Food & Thought: Food Stories War and Peace with Chickpeas

**UCI students only! 

Sustainability Reminder: Please bring your own utensils, water bottle, and to-go containers for extra food!  We are striving for a zero waste event.

Do you like chickpeas? What’s your favorite chickpea dish? Are you curious about the origin and meaning of the name? Or are you more familiar with the name garbanzo beans, another common name for chickpeas?

Originated in Mesopotamia, the ancient chickpeas “traveled” around the Middle East, then spread to South Asia and Europe, taking roots in different ancient societies. This simple legume became the major ingredient of many signature “local” or national dishes in diverse cultures. As different cultures and nations happily share this common dietary delight, chickpeassometimes also incite contention and create conflict. The history of chickpeas is a continuous story of war and peace.

Illuminations is launching a new series: Food Stories. Each event features one food, such as chickpeas. Students submit recipes that use such food as the key ingredient. In this inaugural event, we will learn about the history of chickpeas, listen to stories of chickpea dishes from different cultures, and enjoy a multi-course meal all made of chickpeas, prepared by Chef Stephie and her team.

Talin Abadian (recent alum from Drama PhD program) and Aakriti Bisht (PhD student, Education) will share their special dishes and related stories with us. Audience will enjoy a multicultural and multicourse meal (Armenian, Indian, and Persian food) and meaningful conversation with fellow Anteaters!


DIRECTIONS: Go to the ARC (Anteater Rec. Center) and check in with the front desk and let them know you're here for the cooking demo event. Head up the stairs take a left and follow the hallway all the way down past the indoor track and take a right at the end of the hallway. We are all the way down at the end, at the very last room and door, you can't miss us! See you soon!