I’m Going to ESSENCE Fest 2026 (And Yes, I Cried a Little)

Y’all. YALL. I have to sit down for a second because I am still processing that I am about to be in New Orleans for ESSENCE Festival of Culture, and I’m not just going as a spectator with a fan and a to-go plate strategy — I’m actually part of the programming. Somebody pinch me, then hand me a plate of gumbo, because we are officially in our ESSENCE Fest era.

If you’ve followed Hungry Homegirl for any length of time, you know food is never just food to me. It’s culture, it’s memory, it’s the thing that gets whole families and whole cities to agree on something for once. So getting to be part of the Food & Wine Festival at ESSENCE this year? That’s not a brand deal to me. That’s personal.

Here’s everything I’m up to, plus the full rundown of what’s coming with me in my bag (because a girl does not travel light for content).

Where You Can Find Me

Sunday Cook-Off: Gumbo vs. Étouffée — 10:30am–10:50am

Role: Judge (yes, an actual judge, no I did not appoint myself, and yes I already have opinions)

This is the one I’ve been talking about since I got the email. Two of Louisiana’s most iconic, most argued-about, most “my grandmother’s recipe is the only correct one” dishes are going head-to-head: gumbo and étouffée. We’re talking bold roux, perfectly seasoned seafood, layered spices, and family recipes that have probably been fought over at more than one holiday table.

My job is to taste, deliberate, and help crown a Sunday Cook-Off Champion. My honest job is to try to stay unbiased about gumbo, which — let’s be real — is not going to happen. I already have a lane. I’m just going to pretend I don’t.

This is culture on a plate, and I am beyond honored to be trusted with the fork.

Let’s Toast: The Art of the Mocktail — 1:35pm–1:55pm

Role: Moderator

Later that same day, I’m switching hats completely and moderating a conversation with experts in the sobriety and mocktail space about how to build a drink that doesn’t need a drop of alcohol to be unforgettable. If you’ve ever been handed a “mocktail” that was just cranberry juice and a sad lime wedge, this session is your redemption arc. We’re talking real technique, real flavor layering, and drinks that actually compete with the bar menu.

If you’re sober, sober-curious, the designated driver, or just here for the recipes — pull up.

The Hungry Homegirl Essence Fest Packing Checklist

New Orleans in July, back-to-back sessions, and a full content schedule means I am not winging this. Here’s what’s coming with me:

Content Gear

• Sony A7C II — for the good lighting, good angle, main content shots
• DJI Osmo Pocket 3 — my ride-or-die for fast, on-the-move b-roll
• Canon G7X Mark III — backup and vlog-style footage
• iPhone — because half of you are seeing this on Stories before it’s anywhere else
• DJI Mic Mini — non-negotiable, I am not doing another festival with bad audio
• Extra batteries and SD cards (learned this one the hard way)
• Portable charger, because my phone dies the moment something exciting happens

Link to favorites: Content Tech

Essentials for the Heat

• Comfortable shoes I can actually stand and move in between sessions
• A cute outfit that can survive humidity without me needing a full redo
• Setting spray, because New Orleans humidity does not care about your makeup plans
• A reusable water bottle — hydration over everything
• Sunscreen, because “I’ll be fine” has never once been true

Judge Day Specific

• An empty stomach and an open mind (for the gumbo vs. étouffée debate, obviously)
• Notes app ready, because I am absolutely taking this judging seriously
• A poker face, because I already know which one I’m rooting for

The Extras

• Business cards, because you never know who you’ll meet
• A tote bag for all the goodies, because ESSENCE Fest bags happen and I will not be caught without a place to put them
• Snacks for the in-between moments, because sessions run long and gumbo isn’t always available on demand

See Y’all in New Orleans

This one feels different. I’ve built Hungry Homegirl one plate, one city, one honest review at a time — and getting to stand in front of an ESSENCE Fest crowd, judging food that means something and moderating a conversation that matters, feels like a full-circle moment.

Atlanta raised me. New Orleans is about to feed me. And y’all are coming along for every bite.

Catch me July 5th — 10:30am for the Cook-Off, 1:35pm for the mocktail talk. Come hungry.