Mama’s Day food-and-wine gala celebrates golden anniversary

By Dave Fidlin

Mama’s Kitchen celebrated its golden birthday last year, and on the heels of that milestone is the 25th anniversary of Mama’s Day — the annual fundraiser founded with a Mother’s Day theme.

Mama’s Day returns May 6, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., to its annual home at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, located at 3777 La Jolla Village Drive.

The food-and-wine gala provides the bulk of the funding necessary to bring quality meals — free of charge — into the hands of people who vitally need such services.

To the San Diego men, women and children affected by AIDS and cancer, the nutrient-filled meals are of the utmost importance, particularly since their immune systems are usually compromised.

With a milestone on the horizon, Cortés cannot help but wax nostalgic as he reflects on how Mama’s Kitchen has stayed true to its roots, yet dually grown and evolved in the past quarter century.

“We’ve added components [to the mission statement] here and there, but it really hasn’t changed that much,” Cortés said. “It’s stood durable over time.”

What has changed since Mama’s Kitchen was established in the early 1990s are some of the stigmas and misinformation concerning AIDS, HIV and other conditions that have impacted the LGBT and other communities.

“That was right in the throws of the AIDS epidemic,” Cortés said of Mama’s Kitchen’s earliest days as an organization. “The number of diagnoses were still very high, and it was considered a deadly condition. There was an atmosphere and stigma of fear and a real lack of information. It was a real hostile time.”

But as Cortés sees it, the organization’s importance in the community has been unwavering — even as society has evolved its attitudes. Humanizing the impact AIDS still has today is one of the fundamental goals behind the organization’s outreach efforts.

While Cortés’ leadership with the organization only goes back 14 years, he said he has been an ardent supporter of Mama’s Day from the get-go.

“At the time, it was unique because fundraisers were usually known to be more formal with speeches,” Cortés said. “I think we raised the bar and created a tradition other organizations have tried mimicking.”

Since quality food is at the heart of Mama’s Kitchen’s mission, it is only fitting the same holds true for the annual Mama’s Day fundraisers. A hallmark of each year’s event are the range of chefs — many from some of San Diego’s finest and most notable restaurants — who prepare samples of some of their top dishes for attendees to enjoy.

While final pieces of the puzzle are still being assembled in the weeks leading up to the 25th annual fundraiser, Cortés said at least 55 local chefs have donated their time and talent for this year’s event.

The figure is notable, Cortés pointed out, since the event takes place on a Friday — a time of the week when restaurants are usually bursting at the seams with customers.

One of this year’s participating chefs is Chris Decker, who co-owns Decker Brothers Gourmet Soup. As the company’s name suggests, Decker’s business partner is his brother, Karl. Together, the Deckers have been making a variety of health-conscious soup recipes inspired by their mom’s concoctions over the years, sold wholesale or distributed throughout various restaurants in San Diego.

This is the sixth consecutive year Decker Brothers are participating in Mama’s Day.

“It’s one of the most fun and impressive fundraisers out there,” Chris Decker said. “Everyone gets into it and has a blast.”

Decker and brother Karl hail from the East Coast and came to San Diego to tap into their love of surfing. They also are long-time supporters of LGBT causes.

In addition to their regular support of Mama’s Kitchen, the Deckers donate time and manpower to the Rob Benzon Foundation, which has regularly supported charitable causes, some benefiting the LGBT community.

Speaking specifically to Mama’s Day, Chris Decker said he has witnessed an evolution within the fundraiser, particularly as a growing number of participants have volunteered and rallied behind the mission of Mama’s Kitchen.

“[The event has] grown in popularity,” Decker said. “But we also see a lot of the same faces, year after year.”

As an ever-evolving organization, Cortés said that he and other leaders constantly try and raise the bar so Mama’s Kitchen can serve as many San Diegans in critical need as possible.

Last year’s Mama’s Day gala netted $176,000 in proceeds. The figure, in turn, enabled the organization to serve 57,680 meals, each one tailored to the recipient’s needs. In many cases, the meals are delivered straight to the recipient’s home.

In a time filled with milestones, Cortés basks in one other notable statistic: Mama’s Kitchen recently served its 8 millionth meal.

Despite that incredible achievement, the longtime executive director and all those associated with Mama’s Kitchen aren’t planning to stop too long to gaze at the laurel.

“It’s a recognition that the work we do is absolutely critical,” Cortés said. “It all comes together because of a concerted community effort.”

—Dave Fidlin is a freelance journalist with a special affinity for San Diego and its people. Contact him at [email protected].