A menu inspired by the dishes of Gjakova will be served during the Taste of Kosovo to be held June 15 at Fort Frenzy, 3232 First Ave. S.

Kosovo is a nation on the south side of Europe in an area often called The Balkans. In 2016, Fort Dodge entered into a sister city relationship with Gjakova. Since then there have been multiple exchanges in which people from the two communities, especially teenagers, have visited each other’s country.

The Taste of Kosovo was established as a fundraiser to help pay for the youth exchanges.

Tickets for this year’s dinner will cost $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

-Submitted photo
Colorful dishes of Kosovar food will be served at the Taste of Kosovo fundraiser June 15 at Fort Frenzy.

It will begin at 6 p.m.

Jeff Fosbender and Alex Trevino will perform live music during the dinner.

There will be a silent auction for art and what organizers are calling “experiences.”

The connection between Iowa and Kosovo started with the Iowa National Guard. Troops from the Iowa Army National Guard were sent to Kosovo as peacekeepers in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 as the country broke free from the former Yugoslavia. Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, a former adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, sought to expand the relationship between Iowa and Kosovo beyond purely military matters. In 2013, Iowa and Kosovo became sister states. Three years later the connection between Fort Dodge and Kosovo was forged.