Wrap party: World Dumpling Fest provides cultural education through cuisine

On Saturday, Chicagoans were able to take a mini-tour of cuisines from around the world within the boundaries of Logan Square Park.

In one booth, Tandoor Char House prepared Indian samosas. In another, Home Bakery and Dumpling House whipped up Polish pierogis. And further down the path, Polombia cooked up emparogi — a fusion of Colombian and Polish dishes.

The occasion was the fifth World Dumpling Fest, a creative display of diverse cultures and a major fundraiser for its host, the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Organizers are still ironing out some logistical issues since changing locations from Navy Pier to Logan Square a year ago to achieve more of a neighborhood feel.

In the early afternoon, the event was plagued by limited parking and long, cris-crossing lines that frustrated some customers as they waited in the nearly 90-degree heat.

Despite those challenges, the event met its goal of introducing the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 attendees to local businesses and cultures. In addition to the food vendors, there were performances featuring Peruvian artists and Javanese gamelan music and more.

Visitors could also stop by the booths of cultural organizations who are members of the CCA. The alliance supports and promotes nearly 50 groups, such as the American Indian Center of Chicago, the Irish American Heritage Center and the Ukrainian National Museum.

Alisha Mahkri, 24, of Old Town, praised the diversity of Chicago events like World Dumpling Fest, which she discovered on TikTok.

“There’s a lot of opportunity for experiencing and experimenting,” she said.

Riley Baker, 24, of Peoria, agreed.

“I can’t say I’ve had guava cheesecake dumplings before,” said Baker, naming a treat offered by Polombia.

“I’m less likely to go to a Colombian fusion restaurant and buy a whole meal, whereas I can just walk past it here and be like, ‘Oh, that [dumpling] looks really good.’”

Attendees also sampled Chinese dumpings, Latin American empanadas and Vietnamese wontons with a full sauce bar from Tank Kitchen and Bar. (The latter restaurant is operated by the Ly family, who has been in the news for attending former President Donald Trump’s rally on Jan. 6, 2021, that later became the insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, and for paying back wages following a wage-theft investigation.)

Many people are not aware of Thai dumplings, said Rainbow Thailand owner Teddy Kamrit, who also served up ube buns at the fest.

Kamrit encouraged visitors to come into the restaurant in Lincoln Square for an “adventure,” and maybe order from the “secret menu.”

Although the fest is designed to raise money for the Chicago Cultural Alliance, the alliance’s executive director, Mónica Félix, stressed that the event is very much “mission-focused.”

“My hope is that people enjoy the dumplings,” she said. “They stop by the stage, make note of who’s performing, book them for a performance later, and check out the local cultural centers.”

One of those cultural centers at the fest was the Haitian American Museum of Chicago.

“I think it really is a great representation of the city of Chicago and the multicultural diversity we have in the city,” said Carlos Bossard, the museum’s director of programs and museum practice, about the fest. “And who doesn’t love food? Just to see all these individuals here trying different food that they may not have tried in the past — it’s a great way to get people introduced to new cultures.”

Bossard also cited the importance of the event amid negative rhetoric about Haitian Americans, including the false statements by Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, stealing and eating pets.

“Things like this help change the narrative and perception because we meet people where they are,” Bossard said. “And a lot of people only know what’s on TV or what’s being said in the public, so we’re here to educate.”