For Sarah and Adam, it was family who laid the foundation, and it’s still family, even those no longer here, inspiring them to serve up something long-lasting.
ROCKPORT, Texas — When we talk about celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, quite a few things come to mind: rich culture, meaningful traditions — and of course, delicious food. Recipes passed down from parent to child — sometimes for generations — often carry with them the stories and legacies of those who came before.
At Gabriela’s Seafood + Tapas in Rockport, those legacies are being honored every single day — through dishes served, memories preserved, and a deep sense of family.
“Everything from the restaurant is inspired by my mom,” said Sara, the owner and founder of Gabriela’s. “There’s a lot of details in here as well that directly connect to her.”
From the menu to the décor — and even the restaurant’s name — it all serves as a tribute to Maria Gabriela “Gabby” Huerta Humpal.
“The logo, the feather logo, actually comes from the nickname that she gave me — which is Plumita, which translates to ‘little feather’ in Spanish,” Sara shared.
Sara was just 11 years old when she lost her mother, in an accident that changed her family’s life.
It was in February of 2012, that the private twin-engine plane the Humpal family was on tragically crashed just outside of Denver, killing Gabby and pilot Hans Vandervlught of Refugio.
Sara, her father and her two brothers, sustained numerous injuries, but miraculously survived the crash.
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13 years later, Sara’s passion to honor her mother’s legacy has never wavered — holding tightly to the dreams Gabby left behind.
“One of the last memories I remember of her is wanting to start her own business,” she said. “She loved to cook, and that was definitely an important thing. I think the most important thing, though, was she really enjoyed bringing people together and celebrating anything and everything.”
As Sarah tackles the business and innovation side of Gabriela’s, Executive Chef Adam Gonzalez, is bringing the kitchen to life through his flavorful recipes.
For Adam, cooking has always been in his blood – a passion that goes back to childhood. He too continues to draw inspiration from family – his father, though he too passed away – in everything that he does.
“My dad was the executive chef of the Houston City Club at that time,” Adam explained. “So growing up in inner-city Houston — got into trouble, but my dad wouldn’t let us stay home. If you got suspended from school, you went to work. My dad wouldn’t even give us a ride.”
That tough love and work ethic created a ripple effect in his family.
“Today, I have some brothers, cousins, nephews that are all in the business because of my dad,” he said.
Today, Adam and Sarah lean on their heritage — and their families’ recipes — to continue building on something that is long-lasting.
“Make the call — ‘Tía Laura, do you remember how Mom made this? Does she happen to have it written down somewhere?’ Stuff like that!” Adam said. “You think about how Grandma made her roasted tomato salsa, how she made the tomatillo sauce — Sarah’s mom — we do that recipe here. We’ve gotta pass it on! And if we don’t, it’ll be lost!”
That spirit of preservation and pride fuels everything at Gabriela’s.
“It’s really dear to my heart,” Sarah said. “I grew up in the Hispanic culture — and everyone that’s grown up in that culture knows how warm and inviting and fun that culture is, and I’m very grateful to still be connected to that side of my family — and be able to pay tribute to my mom through a Latin-inspired restaurant.”
For Adam, it’s also about honoring where they came from and sharing that pride with the community.
“Being very proud of where we’re from and how we got here, and what contributions we’ve made,” he said. “Hey, we’re in the Coastal Bend — it’s a beautiful culture! I don’t think there’s any other way to say it other than proud — extremely proud.”
Gabriela’s celebrated two years in the Rockport community this past August. Sara and Adam shared that part of the exciting additions to year three includes their very own Gabriela’s food truck which will serve up some of their most popular menu items – something they’re working to take on the road to various community events throughout the Coastal Bend.
Dining and Cooking