To celebrate the start of the fall semester, UH Dining Services hosted its annual Taste of Texas event, featuring live music, interactive activities, and Texas-style barbecue. Held at Cougar Woods Dining Commons, the event welcomed students, faculty, and staff to enjoy great food, connect with the campus community, and ease into the new academic year.
Guests enjoyed a menu packed with Texas favorites, including beef brisket, barbecue sandwiches, elote, and s'mores pizza. An ice cream cart offered a refreshing treat to help attendees beat the Houston heat.
In addition to the food, the event featured two interactive stations: a creative arts
station where participants made craft projects and a "Letters to Home" station that
encouraged students to write notes to someone special. These activities gave students
an opportunity to express themselves, connect with others, and experience the welcoming
atmosphere of the University of Houston community.
Junior broadcast journalism major Nicholas White said he appreciated seeing UH Dining Services kick off the year with a community-focused event.
"It's cool to see Dining Services putting in the effort to create something like this for students," White said.
Sydney Ali, a junior media production major, and Naliyah Frazier, a freshman supply chain management major, both from North Carolina, said the event demonstrated how much UH cares about its students and their campus experience.
"This type of event makes me feel like I'm home," said Grace Morton, a sophomore business major and Houston native who recently transferred from an out-of-state university.
Comments like these reflect the event's purpose: creating a welcoming environment where students can build connections and feel at home on campus. Through food, activities, and opportunities for conversation, the event helped foster a sense of community among both new and returning students.
