Celebrating food, culture, and community

What’s your food story?
EAT! invites you to explore the connections between the foods you eat every day and the plants growing all around us. From chocolate and coffee to cardamom and lemon, discover where these ingredients come from and how they shape our meals, cultures, and memories.

Explore living displays of edible plants from around the world, and discover recipes and stories shared by community members. Interpretive areas highlight the links between food, culture, and the environment, and visitors are invited to share their own favorite food memories and traditions.

Pop-Up Events as Part of EAT!

• Food Drive
  Nov 12, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
  Food brings people together, and we’re inviting the community to connect, share, and celebrate the many ways food unites us. To help turn this spirit into action, we’re hosting two seasonal food drives to support neighbors across campus and Washtenaw County.

• Art Fare
  Nov 28, 2025 – Jan 25, 2026
  Following the food chain, at some point everything we humans consume for nourishment comes from plants. Fruit, shoots, and roots contribute to our diets and culture. Matthaei Botanical Gardens hosts a group exhibition of works inspired by the food we eat and our dining rituals, from still lifes to contemporary pieces.

• Let’s Eat!
  Wed, Dec 10, 2025 | 6 – 7:30 PM
  A delicious collaboration with U-M Dining! Enjoy four tasting stations featuring recipes inspired by plants growing in our conservatory, celebrating global food stories. Small bites, big flavors, and plenty of opportunities to learn from M-Dining chefs. Free and open to all.

• From Bean to Bar: The Story of Chocolate with Mindo
  Sun, Jan 18, 2026 | 11 AM – 12:30 PM
  Discover how chocolate is grown, made, and enjoyed with Mindo Chocolate Makers. Tour our living cacao trees, learn about Ecuador’s heirloom Nacional cacao, and see the process from bean to chocolate bar—plus, guided tastings! Free, registration required; space is limited.

• Coffee Chat
  Sun, Jan 23, 2026 | 3 PM – 4:30 P PM
  Join the U-M Student Sustainability Coalition for a casual coffee chat at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Students will host an open conversation exploring themes of food access and sovereignty, with a focus on local communities and a shared campus experience.

• Wonder Walks
  Select Sundays and Wednesdays in December and January
  Take guided strolls through our gardens and conservatory to uncover the stories of plants, food, and the environment. These family-friendly walks connect visitors to nature and the edible world around us.

• Nature Play Pop-Ups
  Select Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, | December 2 – January 9
  Families with young children (ages 3–8) are invited to play and explore at Farm to Kitchen Nature Play in Greenhouse 3 North. Adults stay and play alongside their kids. For families with older children, open-ended art materials will also be available to spark creativity and connection.

EAT! brings people together to learn, taste, and talk about food - how it’s grown, how we use it, and why it matters. Admission is free and all are welcome.