On Thursday, May 21, Bloc15 in Jack London Square was adorned with flowers, captivating sculptures, vibrant paintings, and people from across the Bay Area, all celebrating Gourmex East Bay’s arrival in Oakland.
Gourmex is an event of the Consulate General of Mexico. It was first hosted in 2010 for the bicentennial of Mexican Independence Day and has since been held at various locations in San José and San Francisco.
This year, Gourmex East Bay welcomed over 350 guests, including foreign dignitaries, elected officials, and business and community leaders, for a celebration of Mexican culture and food from the region’s top chefs. Guests enjoyed live music and tapas-style food pairings with fine mezcal, tequila, and desserts.
Welcome to the Town
Consul General of Mexico Marco Mena opened the evening with a toast acknowledging the event’s presenting sponsor, PG&E, as well as all the sponsors and chefs who dedicated their time to making the magical event possible.
Mayor Barbara Lee welcomed guests to Oakland, emphasizing the theme of unity, saying, “It’s not only about food, but it’s also about culture, it’s about community, and it’s about togetherness.” She explained why Oakland was the best city to host Gourmex, noting that it was named the No. 1 Food City in the United States by Condé Nast for two consecutive years.
The East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA) was the perfect partner to bring the celebration to the East Bay this year. “It was great to bring Gourmex to Oakland for the first time, a city known for its culinary prowess and passion to support its restaurants and small businesses,” said Stephen Baiter, Executive Director of East Bay EDA.
More Than Just Food
At the heart of the celebration was the story of entrepreneurship. Behind each sip or tasty bite was a chef, restaurateur, winemaker, or chocolatier who has dedicated their life to their craft and passion. They have given everything to build brands and businesses through economic recessions, a global pandemic, and political turmoil. Despite these challenges, they persist.
Restaurant owners help make up the more than 90,000 small businesses or micro-enterprises with less than 10 employees in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. These small businesses make up 84% of all businesses in the region and are part of an economic engine that employs more than 85,0000 people throughout the East Bay.
All Gourmex East Bay chefs and restaurateurs share a unique connection to the Mexican diaspora, hailing from culinary hotspots such as Mexico City, Oaxaca, Jalisco, Yucatán, and other regions. They were joined by producers of fine beverages and products from Mexico for a true international pairing experience.
Economic and cultural exchanges, such as Gourmex, are the glue that connects the Bay Area to Mexico. Chefs bring something new to our diverse communities, restaurateurs contribute to the economic resilience and growth of our region, and the food brings pride and a taste of home for many who share roots across borders.
Thank You Gourmex East Bay Participants
Osvaldo Sánchez, from Agave Uptown; Silvia Hernández-McCollow and José Ramos, from NIDO’s Backyard and Odín; Iván López Soriano, from Mesa Maguey; Linda Sánchez and Jesús Chávez, from Casa de Chocolates; Serafín Cruz, from Casa del Toro; Luis Flores, from Flores; Gloria Domínguez, from Amado; Azari Cuenca-Maitret, from Copita; Juventino Carrillo, from Cantina Los Mayas; Octavio Díaz, from Agave Healdsburg; and Diana and Diego Ramírez-Jasso, from Yoyo’s Botanería.
Visit Gourmex East Bay and follow them on Instagram for future events.