A variety of delicious foods from different countries like Mexico, Cuba, India, Italy, China, and El Salvador. Photo collage courtesy of junior Gabby Arteaga.
At San Luis Obispo High School, lunchtime tastes the world. From homemade meals packed with family tradition to cafeteria plates inspired by different cultures, food at SLOHS is more than just something to eat. It is a reflection of heritage, identity, and the diverse community that makes up the school.
SLOHS Expressions decided to take a look at the wide range of food cultures that students at SLOHS enjoy.
Expressions: What is your favorite food from your culture
Junior Rosalia Rodriguez: My favorite food is Agua Chiles because I can eat it at anytime and anywhere. It has shrimp marinated in lime, cucumber, and onions.
Junior Shaheen El Khyari: Probably couscous because of the amount of flavors in it.
Freshman Theo Esdras: I really like pão de queijo, which in Portuguese means bread of cheese.
Senior Habiba Abo Ismail: I really like Koshari. So Koshari is specifically an Egyptian dish. It’s pasta and rice, and there’s lentils and chick peas, and this spicy tomato sauce and garlic vinegar sauce on top, and then also fried onions; it’s really good.
Expressions: Favorite cultural childhood meal?
Rodrigez: I would say Posole was my favorite food as a kid.
El Khyari: Probably Harira. It’s a Moroccan soup that has ground beef, noodles, and garbanzo beans. It’s really good.
Abo Ismail: My favorite childhood meal from my culture it’s called savory baklava. Essentially its the Baklava and obviously there’s like butter in between it, and then ground beef, and then on top is more baklava, and I used to love it as a kid.
Expressions: If you could add a meal from your culture to the school menu, what would it be?
Rodrigez: I would add Agua Chiles because it’s my favorite and I think it’s something everyone should try.
El Khyari: I’d have to add the Harira soup, it’s just really good.
Esdras: My favorite childhood meal was like bread with Nutella, I ate that a lot in Brazil and Canada.
Abo Ismail: I think Kusheri is a good dish because it is super healthy because of the lentils and the chick peas so… and its really yummy.
At the end of the day, the flavors found at SLOHS reflect the people who make up the school. Different cultures, different traditions- all coming together at one campus, one lunch period at a time.
