Wednesday, Feb 7, 2018
Since Sept 27, 1879
Retail $1.80 Home delivered from $1.15
THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Waitangi Day celebrations P2
Filipino Sam Bruzo cooks up some tempting treats from his homeland to keep the crowds at Multi Cultural Bite well fed. PHOTO ROBYN HOOD 060218-RH-088
East St comes to life for ninth MCB BY KATIE TODD
KATIE.T@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
s D V D win
Twenty-six ethnic stalls, dozens of local vendors and crowds in the thousands brought Ashburton’s CBD to life yesterday, with the ninth annual Multi Cultural Bite (MCB) and Waitangi on East festival both hailed success stories. The early morning rain eased off just in time for stallholders to set up, and a steady stream of visitors meandered through both festivals along East Street. At Multi Cultural Bite, the Samoan and Turkish stall did a roaring trade, while the cooler temperatures helped create queues down the street for spicy Indian curries and Singapore noodles.
At local chef Chantelle Quinn’s Italian stall, more than 500 servings of meatballs were snapped up and the stall had to declare themselves sold out before 2pm. A number of stalls offered ample entertainment alongside the food – from photo booths, to face painting, Harold the Giraffe, performances from the Ashburton Pipe Band and Samoan Choir. Lolly Mania owner Howard Mahere had the task of sampling all the cuisines and awarding the coveted best food prize to the Philippine stall, best cultural costume to the Fijian Indian stall and best cultural decorations to the Egypt stall.
A community built around people.
Down at Waitangi on East, knickknacks, more sweet and savoury nibbles and even a bungee stall enticed throngs of all ages. Waitangi on East organiser Carol Johns said it was “fantastic” day. “It’s been really, really good. It got off to a slow start but it’s really picked up and it’s gone well,” she said. The organisers of MCB said they already have their eye on Waitangi Day 2019, which will see the event’s 10th anniversary celebrated in special style.
MORE PHOTOS P6 Ph 03 307 7900 to subscribe!
SERVICED APARTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE Don’t miss out on your opportunity to join the Rosebank village community.
www.guardianonline.co.nz