Tina Knowles, the beloved mother of superstars Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, is hosting a pop-up gumbo restaurant, Mama Tina’s Gumbo, during this year’s Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show. The restaurant was temporarily closed by the Houston Health Department, but shortly reopened after it passed an inspection. Here’s what we know about what happened.
Mama Tina’s Gumbo reopened after a second inspection by the Houston Health Department
Mama Tina’s Gumbo was temporarily closed on Monday following a complaint investigation. It was reopened the next day after passing another inspection, according to Houston Health Department Director Dr. Theresa Tran, as reported by ABC 13.
“On Monday, March 16, 2026, the Houston Health Department issued a temporary closure of Mama Tina’s Gumbo booth at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a result of a complaint investigation,” the department said in a statement, per ABC13. “The vendor was cooperative with the department’s recommendations and passed a subsequent inspection. It was authorized to reopen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.”
After food production started back up, customers were seen lining up to get a taste of Mama Tina’s Gumbo, according to People.
Mama Tina’s Gumbo opened at this year’s Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 2
The booth is scheduled to remain open until March 22, according to Knowles’ Instagram. The stand serves Knowles’ 20-hour gumbo recipe, which she said had been a longtime favorite among family and friends.
“Everybody’s been wanting to try my gumbo. I’ve been making gumbo for 40-something years and people have been asking for it and asking for me to put it out. And, I finally found a way to do it where it’s affordable. I’m just really excited,” Knowles said in a TikTok video, as reported by USA Today.
She also said that her daughter Beyoncé particularly loves the recipe: “Beyoncé absolutely loves this gumbo. She would have it all the time, she’s always asking. So now I can have it readily because it’s such a production to me. It takes 20 hours.”
The gumbo is available in two recipes: a $25 seafood version made with beef sausage, chicken, shrimp and blue crab and a $23 chicken-and-sausage only option.
“It’s sort of like a soup. I would liken it to Bouillabaisse, but it’s better. It comes from the origin of Louisiana and we mix a little Texas in with it,” Knowles said.
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