Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School’s annual International Night returned on April 25, bringing students, families, and staff together to celebrate the school’s rich cultural diversity. Despite being delayed, the event was filled with vibrant performances, colorful displays, and plenty of delicious food from around the world.
Junior Maya Aldaz, who attended the event, shared, “I loved the Ritmo Latino performance; it was definitely my favorite.” She also enjoyed sampling dishes from different countries, adding, “The one I liked the most was the falafel.” Fellow student, senior Foday Gayflor, highlighted another standout moment, stating, “My favorite performance as a viewer was the Haitian dance. Not only were the performances fantastic in displaying their cultures, but the music was nice too.”
Throughout the night, attendees had the opportunity to experience music, dance, and traditions from dozens of different cultures. Students contributed by bringing in homemade dishes that represented their heritage, giving everyone a chance to try flavors from all over the world. One notable dish was a Colombian dessert, meringue cake, brought in by junior Jeronimo Castano –a sweet and airy treat that quickly became a crowd favorite.
If you want to recreate the dessert at home, here’s the recipe:
Colombian-Style Strawberry Meringue Cake
Ingredients:
- 5 large egg whites at room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar, divided
- ½ tablespoon cream of tartar or ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 250°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
- Increase the mixer speed to high and gradually add the granulated sugar (about 3 tablespoons at a time). Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
- Divide the meringue between the two prepared baking sheets, spreading each into a thick circle.
- Bake for about 2 hours, until crisp. Then, turn off the oven and let the meringues cool inside with the door slightly open for 2–4 hours.
- While the meringues cool, macerate the strawberries by mixing them with a bit of granulated sugar and letting them sit.
- In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream with the vanilla extract and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- To assemble, spread whipped cream over one meringue layer, top with strawberries, then place the second meringue on top. Finish with another layer of whipped cream and strawberries.
International Night is an important tradition for the B-CC community, providing students with a platform to proudly share their cultures and backgrounds. It brings visibility, celebration, and representation to everyone, creating a stronger, more connected community.
