About Us
WHAT IS
EVERYBODY GOTTA EAT?
Everybody Gotta Eat is a community-rooted food movement born in Cambridge’s Newtowne Court. What started as a backyard cookout has grown into a cultural platform that uses food to bring people together — through large-scale events, chef incubations, curated dinners, and collaborations with brands and local creatives.
“One thing everyone is going to do is eat,” says founder Emmanuel Mervil. “The way I grew up, food was a big part of the culture; my mom fed everybody.”
That lived experience — community first, food as connection — remains the heartbeat of Everything we do.
Today, Everybody Gotta Eat is shaping Greater Boston’s food culture by offering:
Community Events
From the 15,000-person Annual Everybody Gotta Eat BBQ to neighborhood pop-ups, food hall programs, and culturally-rooted gatherings.
Chef Incubation & The Pop-Up Kitchen
Our test kitchen gives emerging chefs a space to develop menus, share their craft, and build their culinary voice.
Brand & Community Partnerships
We collaborate with institutions, nonprofits, and companies to bring food-centered storytelling and cultural experiences to life.
Catering & Culinary Experiences
Afro-Caribbean soul food, chef-driven menus, and curated experiences for organizations, events, and private gatherings. Rooted in joy, dignity, and culture — Everybody Gotta Eat exists to create food experiences that make people feel seen, connected, and cared for.
WHAT WE DO
Catering & Culinary Experiences
We partner with chefs from diverse cultural backgrounds to deliver high-quality catering for private, corporate, and community events. From Afro-Caribbean soul food to chef-curated menus, we bring bold flavor and cultural storytelling to every table.
Chef Incubation & The Pop-Up Kitchen
The Pop-Up Kitchen is our chef-driven test kitchen — a space for emerging culinary talent to develop menus, sharpen their craft, and launch new concepts.
Community Events & Large-Scale Food Experiences
We create food-centered events that bring people together — including neighborhood pop-ups, curated dinners, and the 11,000+ attendee Everybody Gotta Eat BBQ, one of Boston’s largest Black-led food events.
Brand & Community Partnerships
We collaborate with cultural institutions, nonprofits, and major brands to build food-forward experiences that uplift community and drive impact. If you’re planning an activation that needs soul, culture, and connection — we’d love to partner.
Media, Marketing & Storytelling
We don’t just cook — we create culture. With a digital community of 19K+ and a strong storytelling presence, we spotlight restaurants, creators, and community voices through:
-Social media features
-Photography + video content
-Community storytelling
-Brand campaigns
-Food and culture guides
Food Hall Programming — Eastern Edge
Opening January, our second home in Kendall Square will feature chef residencies, new menu drops, food experiences, and cultural programming rooted in community.