CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Stephanie Rodriguez and JoAnne Loisel are servers at the annual International Food Festival at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church Sunday. The festival raises money for the church as well as celebrates the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. Advertisement

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church had its annual international food festival Sunday, giving local residents a chance to chow down on cuisine from around the world while supporting the church.

A trip around the room meant a warm welcome and choices aplenty of international, but homemade, fare.

Before even entering the building, hungry patrons could get traditional Mexican food literally served hot off the grill, including carne asada tacos and rice and beans.

The festival also celebrates a traditional feast in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.

Thanks to the coordination efforts of Victor Ramiriz and Gil Muse, participants had the opportunity to sample food from Ireland, Mexico, Italy, and Germany, in addition to a large selection of desserts.

Verenice Lira and her daughter, Isis, dished out tamales, tacos, and rice pudding while Rosie Juares and Mayra Reyes served up fruit cups and tostados de Ceviche.

A short walk across the room brought the smells of German potato salad, pork, bratwurst, and sauerkraut, along with a variety of kukens, or cakes, all served with a smile by Fran Wilcox and Roberta Rohleder.

Kind of reflecting actual geography, next door to the Deutch fare was a table laden with Italian food, where Ione Wilk, Gail Glynn, and Agnes Wynn ladled out giant meatballs, lasagna, Italian sausage, and Italian bread.

Finishing off the culinary round trip was the Irish booth, where hungry patrons could treat themselves to homemade Irish stew, shepherd's pie, Irish soda bread, and finish it off with trifle dessert, all served by Cindy McGrath and Joyce Ashworth.

And if all that didn't fill you, JoAnne Loisel and Stephanie Rodriguez manned the dessert table, where everything from brownies to cake to cinnamon rolls were available.

Munching down was also a good way to spend time while waiting to see if any raffle tickets that might have been purchased were called out.