Three people standing together behind a table of food, with a Venezuelan flag in the background. The man in the middle is wearing a cowboy hat and white T-shirt, smiling. The woman on the left wears glasses and a light-colored top. The woman on the r
Two people standing behind a table with food, a vase of yellow flowers, and a dish representing their country.
Woman wearing glasses and a headscarf holding a large plate of sambusas.
People at an outdoor event under a tent, with one woman serving food to another. There are flowers and bread on the table with flags hanging in the background.

2025

On Saturday, June 21st, in honor of World Refugee Day, the first-ever Cambridge Refugee Food Festival brought together community members, refugee chefs, and local organizations for an unforgettable afternoon of food, storytelling, and cultural exchange. Hosted at PAGU Restaurant in Central Square, the festival featured chefs and dishes from Venezuela, Haiti, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Ukraine, creating a truly global table in the heart of Cambridge.

The festival’s success was made possible by the generosity and support of local partners and sponsors. Organizations like RIAC, GBLS, ATASK, and CCAE offered resources and programming to educate attendees on refugee support and advocacy, while community-focused businesses such as Curio Spice, Central Square BID, and Porter Square Books helped create a welcoming and engaging environment. Sponsors including the Cambridge Community Foundation, The Tsung-Megason Group, and Resy provided critical support to bring the event to life. Volunteers and staff helped guide guests through tasting stations, storytelling booths, and cooking demonstrations, ensuring that every attendee could fully experience the festival’s mission of connection, culture, and celebration.

The Cambridge Refugee Food Festival marked the beginning of a new tradition in celebrating food, culture, and connection. Roundtable and partners look forward to hosting more events that continue to uplift refugee chefs, share stories, and bring communities together over shared plates.

A person drawing with chalk on a brick pavement, creating a colorful design.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a dark apron holding a microphone smiles as she speaks outdoors during a sunny event. Several people stand behind her, listening, with some holding notebooks or wearing name tags, in front of brick buildings and trees.
Two women engaging in a conversation at an immigration and refugee welcome event in front of a brick wall with colorful posters. One woman, on the right, is sitting and smiling, wearing a red shirt and sunglasses, with a name tag that reads AC. The other woman, on the left, is standing and holding a water bottle, wearing sunglasses and a brown shirt that says "Proudly Pro-Immigration". A sign nearby reads "Massachusetts Welcome Immigrants & Refugees."

Testamonial

Attending the 2025 Refugee Food Festival was unforgettable. Each chef brought not just incredible flavors, but stories of resilience, culture, and home. I left feeling inspired, full, and deeply connected to a community I never knew I had. Truly a celebration of food and humanity.