SOUTHERN FOOD & BEVERAGE MUSEUM UNVEILS GUMBO GARDEN
New Outdoor Exhibit and Event Space to Officially Open Friday, October 11, 2019

The Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFAB), a division of the nonprofit National Food & Beverage Foundation (NatFAB) and one of  the “11 of the World’s Top Food Museums” by CNN, celebrates the history of food and drink of all cultures via a variety of exhibits, programming, and a range of media. Now, SoFAB is thrilled to announce the completion of its new outdoor exhibit and event space, the Gumbo Garden. The exhibit will officially open to the public on Friday, October 11, 2019, and will be used for an array of SoFAB programs, as well as a variety of both private and public events.

According to SoFAB President and CEO Brent Rosen, “We want the Gumbo Garden to be one of the best and most unique outdoor event spaces in New Orleans, but we also want it to be a true wing of the museum. To achieve that, the Garden will host many of our food festivals and events, and will be the home to our meat sciences department and children’s cooking programs.”

Evoking the classic courtyards of New Orleans, the 3,200 square foot area features rustic brick pavers, wrought iron accents, and a lush selection of edible plants and vegetables native to the American South. The main dining pavilion was created with the support of the Maisel family and features a seated dining space for up to 180 guests. A whole-hog BBQ pit built to 1800’s specifications; a gigantic crawfish boiler; a number of outdoor deep-fryers; and a wide variety of other grills and outdoor cooking equipment complete the space and are certain to make any food festivity a tantalizing experience.

With the opening of the Gumbo Garden, several of SoFAB’s programs will be greatly enhanced. The outdoor cooking equipment will enable the Meat Sciences Department to expand its professional development classes and the children’s cooking programs including “Kids in the Kitchen” and “Kids Camp” will benefit from a teaching vegetable garden, and additional classes. The museum’s Sustainable Table initiative will also benefit from the Garden through events with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and other organizations that seek to promote sustainable eating practices in Louisiana.

The Gumbo Garden will officially open to the public on Friday, October 11, 2019. Entrance to the Garden is included in museum admission ($10.50 adults; $5.25 students, military and seniors; free for children). For upcoming programming and events, please visit www.natfab.org. For private event information, contact Maureen Kerkovich at the museum 504-569-0405. SoFAB is located at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday from 11 AM – 5:30 PM (closed Tuesdays).

 

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About Southern Food & Beverage Museum: In September 2014, the Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFAB) opened in its new location at 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in the renovated Dryades Market, a public food market which first opened in New Orleans in 1847. Named as one of “11 of the World’s Top Food Museums” by CNN and one of the “12 Best Museums Around the World” by Elle Decor, SoFAB is a division of the nonprofit National Food & Beverage Foundation (NatFAB), which celebrates the food and drink of all cultures, with a focus on the history of cuisine and cocktails, through a variety of exhibits, programming, and a range of media. Located inside SoFAB are The Museum of the American Cocktail’s (MOTAC) New Orleans collection; the Boyd Library, Toup’s South restaurant and spectacular exhibits, including La Galerie d’Absinthe. For more information, visit SoFAB.

About National Food & Beverage Foundation: The National Food & Beverage Foundation (NatFAB) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural enterprise. It documents and celebrates the food and drink of all cultures through exhibits, programming, and a range of media. Because everyone eats, all aspects of food and drink—culture and geography, anthropology and history, economics and politics, law and policy, media and the arts, science and technology—reveal the state of the world. NatFAB, home to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFAB), Pacific Food & Beverage Museum, (PacFAB), The Museum of the American Cocktail (MOTAC),) the John & Bonnie Boyd Hospitality & Culinary Library, Nitty Grits Media, and the National Culinary Heritage Register, is among the nation's most comprehensive cultural institutions studying food and drink. For more information, visit natfab.org.