It wasn’t just a day to taste cuisine from around the globe; Saturday was a chance to get to know the diverse citizens and countries representing Austin and Minnesota.

The second annual Taste of Nations was held in Oak Park Mall Saturday afternoon to give people of various cultures a chance to show their role in the community, according to Miguel Garate, one of the event’s organizers.

“They want people to know that they are here, and they are part of this community,” Garate said.

Hundreds got a chance to visit booths and taste food from around the world. They also got a chance to watch performances by Ellis Middle School’s mariachi troupe, the local Aztec dance group, members of Neveln Elementary School’s hip hop dance club, and a break dance group from Austin High School.

Some booths represented businesses or organizations in the community. The Austin Human Rights Commission had a booth, as did Pacelli Catholic Schools. But the majority of booths were run by individuals representing their home country and serving food to give Austin a taste.

The number of countries represented even surprised Garate at times, and he said he was pleased to see people interacting and learning about different cultures.

“I turn around it’s people happy, people smiling with a little bit of food,” Garate said.

It wasn’t just Austin represented Saturday, as people from Mankato, Faribault and Northfield attended.

“All the people are very excited about this,” Garate said. “I wish we could have one every month.”

“We have to give back something to our community,” Garate added. “We’re part of this community.”

Jose Rivera, who helped Garate organize the event, said it’s important for people moving to Austin to feel like they’re part of the family.

“This helps all the community to be united,” Rivera said of Taste of Nations. “Because that’s what we need to be. We need to be united.”

He said that’s especially beneficial during this tough economic time.

While he was born in Honduras, Rivera is a United States citizens, and he said he was happy to see people of different cultures coming together in Austin.

With a large number of people in Austin from Spanish-speaking nations, Rivera said there is a need to help people learn about American culture.

“They need guidance,” Rivera said. “They need someone who can teach them to live in the United States.”

Taste of Nations goes a step further and helps everyone feel at home in Austin.

“I feel like I am in my country,” Rivera said. “I feel like the United States has opened the door for any people to be comfortable.”

“We are like a family,” he added. Bernado Reinoso manned a booth for Cubamaya representing Guatemala and Cuba. At the booth, people could taste a refried bean spread on bread — a Guatemalan dish, or all of the people come and taste the food and say that they love it.”

Taste of Nations offered a way to show people that Cuba has more to offer than what it is often most: Retired president Fidel Castro.

“Hopefully, this continues every year, and that more people come to participate so we have a united nation — a united Austin together,” Reinoso said.