Community Celebration at the Indonesian Bazaar in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge, 11/24/2019 - As the 2019 holiday season approaching fast, ICONE has concluded its last community program for the year, the indoor Indonesian Food Bazaar, at Cambridge Masonic Hall in Massachusetts on Saturday, November 23, 2019. The bazaar brought together people from different walks of life in the Greater Boston area to celebrate the Indonesian culture, the diversity of its people, and to enjoy the richness of its culinary.
Hundreds of people came together to savor in varieties of Indonesian delicacies made by the best local Indonesian food vendors in the region. Included in some of the most sought-after dishes were Rendang (one of the CNN's 2019 top 12 world best dishes), Martabak, Satay, Bakso, Soto Betawi, Siomay, to all kinds of traditional desserts and refreshing beverages.
Attendees were also entertained by the amazing performances of the local Indonesian talents in music and dance. Different music genres - from jazz, pop, and Indonesian's dangdut - were entertainingly showcased through songs and musical renditions. Traditional dances from Dayak, Kalimantan to hip-hop dance caught attendees' attention due to the dancers' enchanting, meaningful, and energetic movements. One of the event highlights was when the attendees were getting the hands-on group experience playing angklung, a traditional Indonesian music instrument made of bamboo tubes. The whole room was echoed with the beautiful and unique sound of angklung.
With the spirit of the season of giving, a Coat Drive was also carried out at the same time as the bazaar to help the less fortunate children and adults in our community here in New England to stay warm this winter. Thanks to the donors, dozens of winter coats were collected and are now ready to be delivered to a dedicated non-profit organization that will distribute the coats to those in need for free and without discrimination.
Embracing the very essence of the Indonesian culture, culinary, its people's diversity, as well as encouraging and facilitating simple acts of kindness to the people in the need at this bazaar are in line with what ICONE is all about. In her brief remark, Olla Chas, ICONE's President & Co-Founder highlighted that one of ICONE's missions is to empower, connect, and bring the best out of Indonesians in New England and the bazaar is one of the most effective ways to showcase and put these community strengths into actions.
Sincerest thank you to everyone who has helped in the making of this bazaar. ICONE's team members: Sophia Jamila, Elvina Setia, Rizki Setia, Dhini Purnamasari, Dhanni Setyaning, Watty Grant, and Tia Wulansari. The MCs: Grace Purba and Tisa Umar. The vendors: Yuandita Pransanti, Dian Febrinda, Novia Aldhila, Dewi Rosdiana, Lia Muse, Mici's Kitchen by Micita Mahoney, Kartika by Afrianti Anggoro and Theresia, Dapur The Tio's, Bakso SuperPhilly, Z's Kitchen, Pecel Ndeso, Taste of Surabaya by Fefe Ang, Sury's Kitchen, and Seulanga. All the performers and volunteers: Calvin Limuel, Aubrey Situmorang, Sharon Stephania, Kunto Nurcahyoko, Armaya Doremi, Tia Wulansari & Alia Koasanto, Christopher J. Lym, Junus Kbarek, Maria Yuanita, Boston Angklung Ensemble, Berklee Indonesian Community, Adrian Hasianda, Dimas Muhamad, and Jhendra Samodra. Bersama, kita bisa!
Happy Thanksgiving and we wish you all wonderful holiday seasons ahead.