The 16th annual Taste of Dorchester event organized by the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) rolled out the red carpet last Thursday night (April 25) at the IBEW Union Hall on Freeport Street for a capacity crowd to enjoy a feast featuring some of Dorchester’s best restaurants.

Symone Crawford, MAHA’s executive director, greeted friends and colleagues throughout the evening and gave special thanks to presenting sponsors Arbella Insurance Foundation and First Citizens Bank.

There were 22 restaurant and bakeries in the house and participants were asked to vote for their favorite food and favorite dessert. A lively silent auction also helped to support the cause.

MAHA, based on Dorchester Avenue, educates and mobilizes communities to work to increase affordable and sustainable homeownership across the state. Since 1985, the organization has helped to secure mortgages for 25,000 homebuyers and advocated for $10 billion in public and private affordable housing investments. Their popular first-time homebuyer classes have trained 48,000 people.

Participating restaurants included BRED, Chill on Park, Clarke’s Cakes & Cookies, DJ’s Polish Market, DW Brewpub, El Barrio Mexican Grill, Family Affair, Fresh Food Generation, Irie Jamaican Style Restaurant, Kapow Thai Cuisine, and Lower Mills Tavern.
Also, Lucy’s American Tavern, Murl’s Kitchen, Shanti Taste of India, Shea Butter Smoothies, Slushy Lady Boston, Sweet Teez Bakery, Tavolo Ristorante, The Bowery Bar, The Ice Creamsmith, Top Shelf Cookies, and Yellow Door Taqueria.

The Dorchester Reporter was the media sponsor for the event.

From DJ’s Market and Deli, Dawn Morris, right, and Kyle Sunter served up a polish sausage dish and delicious raspberry Paczkis.

Tom Roach and Ana Klett enjoyed a dish from Shanti Restaurant.

Beverly Sommerville and Kyle Lewis, both of Dedham Savings.

Evandro Carvalho, fresh off running his first marathon, with his children, Evandro Jr., Anaya and Eliana.

State Rep. Russell Holmes with Shirley Jones, of Meetinghouse Hill, and Laquisa Burke, of the West of Washington Coalition.

Sweet Teez Bakery featured a delicious lemon cake with the Taste of Dorchester logo imprinted on it. Pictured here are owner Teresa Maynard with her husband, Kelvin, and son, Odin.

MAHA Board Chair Ashley Carvalho and MAHA Executive Director Symone Crawford.

Executive Director Symone Crawford, center, with Liz Misero and Karen Jansky, of the Arbella Insurance Foundation, a presenting sponsor.