Mama’s Day Returns In-Person, Celebrates 31 Years

Mama’s Day returns to an in-person event scheduled for Friday, May 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine located at 3777 La Jolla Village Drive. Mama’s Day, one of San Diego’s most anticipated culinary events, is held the Friday before Mother’s Day to bring together more than 300 attendees for an evening of fun, food, friends and fundraising.

Often touted as San Diego’s original tasting event, Mama’s Day will feature more than 20 food purveyors offering delicious bites from San Diego’s finest restaurants, catering companies, and hotels. In addition, this year’s event will feature a special addition of curated libations, including wine, cocktails, beer, and specialty beverages. Mama’s Day is a one-night-only event for everyone to enjoy.

Proceeds from the event help raise critical funds for Mama's Kitchen's mission to deliver three medically tailored nutritional meals a day, seven days a week and free of charge to local women, men and children vulnerable to hunger due to HIV, cancer or other critical illnesses like congestive heart failure, Type II diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In 2021, Mama’s Day went virtual and raised $32,500, which provided 13,000 home-delivered meals to Mama’s Kitchen’s clients. This year, event organizers aim to raise $125,000, which will provide 50,000 meals to San Diego’s critically ill neighbors.

After two years of not being able to celebrate together due to the pandemic, Mama’s Day will once again bring together delicious cuisine, sumptuous libations, and community members to support Mama’s Kitchen’s cause with dazzling dishes and beverages. Attendees will also enjoy live music and entertainment, fun lawn games poolside, and special presentations. There will also be an opportunity drawing and wine pull for attendees interested in taking a taste of the evening home with them.

“We’re excited to bring our community back together in-person for Mama’s Day to celebrate our clients, volunteers, important impact, and the milestones we reached over the last two years during the pandemic,” says Alberto Cortés, CEO, Mama’s Kitchen. “Mama’s Day is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. We not only look forward to seeing everyone come together, but also to raise the much-needed funds for our clients who desperately need our support to stay healthy, happy and strong, and not worry about where their next meal is coming from.”

Returning as this year’s culinary host is Emmy® award-winning chef, author, YouTube personality and restaurateur, Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien. In addition to hosting the event, he will also provide a special presentation for VIP guests. Zien has received 15 Emmy awards for his TV show “Sam the Cooking Guy,” has garnered over 3.3 million YouTube followers, and is the owner of Not Not Tacos (in San Diego and Costa Mesa) and Graze by Sam the Cooking Guy, both in Little Italy.

Tickets to Mama’s Day can be purchased online at mamaskitchen.org. Sponsorships are available, and there are still opportunities for chefs and restaurants to participate in the event. Contact Silvia Dominguez at 619-233-6262 or silvia@mamaskitchen.org for more information on how to get involved. Chefs and restaurants have until Friday, April 15 to sign up to participate in this year’s Mama’s Day.

Event Calendar Details
31st Annual Mama’s Day benefiting Mama’s Kitchen
Friday, May 6, 2022
5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. VIP Reception
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. General Admission
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
3777 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92122
Early Bird available now: $50 off tickets through April 3; $100 (General); $200 (VIP)
More info and to purchase tickets: www.mamaskitchen.org

ABOUT MAMA’S KITCHEN

Mama's Kitchen was established in 1990 by a San Diego caregiver who enlisted volunteers to prepare and deliver free meals to neighbors who were sick with HIV/AIDS and unable to cook for themselves. The organization realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious, life sustaining food. In 2004, Mama’s Pantry was launched to serve HIV+ San Diegans who are healthy enough to cook but unable to purchase nutritious food due to extremely low income. Since then, the organization has expanded their Home-Delivered Meal Service program to other at-risk populations including those battling cancer (2006), individuals with heart failure and diabetes (2018), and individuals with chronic kidney disease (2020). Beyond medically tailored meals, clients also receive nutritional counseling from registered dietitians. In 2021, the organization delivered its 10 millionth meal.

For 31 years, Mama’s Kitchen has never turned away a client who qualified for its services. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the organization responded to an overall 50 percent increase in demand. Mama’s Kitchen will continue to provide emergency response efforts and currently provides home-delivered meals and nutrition education services to over 2,000 individuals and families in San Diego County annually. Learn more and make a donation at www.mamaskitchen.org. Connect with Mama’s Kitchen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.