By Janet D’Souza
Toronto, Dec 8: From tantalizing treats, captivating activities to shimmering lights and artisanal ethnic food, get ready to fa-la-la and jingle-ling-a-ling to a sleigh-load of surprises at the annual MAC Christmas Bazaar. The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC), an association deeply rooted in community outreach and engagement, cultivates communal solidarity, community participation and creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, small home businesses and local artisans to build their personal brand, bring innovative ideas to market, elevate awareness and visibility, gain new customers and simply indulge in some Christmas fun.
The MAC Christmas Bazaar, a shopper’s paradise, heralds the Christmas festival where local artisans and vendors can promote their products and services and visitors can buy Christmas gifts. From mirror embroidered work, wall hangings to Mitai laddoos, fragrant and perfectly spiced pork favorites such as Sorpotel and Rakhti, unforgettable specialties such as Kundapur style Chicken Ghee Roast and crispy delectable Rose cookies and Nevrios, exotic and mouthwatering Pathrode with lamb, classic Christmas plum cakes, Gulab Jamun cakes, Bombay Rolls and vegan, non GMO handcrafted scented candles, there is a booth space for all to sell their handmade and holiday-themed goods.
There is even a cozy space with a Santa chair for pictures and sweet treats, festive decorations and a little nook for kids who love showcasing their artistic talents. Children can color and paint, build gingerbread houses from kits, get some decorative face tattoos and skip away with little gifts. Christmas calls for entertainment and a venue brimming with enthusiastic energies and to make sure the guests are swinging, swaying and doing a little jingle, there is DJ Joyson with his inimitable and exceptional festive music. All visitors to the bazaar will be able to meet and socialize with other community members in a lighthearted fun setting while enjoying delicious home cooked meals and snacks.
The Christmas Bazaar is an exceptional and remarkable event requiring support and encouragement. MAC thanks its benefactors, sponsors and all the vendors for their advocacy and contributions especially to Vincent and Prescilla Machado for their generous, selfless, and voluntary monetary gift towards the bazaar. Vincent and Prescilla Machado are impassioned supporters of MAC and thoughtfully contribute to many successful events organized by MAC.
Scroll through the amazing gallery of innovative and successful entrepreneurs for their enthusiasm and willingness to spread Christmas cheer and joy. MAC hereby invites friends, family, neighbors and supporters to come in large numbers and support the Christmas Bazaar.
Creative Touch - Nina Crasta and Prescilla D’Souza for delightful decorative articles, pork dishes and Sannas
Marigold Bakery - Nicole Cardoza for Loaf cakes, Cookies, Cupcakes, Biscotti and Quiche
NJ Food & Flavors/Goan Spices - Noel D’Souza for Goan spices, pickles and sausages and all things nice
Amcha Kuznaanth - Charlotte D’Souza for Pathrode with lamb, Nevrios, and Rice laddoos
Little Flower - Sunita Aranha for authentic Rose cookies, Nevrios and Sankarpalli
Papa Simon’s Inc - Janet Rodrigues for Plum cakes, Bombay Rolls and patties and so much more
Cynthia’s Kitchen - Cynthia Lewis for fish curry and rice, pork ribs, Sorpetel and buns
Jerry’s Authentic Mangalorean - Jerald Moraes for authentic Mangalurean masala powders
Dazzling D’Souza’s Arts and Crafts - Lorraine D’Souza for Christmas tree decors, cakes and cookies.
Spice Route - Jasmine Monteiro for Charmuri, Chicken puffs, Coorgi pork and Kheema Pav
Mathias Kitchen - Alwyn Mathias for Pork Rakhti and fluffy Sannas
Coastal Cravings - Ronald & Suneetha D’Souza; Leo & Precilla D’Cunha for handmade coconut scrapers and homemade cooking such as Pork dishes and payasam
Konkan Delite - Loy D’Souza for his delicious pork Sorpotel, Baffat and Sannas
Ethnic Origins Soap & Spa Inc - Cheryl Pais for handcrafted soaps, candles and perfect gifts
Golden Goa - Sabrina Miranda for Bolinas, Bebinca, Coconut Ice and more
Anitha Bakes - Anitha Saldanha for Rasmalai, Gulab Jamun cake cups and Quilling art
Globex Imports - Marina Pereira for Biryani, Mince rolls and authentic Vorn
Udupi Madras Cafe - Everest Vijay Dante for South Indian delicacies such as Laddoos & Mysore Pak
PLP Family - Helen, Maureen and Ann for coastal flavors such as pork dishes, fish & chicken snacks
ICICI Bank - Rajan Sharda, Kavita Rao and team for their partnership, support & best in class learning
MAC is grateful to the community, MAC members and their families for their passion, energy, time and effort without which an event of this magnitude and complexity cannot be successful.