The Languages Faculty at BISP recently hosted two special cultural experiences, in which Spanish and Mandarin students had the chance to experience cultural diversity through food.  For the Spanish Language students, this involved welcoming Ryan, one of the passionate owners of Lucha Cantina Phuket, and Chef Luis Villa, a culinary maestro from Colima, Mexico. This event offered Year 12 students an immersive taste of Mexico, blending cultural learning with delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine.

The session was attended by three Year 12 classes: the Spanish Language B class and two Spanish ab initio classes . In addition to sampling the food, students asked questions in Spanish about Mexican cuisine and culture, gaining insights that will support their Spanish coursework.

Ryan shared his inspiring journey into the restaurant world, recounting how he was spurred into action by the lack of authentic Mexican cuisine in Phuket. Drawing on his father’s experience managing the iconic “Casa Maria” in Philadelphia, Ryan teamed up with friends in the hospitality industry to launch the first branch of ¡Lucha! on Soi Ta-ied in Chalong, Phuket. The restaurant received an overwhelming response from the community, leading to its expansion south to Rawai, Phuket, in 2024.

Chef Luis brought his wealth of expertise to the session, sharing his story of learning traditional Mexican cooking from his mother’s tortilla business and honing his skills at the Corbuse Gastronomic Institute. His dedication to sharing Mexican cuisine with the world was evident in every dish the students enjoyed.

In parallel with the Mexican cooking session, a Mandarin cooking class was held for the Year 12 Mandarin Language B class and the Mandarin ab initio classes . Led by Grace Geng Li, BISP’s new Mandarin teacher, and assisted by Chinese intern Grace Xia, the group prepared “Tang Hu Lu”—a crystallised fruit, a popular snack in China. This session, held in the primary school kitchen, offered students another enriching cultural exchange experience at BISP.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ryan, Chef Luis, Grace, and Grace Xia for their time and effort in bringing these cultural experiences to BISP. These sessions not only offered a delightful culinary journey but also meaningful opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of global traditions.