Paella, chile relleno, tortilla de patatas and sangria were among the numerous items on the menu for “Fiesta! Arroz, talento y un poco más,” the annual traditional dinner hosted by the Spanish Club.

“In the past, this event used to be called Cena de Paella,” said Gaberella Ramos ’15, president of the Spanish Club. “But this year we decided to be more inclusive and serve more kinds of food from different Spanish-speaking countries. So not just paella and sangria from Spain but also, for example, chile relleno from Mexico and empanadas, which is typical of many Latin American countries.”

The dinner was a meal exchange event open to all Dickinson students, not just those enrolled Spanish classes. It took place on Wednesday, March 27 at the Social Hall in the Holland Union Building.

According to many attendees, the food was delicious.

“The paella is just like the one I eat at home,” said Spanish Teaching Assistant Paula Ocaña Lopez, a native of Spain.

Ocaña Lopez said the paella was cooked at Associate Professor of Spanish Mark Aldrich’s house and members of the Spanish Club helped during the preparation. Ramos said that the chile relleno was offered by her dad’s Mexican restaurant in Baltimore. Dickinson Dining Services prepared the sangria, which was served to professors and of-age students with ID.

Following the dinner was a talent show for whoever wanted to share stories, poetry, thoughts and dances from Spanish-speaking countries all over the world, explained Ramos. She herself recited an original poem. Spanish Teaching Assistant Helena Muñiz told a story from her childhood in Mexico, while Ocaña Lopez and Marina Alonso Gomez, another Spanish teaching assistant, performed the Sevillana, a traditional dance from the Spanish region of Andalusia.

“The dance floor is also open if people want to dance to Spanish music,” said Ramos.

Ocaña Lopez said there was a large turnout for the event and everyone seemed to have a good time.

“It’s nice to have a little bit of Spain and Spanish culture on campus,” she said. “Everyone is absolutely loving this event!”