Mama Tina’s Gumbo Debuts At Houston Rodeo With Mixed Reviews

If you walk through the food vendors at the 2026 Houston Rodeo, one booth is drawing serious attention.

Tina Knowles, widely known as Mama Tina and the mother of global superstar Beyoncé, is serving up her own gumbo to thousands of rodeo visitors. The dish has quickly become one of the most talked-about food items at the event.

Unlike many celebrity food ventures, Knowles is reportedly working the booth herself, greeting fans, talking about the recipe, and serving bowls of gumbo to curious customers.

The lines have been long, the buzz has been loud, and social media has had plenty to say.

A Gumbo Years In The Making

According to interviews with Knowles, the gumbo has been decades in the making.

She says she learned to cook gumbo while working as a sous chef alongside her mother and describes it as one of the few dishes she truly knows how to cook.

Knowles said people have asked her for years to bring her gumbo to the public, but earlier attempts to launch the idea proved too expensive. Now, she says she has finally found a way to make it happen.

The recipe itself is described as a hybrid collaboration with two partners who previously served gumbo at one of her events. Knowles says she added her own Louisiana ingredients and cooking techniques to make the dish match her personal taste.

The gumbo reportedly cooks anywhere from 14 to 18 hours per pot.

Customers can choose between a chicken and sausage gumbo priced around $23 per cup, or a chicken, sausage, and seafood version priced around $25.

Social Media Reactions Are All Over The Place

The biggest buzz around Mama Tina’s gumbo might not be the lines. It might be the reviews.

Influencers and food reviewers online have offered wildly different opinions about the dish.

Some say the gumbo is excellent and worth the price, especially considering the long cooking process and the chance to meet Knowles in person.

Others have been far more critical. Some visitors claimed the gumbo tasted watery or underwhelming for the price, while a few viral videos joked about receiving cups filled with shrimp shells.

Of course, Louisiana gumbo fans are known for having strong opinions about their favorite dish.

Louisiana Gumbo Purists Have Questions

One topic that has sparked debate among gumbo enthusiasts is the reported cooking time.

Knowles has said the gumbo cooks anywhere between 14 and 18 hours. Some Louisiana cooks online questioned whether cooking a gumbo that long could cause ingredients to break down too much.

Still, others argue that every gumbo cook has their own method and that judging a recipe without tasting it first might be unfair.

A Celebrity Dish With Major Buzz

Regardless of where people land on the taste, Mama Tina’s gumbo is clearly drawing attention.

Fans have traveled specifically to the Houston Rodeo to meet Knowles and try the dish, and social media videos show large crowds gathered around the booth.

With multiple business ventures already under her belt, including working with Beyoncé on the haircare brand Cécred, Knowles continues to expand her brand.

Whether the gumbo becomes a lasting culinary venture or simply a rodeo sensation remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain.

When Beyoncé’s mom starts serving gumbo, people are going to talk about it.