The Congregation of Rice Enjoyers: A Brand New Treat to Sequoyah
Lunchtimes at Sequoyah’s high school can be relaxed, rousing, and reflective, featuring music performances, potlucks, and, most commonly, clubs! Sequoyah students have the opportunity to create and design clubs that take place during lunch. Sequoyah students have the opportunity to create and design clubs taking place during lunch, with a wide diversity of offerings that includes Virtual Reality, Rhythm Heaven, and a Sequoyah favorite, Congregation of Rice Enjoyers.
The Congregation of Rice Enjoyers club is led by Sanai Gibbs ’25 and Cameron Neville ’25, who decided to spread their love of different varieties of rice dishes to their classmates. It began on the first day of the school year when Gibbs—who enjoys trying new things and eating from different cultures—came up with this awesome club idea alongside Neville. “Cam texted some random group chat,” recalls Gibbs. “He [asked:] ‘do any of you guys want sticky rice?’ [Then he said] ‘I can bring some sticky rice.’” The following morning, Gibbs and Neville noted “it [would] be so cool if we had a club where what we always do is eat rice.” Neville bringing in sticky rice on the first day of school was the catalyst for this new and creative club.
The Congregation of Rice Enjoyers was a hit from the moment it was introduced. Who doesn’t love a free rice dish during school lunchtimes? Of course, popular and crowded clubs cannot operate without systems in place to handle so many participants, especially because the rice dishes are student made. Gibbs and Neville choose to implement Google surveys as a means to collect information regarding which students would bring in dishes. All participants of the club are required to contribute at least one rice dish during the school year if they are to participate. The club is sustained by its communal contributions, which befits its title as a “congregation.” Students who bring in dishes give a short presentation on what they made, why they made it, and where it comes from. Gibbs has enjoyed all the rice dishes thus far and particularly liked sophomore Pricilla Lee ‘26’s Korean rice cakes and junior Avo Day 25’s rice pilaf.
Lee brought in Korean rice cakes, traditionally eaten on Chuseok, a mid-autumn harvest festival and three-day holiday held in South Korea. Lee’s assortment of mini rice cakes boasted a mochi-like texture and were filled with honey, chestnut, and/or sesame. Day, meanwhile, made rice pilaf, which is the Armenian equivalent of “your basic rice or pasta, except it's obviously better.” With help from his mother, Day used a recipe from his grandfather’s recipe book to make the pilaf. The Congregation has certainly been thriving with a host of delectable sounding dishes.
Day, Gibbs, and Neville all provided some restaurant recommendations for fellow rice enjoyers! Neville recommended a “hole-in-the-wall Taiwanese breakfast place called Huge Tree Pastry,” located in Monterey Park. He suggests trying their fan tuan, a burrito-like dish with soft sticky rice, aromatic meat floss, and preserved vegetables. Meanwhile, Gibbs recommends Thai fusion restaurant Daisy Mint, and suggests their sticky rice. Last, Day recommends Mini Kebab, an Armenian restaurant with well-made comfort food. Day says to order in advance because Mini Kebab has a whole lot of backup orders.
If you are in need of a yummy rice dish, some company, or just want to check it out, join Gibbs and Neville in the Congregation of Rice Enjoyers!