Los Angeles Tofu Festival
Los Angeles Tofu Festival, usually known as Tofu Festival or Tofu Fest, was a weekend
History and tradition
Invented by several Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) board members as a theme for a food festival, Tofu Fest was approved by the LTSC in 1995 and added as a subcommittee to the Nisei Week Foundation with support from the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) and sponsorship from Hinochi (now House Foods). Tofu Fest became the first festival in honor of tofu worldwide in 1996.[4] All proceeds go to the LTSC.[6]
Tofu Festival used annual themes to both enhance the atmosphere and promote certain goals. A tofu block is Tofu Festival's mascot, which changes appearance and nickname depending on the year's theme.[4] The theme for 2006 was "It’s Hip to Be Square!", featuring the tofu block mascot wearing sunglasses and earrings.[6]
The festival was the focus of an episode of Visiting... with Huell Howser that originally aired in Southern California on KCET. The episode featured a visit to the third annual festival, showcasing the variety of dishes available and reactions from tofu devotees and first-timers alike. https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2016/12/07/tofu-festival-visiting-620/
Attractions
Beer, Wine & Sake Garden
A selection of sake and beer was served in a sectioned off portion of Tofu Fest,[7] supplementing Little Tokyo's own beer gardens and Nisei Week's attractions. The sale of alcohol was under debate by the festival's committee in 1994 in regards to making the festival more family friendly.[4]
Celebrity Chefs
Famous chefs exhibit their craft on a cooking platform, with fair goers getting the chance to taste dishes from the demonstrations. Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef was a recurring guest, appearing in the 2006 festival.[8]
Children's Pavilion
Children were previously given an additional area to enjoy the festival,[9] as parts of the festival, like the alcohol garden, were unsuitable. After 2006, Children's Pavilion was no longer a featured event.[6]
Entertainment Stage
Bands and artists appear live at the festival, ranging from instrumental groups, such as
Tofu Eating Contest
The tofu
See also
- Japanese American
- Nikkei people
- Japanese American Citizens League
References
- ^ "RIP Los Angeles Tofu Festival - Eater LA". 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival". Archived from the original on 2008-02-28.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival - Admission". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
- ^ a b c d "LA Tofu Festival - History". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
- ^ "LA Downtown News". Archived from the original on 2004-07-25.
- ^ a b c "LA Tofu Festival - PR". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival - Beer Garden". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival - Cooking Stage". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
- ^ "Calendar". Archived from the original on 2004-12-26.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival - Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
- ^ "LA Tofu Festival - Eating Contest". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
External links
"Interview with Maggie Downs". The Desert Sun. March 31, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Alt URL