San Diego’s Original Tasting Event - Mama’s Kitchen Celebrates 25 Years & 8 Million Meals With Mama's Day Fundraiser On May 6

April 1, 2016

Mama's Kitchen recently donated its 8 millionth meal in San Diego County, due in large part to the support it receives at its annual fundraiser tasting extravaganza - Mama's Day! The 25th annual Mama’s Day will take place on Friday, May 6, from 6:30-9:30pm at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. Often touted as the original San Diego tasting event, Mama's Day is held the Friday evening before Mother’s Day and features more than 55 chefs from San Diego’s finest restaurants, hotels and catering companies who graciously prepare delicious samples for nearly 600 attendees.

Proceeds from the Mama's Day event help raise critical funds for Mama's Kitchen's mission to deliver hot, nutrition-specific meals free of charge to local men, women, and children affected by AIDS or cancer. Last year, Mama’s Day raised $176,000, which provided 57,680 home delivered meals. The best-selling auction items included a private dinner with Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien and a Skybox for 20 guests at PETCO Park.

The Marine Room's Executive Chef Bernard Guillas plating with pizzazz!
Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien returns for the eighth consecutive year as the event’s Culinary Host. At the event, guests enjoy music, food and fun throughout the evening while dining on distinctive dishes graciously prepared and served by executive chefs from the region’s top restaurants. Guests are also encouraged to bid on an extensive silent auction or buy a chance to win fabulous prizes in an opportunity drawing.

Vendors offering samples at this year's Mama's Day include Aqui es Texcoco, Betty’s Pie Whole, Bice Ristorante, BIGA, Bliss and Baker, Bracero Cocina de Raíz, Breakfast Republic, Bully’s East Prime Bistro Sports Bar, Café Japengo, Café Secret, California Fruit Wine Co., Cravory Cookies, Davanti Enoteca, Decker Brothers Gourmet, Duke’s La Jolla, Elizabethan Desserts, Fig Tree Café, Fireside by The Patio, Florent, Grand Hyatt San Diego, Great Maple, Groundswell Brewing Co., Harley Gray Restaurant and Bar, Hash House A Go Go, Loews Coronado Bay Resort and Spa, Marina Kitchen and Bar, The Marine Room, Mia Francecsa Del Mar, Paipa’s Buffet at Sycuan, Piatti Restaurant, Polanco Kitchen and Bar, The Red Door, San Diego Culinary Institute, Stehly Farms Organics, Snooze an AM Eatery, Solace and the Moonlight Lounge, Sushi Lounge on Market, Taj Farms, Top of the Market, Uptown Tavern, Urban Solace, Vincent’s, Vivace at Park Hyatt Aviara, Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub, Yard House and more.

Presented by Nordstrom and hosted by Sycuan, Mama’s Day pre-sale tickets are available for just $150 per person and $175 at the door. Premium VIP tickets are available for $250 each, which includes early access at 5:30pm to an exclusive VIP dining area and pre-party featuring a private culinary presentation by Sam “The Cooking Guy” before the doors open to general admission attendees at 6:30pm. VIPs also enjoy a full hosted bar for two hours.

Mama's Kitchen's was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. They 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 opened to provide individuals with HIV/AIDS who are able to prepare meals the opportunity to supplement their nutritional needs. During the past 25 years, Mama’s Kitchen has served eight million meals and has never turned away a client who qualified for their services. Their commitment to their clients remains unchanged and 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 approximately 350 men, women, and children in San Diego County.

For more information on Mama's Day or to make a donation to Mama's Kitchen, visit mamaskitchen.org and connect on Facebook and Twitter.