September 21, 2025 | Kowloon Restaurant, Saugus

On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the MARA Annual Gala - Asian Food Festival brought together community members, leaders, and food enthusiasts at the iconic Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus for a vibrant celebration of Asian culture, cuisine, and connection.

The event commenced with inspiring speeches from government officials and community leaders, who shared insights on cultural diversity and the importance of building bridges across communities. Their words set a tone of unity and celebration for the day.

The performance segment captivated the audience from start to finish. A powerful tenor performance of "A Man Should Better Himself" opened the stage with strength and emotion, followed by a dazzling sword dance that showcased precision and artistry. 

 

A special child star singer soloist amazed attendees with her commanding voice, while a folk orchestra offered a serene interlude with melodies that evoked a deep connection to nature. 

 

A highlight was the mesmerizing Mongolian bowl dance, where the dancer balanced a bowl on her head with graceful skill.

A heartfelt surprise segment honored Bob for his years of dedicated support to MARA. A portrait gift was presented, featuring signatures and well-wishes from attendees on the back, with special thanks to artist Charlie Wong for his artful rendition of Bob's portrait.

The Taste of Asia Photo Contest, hosted by Mr. Nam Pham from MARA and Yan Qu from BCPA, recognized photography of culinary excellence. Bill Zhang from Time Travel Cuisine received First Place with the highest score of the competition. Numerous other participants were also honored with high distinction. The photo contest entries were exceptionally competitive, each telling a unique story through imagery.

Guests enjoyed an abundance of Asian flavors, including noodles, dumplings, fish soups, savory crepes, Tanghulu, baked goods, and a variety of beverages such as herbal tea, ginseng tea, and milk tea. The game and activity area offered cultural engagements like crafts, face painting, calligraphy practice, and a Tai Chi workshop.

In closing, MARA looks forward to continuing this tradition of cultural celebration and community building—promising to return even stronger in the future.

Dear restaurant owners and business providers,

MARA is devoted to be the backbone of the Asian restaurant community and maintain a vibrant platform for Asian restaurants and business/service providers alike. We support our members with information on fund-sourcing, policy interpretation, networking opportunities and public advocacy, to name a few. In today's fast changing environment, MARA will be your ally, and you will never have to face challenges alone.

Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo­ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu­setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020. MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more.