In the information booth Shirlie explains the map of the annual Festival of Nations in Tower Grove Park. The event took place on August 25th and 26th.

Stirring the Paella, Paula lists the ingredients in the traditional Spanish rice dish: shrimp, chicken and peas. “We started with five different kinds of Paella in the morning, but now we only have the vegan and shrimp left,” Paula said.

Taking a customer’s order, Charlie works for his third year at China’s food stall. The restaurant, Lu Lu Seafood and Dim Sum is located in University City. “This year hasn’t been as busy as the past couple years I’ve been working here,” Charlie said. https://www.lulustlouis.com/

Handicrafts from Kenya cover the table of the stall where Nightingale and her sister Rosalita sell handmade goods including jewelry and paintings. “It’s fascinating because the rings are made of cow horn,” Nightingale said.

Kam stands in front of the Afghan food stall and praises the food to attract customers to food he says is made with real love. “After you eat it you start to have an out of body experience,” Kam said. “It takes you to different lands, different universes, and different sectors of this space or orb we’re floating on that you could never imagine.”

Lifting the aluminum foil of a tray filled with Romanian dessert, Nicole Petresceo describes what’s inside. “This pastry is like a sweet dough with walnuts,” she said. “We also have tarts with apple and caramel.” While the food stall isn’t associated with a restaurant, Petresceo said they have participated in the festival every year.

Tin finds change for coconut water, sold for $6 in the Thailand food stall.

Omar represents Turkish cuisine with a large pan of traditionally cooked rice. He said his favorite part of the festival is how busy it always is.