In moments, a line formed in Bodek Hall as hungry Penn students came ready for a feast. And unlike last year, Club Singapore did not run out of food at their second annual "food fest" held on Friday.
Like last year, Singapore Food Fest was an opportunity for club members to exhibit their cooking skills -- with traditional dishes ranging from chicken satay to yang chow fried rice.
Since the turnout at last year's dinner held at King's Court exceeded expectations, club president and Wharton senior Ian Lin decided to keep it as a tradition.
"We've been working on this for two weeks," Lin said.
The dinner reflected this preparation. Only a temporary lack of plates stalled the line.
"Every year you meet with a new problem," said last year's president and Engineering senior Boon Lim. "This year we didn't run out of food, we ran out of plates."
Yet, this did not pose a major problem, as those still waiting in line were entertained by PennYo!, Penn's only Chinese a cappella group. Adding flavor to the night, PennYo! sang a few songs while people ate.
Other entertainment included a showing of Chicken Rice War, a movie made in Singapore.
Engineering and Wharton junior Anne Kim said that while other Club Singapore activities during the year are more club exclusive, this is their annual "outreach program" when they can raise money for future events and meet with friends and members of the Penn community.
"We're trying to promote our club through our food and culture so that people know we exist," Engineering freshman Lin Qiuwei said.
A number of Penn students already have contact with Club Singapore, as many came to Singapore Food Fest at the encouragement of a club member.
College freshman David Kingston said he came with a few friends because of flyers he'd seen posted up around the Quadrangle and his own contact with club members.
"There's a lot of people on our floor from Singapore," Kingston said.
Engineering junior Melody Tsui said she also came because of a friend in the club, explaining that after a long week, she decided to take up her friend's suggestion and enjoy some good food before heading out to the movies.
While entertainment, friends and a movie enticed many to come to the fest, others showed up because $6 for an all-you-can-eat Singapore buffet sounded too good to be true.
For College sophomores Jakob Engel and Lukas Streiff, this was their second attempt to enjoy the dishes cooked by Club Singapore. After arriving last year after the food had already disappeared, Engel and Streiff were motivated to come again this year. Both said they were pleased with the result.
"We've had pasta five out of the last six nights, so this is a nice change," Engel said.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.