National Gumbo Day

National Gumbo Day is traditionally celebrated on October 12th. On this national day, it’s time to try Gumbo, a savory treat that is Louisiana’s “official” dish. It usually consists of a broth with shellfish and meat, celery, bell peppers, okra, onions and lots of aromatic spices.

History

On the territory of the future United States, Gumbo appeared along with English settlers at the beginning of the 19th century. Now this dish has received the status of “official” in Louisiana, where most local restaurants serve it in different ways. The two most popular are Cajun Gumbo and Creole Gumbo.

History conceals the exact date of origin of National Gumbo Day. However, there is evidence that since 1989, the city of New Iberia, in the state of Louisina, has hosted an annual Gumbo CookOff championship. This event is widely known to local residents, it brought $ 2 million to the state budget every year. However, in 2020 the competition had to be canceled due to the pandemic.

Fun facts

On the occasion of the celebration of the national day, let’s recall the facts related to this dish:

• in 1802, the American surgeon John Sibley writes his review of the “thick soup” Gumbo, which he tried – this record was one of the first mentions of soup in history;
• in 1824 Mary Randolph’s Virginia Housewife is published, where she shares her version of Gumbo and calls it “a West Indian dish”;
• in 1972, after the death of Louisiana Senator Allen Ellender, the local eatery added Creole Gumbo to its menu as a permanent dish;
• one of the main ingredients of Gambo, okra, began to be used as food in the 12th century AD in the territory of modern Ethiopia.

How to celebrate

On the occasion of the holiday, you can cook Gumbo at home for the whole large family, and it’s okay if the dish remains. Chefs say that the next day Gumbo will become even tastier, because the stewed vegetables and meat will be even more saturated with the tastes and aromas of each other. Also, don’t forget to share a photo of your holiday treat on social media with the hashtag #NationalGumboDay.

When is National Gumbo Day celebrated in 2022?

National Gumbo Day is observed on October 12 each year.

Observations