be together and share our heritage. And we love to eat,” said Kristen Oesterlei, life enrichment director at Villa.
The event was recently held midafternoon on a weekday so as to include as many staff members as possible, all of whom were invited. Villa’s staff members come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and they prepared certain dishes specific to their own culture.
A world tour of flavors covered the tables: flour-like cookies from Ghana, meat and potato kebabs from Sudan, couscous from Nigeria, lasagna from Italy and tostadas from Mexico were a few of the many culinary specialties.
Wearing traditional attire from their native countries, the staff shared the names of and the ingredients in their dishes. They shared stories and their traditions. Some foods were normally only served at fancy gatherings, like weddings and parties. Others were typically served in schools. And some were eaten daily at home.
Annalyne Muttai prepared chai, a tea made with spices that is a significant part of the tea culture in certain African regions.
“It is drunk multiple times a day,” she shared. “We always drank it hot, with a little ginger added, even on hot days.”
Deacon Jim Lavin, a chaplain for Catholic Community Health, opened the potluck with a prayer. While aromas, chatter and laughter filled the air, he filled his plate and said, “I don’t know what all of this is, but I’m looking forward to trying the different flavors and textures.”
A frequent visitor to hospice patients at Villa, Deacon Lavin knows the staff well and appreciates the quality care they provide. And he enjoys their cooking, too.
From homemade tortillas to fried dough treats, the food was plentiful. Around 100 staff members were fed, with plenty left for night shift staff unable to attend.
Villa’s potluck provided a space to “feed” conversations while honoring heritage and celebrating diversity. It’s no wonder Villa staff are always hungry for more.
