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Food is a fundamental part of any culture, and here at the University of Exeter, that is mirrored by the many food-based traditions and techniques used by our students. As a person with family roots in Jamaica, the foods I grew up eating were a reflection of my Caribbean heritage. On Sundays, my Nanny would make my cousins and me saltfish and steamed cabbage with fried dumplings, which often resulted in a fierce competition for the last dumpling on the plate. Christmas dinners also reflected my mixed heritage, with traditional English stuffing and roast potatoes coupled with rice and peas and chicken seasoned with a jerk marinade.
Food ultimately tells a story. It’s a narrative of history, traditions, values, and migration. It carries the memories of family and the warmth of belonging. For many students at Exeter, food is more than just fuel, it holds a connection to our identities, acting as a grounding force when everything else feels new and unfamiliar. For someone like me, whose sense of home is tied to the smell of thyme and scotch bonnet sizzling in a pan, the absence of these flavours can sometimes feel like a loss. When those comforts are difficult to access, it can amplify feelings of homesickness and cultural disconnection.
But finding this comfort in Exeter also comes with its challenges. One of the more subtle, yet deeply felt, hurdles for many international and culturally diverse students is the limited access to familiar, culturally significant food. While the university has made strides in offering diverse dining options, such as halal and kosher food and rotating global cuisines in the Forum Kitchen, Exeter as a city still has gaps in catering to the full spectrum of cultural food traditions.
Thankfully, Exeter’s international food stores have become something of a sanctuary for both myself, my friends, and other international and culturally diverse Exeter students. Whether it’s picking up a tin of ackee, a bag of plantain chips, or the right spices to replicate a dish from home, these shops are more than just retail spaces, they are cultural hubs. They’ve allowed me and many others to cook, share, and celebrate our food traditions in an unfamiliar environment.
These stores have created special memories of cross-cultural connections and exploration for our wonderfully diverse student body. My house’s winter dinner bore the mark of the rich cultures and religions upheld by my friends and me. We paired halal chicken from best-one on Sidwell Street with a vegetable-based beef-free gravy and fried plantain to ensure that everyone at the table was able to share in the moment.
Within the student community, food also serves as a powerful tool for connection. Cultural society events that centre on food, from Diwali dinners to Caribbean cookouts, Iftar meals to Lunar New Year banquets, are moments where we come together not just to eat, but to learn about each other, share stories, and celebrate our differences.
At the Guild, we recognise the importance of these experiences. Whether it's through supporting cultural societies in hosting food events, advocating for a wider range of culinary options on campus, or simply highlighting the voices and stories of our diverse student body, we aim to create an inclusive space where everyone feels at home, and well-fed!
So, if you’re ever feeling a little out of place, missing the flavours of home, or simply curious to try something new, we encourage you to explore, connect, and maybe even cook. Because in a world that can sometimes feel quite divided, food has a beautiful way of bringing us all to the same table.
Written by Mya Russell