LL.M National Dinners Build Community

This year’s LL.M class brings together students from over 20 different countries and many more nationalities. The diversity of the graduate class of 2012 is not only reflected in the variety of legal traditions but also in different national dishes. From locro (Argentina and Peru) to sushi (Japan), every country has its typical meal. Being an LL.M at the University of Chicago is thus not only about learning the American culture but inevitably also teaches you something about the food in the other 20 countries.

To stimulate the exchange of food and thought, the Law School encourages LL.M students, through a financial subsidy, to organize national dinner parties where they can serve the dishes their nations are most proud of. The idea is that a group of students from one country prepares a dinner—if possible with complementary national drinks—and subjects it to the critical taste buds of their fellow students.

During the fall term, the nine Japanese LL.M students took up the challenge to organize the first national dinner and passed with unanimous approval. Great food was served and interesting conversations were made. Now that the bar was set at a very high level most countries seemed afraid to trying to match the meticulous organization of the Japanese night.

After plucking up some courage and talking with experienced mothers about their recipes during the winter break, one French and three Belgian students decided to bring back life to the national dinner parties. The alliance between Belgium and France was obvious: the countries have strong historical ties which they continue to promote through extensive commercial relations. Only four days to compose the menu, purchase the ingredients, and cook a dinner for 70 fellow students—the decision-making clearly had to go faster than the current talks in the Euro-zone.

The food combination of the two nations proved an excellent choice and fortunately there were two talented cooks in the alliance to prepare the food with precision. The dinner started with two French dishes: onion pies from Nice and olive cakes from Paris. The main course was a combo platter of the Belgian “stoverij” (pork shoulder in a beer sauce) and grated potatoes from the Dauphiné area in France. Saving the best for last, the students had a choice of various desserts: pralines imported directly from Belgium, apple pie from Corrèze in France and Belgian chocolate mousse. Especially for the occasion a Belgian LL.M with Italian roots also made an Italian style tiramisu.

The evening was a great success. People came back for seconds and thirds until there was neither food nor cutlery left. Billiard games were played, conversation was made and Belgium and France were assured that they weren’t facing a downgrade. Lessons learned? Hopefully everybody now knows that Brussels is the capital of Belgium and not the other way around. Hopefully everybody now knows the colors of the Belgian flag thanks to the Belgian women’s clothes. Certainly everybody now knows that national dinner parties are a great way to learn more about other countries’ culture but foremost that these parties are a great way to grow friendships.

We are already looking forward to the Chinese New Year dinner party and the Switzerland national dinner party!

View the menu from the Belgian-French dinner.