Mama’s Kitchen Plans Extraordinary Culinary Evening of Food, Friends and Fun | Friday, May 10th

March 25, 2013

San Diego’s top restaurants return to support residents living with HIV/AIDS and/or cancer at Mama’s Day 2013.  Tickets are now on sale for the 22nd annual Mama’s Day fundraiser on Friday, May 10th at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. This year, guests will enjoy an amazing line-up of culinary delights from San Diego’s top restaurants and executive chefs at the evening poolside affair to benefit Mama’s Kitchen, a local nonprofit organization which cooks and delivers hot, nutrition-specific meals free of charge to men, women and children affected by AIDS or cancer throughout San Diego County.

Sam The Cooking Guy doing his demo!

Sam “the Cooking Guy” Zien returns for the fifth consecutive year as the event’s culinary host, and for the first time ever, AJ Machado from “AJ in the Mornings” on Energy 103.7 (KEGY-FM) will emcee the event. Mama’s Day is always held the Friday evening before Mother’s Day, and supports Mama’s Kitchen’s belief that every person is entitled to the basic necessity of life – nutritious food.  More than 700 guests are expected to attend the annual fundraiser.

“Mama’s Day is our largest fundraiser of the year and the original food tasting event in San Diego,” says Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama’s Kitchen. “Each year we welcome the best of the best of this region’s culinary professionals from the finest restaurants, hotels and catering companies, and their commitment to our organization enables us to continue to serve meals to critically ill clients throughout San Diego County at no charge.”

The VIP Reception features Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien and Ian Ward, award-winning mixologist and co-founder of Queen Connor Ward. The pair will treat guests to an exclusive and interactive food and cocktail presentation. VIP guests also enjoy a hosted bar sponsored by Stone Brewing Co. and St. Petersburg Vodka, available throughout the evening. The VIP Reception featuring Zien and the crew is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and guests are encouraged to arrive early so they don’t miss out on the show. The VIP Lounge is open throughout the evening’s festivities.

Elizabethan Desserts

Mama’s Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund realized a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure their clients received nutritious, life-sustaining food. In 2004, Mama’s Pantry was opened to provide individuals with HIV/AIDS who are able to prepare meals the opportunity to supplement their nutritional needs. In 2012, Mama’s Pantry served 774 individuals. Mama’s Kitchen has served more than six million meals since it was founded and has never turned away a client who qualified for services.  Today, the organization has expanded its service to San Diegans affected by either AIDS or cancer. Mama’s Kitchen provides three meals a day, for every day of the year, free of charge, to more than 625 men, women, and children in San Diego County.

The team from Addison Del Mar

“Mama’s Day continues to be one of the leading fundraisers in San Diego and this year will not disappoint,” said Heather K. Bowden, event chairperson, Mama’s Day 2013, who is also a La Jolla resident. “From the amazing culinary dishes to mingling with San Diego’s top chefs and the engaging VIP presentation with Sam and Ian, guests can expect a night to remember while raising crucial funds for Mama’s Kitchen.”

Guests of Mama's Day 2013 are also encouraged to bid on an extensive silent auction and enter an opportunity drawing for select prizes, or Wine Vault with a chance to win more than $1,000 worth of premium wines.  Mama’s Day 2013 is presented by Nordstrom and hosted by Sycuan Casino. There is still time for restaurants to participate and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Ben Coyle at (619) 233-6262 or [email protected].

Chef Bernard Guillas from The Marine Room

Mama’s Day 2013 will take place on Friday, May 10, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (VIP reception is 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., general admission begins at 6:30 p.m.).  Tickets for the event are $125 per person for advanced purchase and $150 at the door. There are also a limited number of VIP tickets available at $250 per person.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.mamaskitchen.org or by calling 619-233-6262.

Mama’s Day 2013 restaurant participants (as of March 6, 2013) include:

• Addison at The Grand Del Mar Amaya La Jolla* 
• AVANT* 
• Baja Betty's
• BiCE Ristorante 
• Bleu Bohème 
• Café Champagne at Thornton Winery 
• Café Japengo 
• Canyon Grille at the Welk Resort* 
• Coffee & Tea Collective 
• Cusp Dining & Drinks* 
• Decker Brothers Gourmet 
• Dolce Donuts 
• Eclipse Chocolat 
• Elizabethan Desserts 
• Finch's Wine Bar and Bistro* 
• French Gourmet Bakery, Restaurant and Catering 
• Gossip Grill 
• Great Maple* 
• Hash House A Go Go 
• Hillcrest Brewing Company 
• Katsuya by S+arck 
• KELVIN at W San Diego* 
• Marine Room 
• Mustangs & Burros at Estancia La Jolla 
• Pacifica Del Mar* 
• Paipa's Buffet at Sycuan 
• Piatti Ristorante & Bar
• Postcards American Bistro at the Handlery Hotel
• Oceanaire Seafood Room 
• Prepkitchen
• R-Gang Eatery* 
• Sally's Seafood on the Water 
• Saltbox 
• San Diego Culinary Institute 
• Snooze, an A.M. Eatery 
• Solace & the Moonlight Lounge 
• [email protected] at the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp 
• Starlite 
• Stone Catering 
• The Pool Club at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel* 
• The Wellington Steak and Martini Lounge* 
• Thornton Winery 
• Top of the Market 
• Tractor Room 
• Urban Mo's 
• Urban Solace 
• Veladora at Rancho 
• Valencia Resort & Spa* 
• Wachena at Sycuan Casino 
• Whisknladle

* = new this year

For more information on Mama's Day and Mama's Kitchen, visit the website and follow on Facebook and Twitter.