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Global Gallery's International Dinner Set for May 12, 2005
By Karen Edwards
May 2005

Imagine stepping onto a private jet and being whisked around the world on a “progressive dinner” tour. You’ll make stops in France, Italy, Russia, India, Africa, Tibet, Japan and other locations – with plenty of time in the U.S. to sample our own unique cuisine.

Sound too good to be true? Then you haven’t yet discovered the Global Gallery’s annual International Dinner which will be held this year on Thursday, May 12, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Global Gallery’s Short North location, 682 N. High Street.
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This is the third year for the buffet-style dinner which is held to celebrate World Fair Trade Day. Global Gallery promotes Fair Trade practices. That means everything it displays and sells in its two gallery locations (Global Gallery has a presence at Easton as well as the Short North) is produced by cooperatives that place people before profits and pay a living wage to its artisans and crafts people.

Global Gallery Director Barbara Logan says Fair Trade Day is a day to reflect on the progress the Fair Trade movement is making and how it continues to improve lives.
“It’s important to take a day to remember how our purchasing decisions impact people throughout the world,” she says.

The International Dinner at Global Gallery began quietly two years ago and has gained momentum ever since – bringing together both residents and businesses in the Short North community.

“The dinner is truly a multi-cultural, community event, with both food and people from around the globe,” says Logan.

Last year, more than 300 people came to Global Gallery to sample native dishes prepared by members of the gallery’s international corps of volunteers, as well as items from area restaurants.

Drummers played soft rhythms throughout the evening and, at times, the ‘diners’ spilled out of the gallery’s back door and onto its small patio.

This year’s event will be similar to last year’s, says Logan. Volunteers will still contribute their native dishes and many of the Short North restaurants that brought their specialty items will return this year, including the North Market’s Pastaria and Jeni’s Fresh Ice Cream. New to the event this year will be two restaurants from the Easton area – California Pizza Kitchen and BD’s Mongolian Barbecue – whose managers are enthusiastic about Global Gallery and its mission.

For those who are not familiar with the annual event, “international dinner” may be a bit of a misnomer. This is not a formal sit-down affair with china and sterling silver. Instead, think of it as an open house with food. People come and go and circulate with plates among various food stations as they eat and talk. All dishes are labeled and described so you don’t have to guess what you’re eating, or worry about “surprise” ingredients.

Past participants, and Logan herself will tell you to come early for the best selection – or even any selection at all. Once the event gets going, food disappears at a rapid rate.

Tickets are best purchased early, but they’ve been on sale since April, so if you don’t have your ticket yet, call Logan at (614) 621-1744 or Connie DeJong, (614) 478-8007 as soon as possible. Limited tickets will also be on sale at the door.

The ticket price is $8, or $15 per couple, $5 for students and seniors.

Part of the money is used to help defray the event’s costs, but a portion goes into the gallery’s fund, which supports educational programs, among other things.

“We go into schools and talk to students about fair trade and the cultures of the people whose work we display and sell,” says Logan. Her last visit was to the Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy.

If you wish to help Global Gallery pursue its mission, look for the $5 off coupon at the M. Munrowe Salon which will be on the back of each international dinner ticket. Proceeds from those who use the salon’s services following the dinner will be donated back to Global Gallery.

In addition to the crafts for sale at Global Gallery, there are special collection or exhibits each month.

The art actually serves as a nice ice-breaker for the diverse crowd who attends the International Dinner. For Pat Ulrich, who attended last year’s event, diversity is one of the dinner’s main attractions. It’s an open group “willing to try things,” she says.

Diversity, food, music, art, and a community spirit combine to make what Logan says is a unique event in Columbus.

“That’s the comment I heard the most after last year’s dinner,” she says. “They would stop and tell me what an incredible event it was and that they had never been to anything like it before.”

This year, why not stop by and sample Global Gallery’s International Dinner for yourself? Like the imaginary jet trip, you may need a ticket – but you won’t experience any jet lag.

Global Gallery’s International Dinner will be held this year on Thursday, May 12, 2005 from 6 - 9 p.m. at 682 N. High St. Tickets are only $8, $15 per couple, $5 for students and seniors. Call the Gallery at 614-621-1744 or visit their Web site at www.globalgalleryonline.org

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