Gumbo Social Presents the 3rd Annual National Gumbo Week
- Gumbo Social
- Oct 14
- 4 min read
Contact
Dontaye Ball (aka Mr. Gumbo)
Gumbo Social
+1 415-655-9195
hello@gumbosocial.com
Instagram @gumbosocial
October 14, 2025
For Immediate Release:
San Francisco, California: Gumbo Social is proud to present the 3rd Annual National Gumbo Week, a 10-day celebration of food, culture, and community taking place October 16–25, 2025, at Gumbo Social (5176 3rd Street) and throughout San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood.
This year’s program features an expanded lineup of neighborhood events: from culinary crawls and kitchen takeovers to cooking demos, happy hour, and a free community party, all designed to honor the culinary history and creative spirit of Bayview.
Photo credit: Don Bowden
“The San Francisco Chronicle recently wrote an article about the emergence of the Bayview food scene, and we thought it was important to create an opportunity for the rest of the city, and the Bay Area, to experience Bayview firsthand. The Bayview Food & Beverage Passport gives people a fun, affordable, and different way to explore the neighborhood while shining a light on some of the incredible food establishments we have here.” —Dontaye Ball, Chef-Owner of Gumbo Social
Photo credit: Don Bowden
Event Lineup
October 16–31 | Bayview Food & Beverage Passport
Explore Bayview’s culinary landscape with the Bayview Food & Beverage Passport, a neighborhood food crawl offering exclusive deals and tastings from local businesses.
For just $5, participants receive a digital passport unlocking discounts and freebies from 14 Bayview food and beverage favorites, including:
Digital passports will be emailed upon order and a limited number of physical passports are also available for pickup beginning Wednesday, October 15 (5–6 PM) at Gumbo Social (first come, first serve). The program runs through October 31, giving participants more time to enjoy deals and collect stamps. Each stamp equals one raffle entry for prizes at the National Gumbo Week Finale Party on Saturday, October 25.
Photo credit: Don Bowden
October 20–22 | Kitchen Takeover Dinners (7–9 PM)
Three nights of collaborative dinners spotlight guest chefs and “melting pot” cuisines that bring people together.
Each evening features a unique culinary perspective:
Mon, Oct 20 – Vanessa Lee (Smoke Soul Kitchen)
Tue, Oct 21 – Sasasha Fleming (Sapphire Bistro Catering)
Wed, Oct 22 – Gabriel LaMothe (Pops’ Creole)
A $10 voucher ticket secures your seat and applies directly to your food and beverage purchase that night.
October 23 | Cooking Demo & Dinner with Mr. Gumbo (6–8 PM)
Chef Dontaye Ball, “Mr. Gumbo,” hosts an exclusive cooking demo and dinner for a small guest list.
$50 advance ticket includes demo, gumbo, hoecake, and wine pairing. Limited to 26 seats.
Photo credit: Don Bowden
October 24 | WISE Health Happy Hour: Creole Cocktails & Community Conversations (6–9 PM)
An evening of culture, care, and connection featuring Creole-inspired small bites (gumbo and mini po’boy station), a Creole cocktail tasting bar, and a facilitated dialogue exploring cultural healing, caregiving in Black families, and the role of food in family legacy.
The event also includes an aromatherapy bar and mini gumbo spice kits for sale.
Tickets: $25 advance / $30 at the door.
October 25 | National Gumbo Week Finale Party (11 AM–4 PM)
Celebrate the finale at Gumbo Social with FREE gumbo tastings, live music, art, poetry, and a prize raffle for Bayview Passport holders.
FREE Community Event - All Ages!
“We’ve been able to create some truly special programming that highlights a community welcoming new people every day. It’s a celebration of Bayview's diversity and of what’s possible through creativity and collaboration. We’ve curated unique pop-ups that showcase and partner with other chefs and created spaces for connection where you can meet a neighbor, make a new friend, and share delicious bites of food. And of course, we round it all out by celebrating gumbo the way we know best, through food and community.” —Dontaye Ball, Chef-Owner of Gumbo Social
Photo credit: Don Bowden
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The 3rd Annual National Gumbo Week is made possible through the generous support of Avenue Greenlight, New Community Leadership Foundation (NCLF), and the Bayview Merchants Association.
Avenue Greenlight provides funding to merchant organizations and community groups to lead improvements in their commercial corridors and surrounding neighborhoods. Learn more, donate, or apply for a grant at avenuegreenlightsf.org
Key Details
Date: October 16–25, 2025,
Time: Varies, check event details
Location: Gumbo Social (5176 3rd St.)
Photo credit: Don Bowden
Where to get more info about the National Gumbo Week at Gumbo Social
Read about last year's event here: National Gumbo Week - 3 FREE GUMBO SOCIAL EVENTS!
Follow @gumbosocial on Instagram for event updates or sign up for our email list. Read more about Chef Dontaye Ball here. Get the Gumbo Social press kit here. Send interview requests to hello@gumbosocial.com.
PRESS
Cortez, Mario. " 'Our time to shine': There's a wave of new restaurants in this S.F. neighborhood." San Francisco Chronicle, 23, May 2025,
Davis, Chelsea. "A Food Lover’s Guide To Bayview, One Of San Francisco’s Most Underrated Neighborhoods." Forbes, 19, October 2024, https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/best-san-francisco-restaurants/
Chung Fegan, MacKenzie and Hernandez, Cesar. "Top San Francisco Restaurants." San Francisco Chronicle, 3, June 2024, https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2024/best-san-francisco-restaurants/
Jackson, Robbie. “Gumbo Social is stirring up some conversations on 3rd Street.” San Francisco BayView, 26, April 2024, https://sfbayview.com/2024/04/gumbo-social-is-stirring-up-some-conversations-on-3rd-street/
Duffett, Becky. “It’s Finally Gumbo Go Time in San Francisco.” Eater San Francisco, 1 Feb 2024, https://sf.eater.com/2024/2/1/24057522/gumbo-social-san-francisco-dontaye-ball
Kassin, Kate. "The 12 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2023." Bon Appetit, 19 January 2023,
The Kelly Clarkson Show. “Single Dad Starts Successful Gumbo Restaurant Amid Pandemic.” YouTube, 22 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvLjBf7CUWM&t=54s
