Mama’s Day Celebrates 35 Years of Community Giving
Get ready to experience the best of San Diego’s culinary scene in one night– Mama’s Day returns to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, located at 1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA, 92101 at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16. The welcome cocktail reception (exclusive to VIP ticket holders) takes place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Event open for general admission, with food served is from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
For 35 years, the event has brought together restaurants, chefs, and culinary artists from across San Diego to raise funds for Mama’s Kitchen’s medically tailored home-delivered meal program. Attendees of the event get to soak in scenic bay views as they taste unlimited bites from the participating culinary partners, which include upscale restaurants, iconic cafes, artisan bakeries, beloved pizza joints, and many more. In addition to incredible food, guests can enjoy live music, pop-up booths, opportunity drawings, and a photo booth to capture all the fun. The evening will feature San Diego’s top culinary professionals and institutions, including:
- Athletic Brewing
- Maya’s Cookies
- Piatti
- R&B Tea
- Sally’s Waterfront Dining
- The Cottage
- The Pastrami Guy
- And more, to be announced!
“Every year, we are inspired by the community’s support for Mama’s Day. This event helps provide thousands of medically tailored meals to critically ill San Diegans at risk of malnutrition,” said Eva Matthews, CEO at Mama’s Kitchen. “With the uncertainty of federal funding and heightened need for nutrition security services within our community, Mama’s Kitchen needs the support of all San Diegans to ensure our critically ill neighbors have access to healthy, nutrient-dense meals that nourish their bodies to better combat their illness. And if you’ve been to Mama’s Day before, you know that you’ll get to taste the best San Diego’s culinary community has to offer. I can’t wait to see what our culinary partners will whip up this year.”
All proceeds from Mama’s Day directly benefit Mama’s Kitchen’s medically tailored meal service program to ensure more critically ill San Diegans can gain access to no-cost, medically tailored meals. Last year, Mama’s Day surpassed its fundraising goal, raising $170,000 to fund more than 34,000 meals to be delivered across San Diego. For Mama’s Day 2026, Mama’s Kitchen hopes to raise $158,000 to fund 31,600 meals.
For those who receive Mama’s Kitchen’s services, their meal deliveries have been nothing short of life-changing. Since receiving meals from Mama’s Kitchen, one individual living with type-2 diabetes has seen measurable health improvements, fewer medical appointments, and a renewed sense of control, proof that food can be a powerful source of medicine.
“All my medical conditions are more positively controlled since receiving Mama’s Kitchen’s meals,” said David S., a San Diegan living with type-2 diabetes. “Now I am getting full with proper portion sizes and don’t overeat, which has improved my weight. My labs have also improved, and I’ve needed less doctor visits and had less medical issues. I would have nothing without Mama’s Kitchen.”
Early bird ticket sales for Mama’s Day begin Friday, March 20 for $150 before regular-priced tickets go on sale for $200 on Friday, March 27. VIP tickets are also available starting at $250, and grant access to the exclusive Welcome Cocktail Reception at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at MamasKitchen.org.
Early bird tickets: General admission $150, VIP $250 are available from Friday, March 20 to Friday, March 27. Regular priced tickets: General admission $200, VIP $300 are available starting Friday, March 27. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mamaskitchen.org.
Category: Donations, Entertainment, Events, Local News, Nonprofit, Restaurants, Volunteers
