The first all-you-can-eat lunch buffet offered by the Gippsland Multicultural Services on Wednesday was deemed a success as 40 people showed up to enjoy home-style Italian cuisine.
Customer turn-out exceeded the original limit for the lunch, which was 35 people, as others booked in groups or with family.
“The response has been great and encourages us to run further events,” GMS director Lisa Sinha said.
Ms Sinha said most people who arrived for the lunch were service providers and the general public who were informed of the project through emails and The Express.
Customers dined on lasagne with scalloped potatoes, vegetable salad, fresh fruit and bread prepared by Italian Senior Citizens Club president Anna Fascio.
Lucy Calabrese, who went with her mum Maria De Sanctis, said she particularly enjoyed eating lasagne while listening to Italian music being played by a man with an accordion.
Ms Sinha said her office had received phone calls from people enquiring if the GMS would also offer cuisines from other cultures in the future.
“We will evaluate the success of this one and use that information to plan the next,” she said.
“We think it provides a unique opportunity for the public to sample and enjoy the cuisines of (other) cultures and the skills of home cooking in the community.”
