LOUISIANA CELEBRATES NATIONAL GUMBO DAY ON OCTOBER 12

BATON ROUGE, La. – Get your spoons ready! National Gumbo Day returns Monday, Oct. 12, giving Louisianans and gumbo lovers across the country another reason to celebrate one of Louisiana’s most iconic dishes.

There's nothing quite like the smell of a dark roux slowly simmering on the stove as the weather begins to cool down. In Louisiana, gumbo is much more than a meal. It's a family tradition, a labor of love and a dish that reflects the many cultures, ingredients and traditions that make Louisiana unique.

Whether it's a classic chicken-and-sausage gumbo, a rich seafood gumbo filled with Gulf shrimp and crab, or a family recipe passed down through generations, there's no single way to make gumbo. That is part of what makes it so special.

“Gumbo is Louisiana in a bowl,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It brings people together around the table, and everybody has their own way of making it. You can taste our history, our culture and our love for good food in every spoonful. It’s an iconic Louisiana dish that tells a story, with every pot of gumbo holding the history of the people and places that make Louisiana special.”

Monroe Chef Cory Bahr of Parish Restaurant & Bar is helping Louisiana share that story with the rest of the country. On National Gumbo Day, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Chef Bahr will take to the airwaves for a national satellite media tour, showcasing the history, technique and traditions behind authentic Louisiana gumbo and giving audiences across the country a taste of what makes the dish so special.

National Gumbo Day is an opportunity to celebrate not only the dish, but the people and traditions behind it.

“When you sit down to a bowl of gumbo in Louisiana, you are getting more than just a great meal,” Nungesser said. “You are getting a taste of who we are. We want people across the country to pull up a chair, grab a spoon and experience a little bit of Louisiana. Gumbo is a dish that unites families and communities around the table. It welcomes strangers to Louisiana who leave with a friend for life because when you are here, we treat you like family.”

Lt. Governor Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism invite everyone to join the celebration on Monday, Oct. 12. Whether you're cooking your family recipe at home, enjoying a bowl at your favorite Louisiana restaurant or putting your own spin on this Louisiana classic, take a photo and share it on social media. Use #NationalGumboDay and #FeedYourSoul to show how you're celebrating and help Louisiana share its love of gumbo with the world. Because in Louisiana, there's always room for one more at the table.

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