Los Angeles Tofu Festival

Los Angeles Tofu Festival, usually known as Tofu Festival or Tofu Fest, was a weekend matsuri held every August in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles from 1995 to 2007. Due to ongoing redevelopment in Little Tokyo there is no longer enough space to hold a festival of the size of Tofu Fest, and it has been canceled indefinitely, the last festival being held in 2007.[1][2]

A banner at the Tofu Festival in 2005.
Food at the Tofu Festival in 2005.

Tofu is the primary ingredient of dishes and the cultural icon of the festival, which focuses on innovative Japanese and American cuisine within an obon-like atmosphere. Due to Tofu Fest's wider cultural and commercial appeal, and larger funds to work with (Tofu Fest charges admission into its area[3]), it has outgrown Nisei Week's Street Arts Fair in booths — Tofu Fest's first fair had over 8,000 visitors [4] and over 26,000 visitors by 2004.[5]

History and tradition
Mr. Tofu at the final Tofu Festival in 2007.

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 taiko and orchestra, to hip hop groups like Blackalicious.[10]

Tofu Eating Contest

The tofu eating contest was a race to eat a 14-ounce block of tofu in the shortest amount of time. Several elimination rounds are held before the final battle and winner's ceremony, where a prize is given to the winner on the entertainment stage.[11]

See also

References
  1. "RIP Los Angeles Tofu Festival - Eater LA". 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  2. "LA Tofu Festival". Archived from the original on 2008-02-28.
  3. "LA Tofu Festival - Admission". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  4. "LA Tofu Festival - History". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
  5. "LA Downtown News". Archived from the original on 2004-07-25.
  6. "LA Tofu Festival - PR". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
  7. "LA Tofu Festival - Beer Garden". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
  8. "LA Tofu Festival - Cooking Stage". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
  9. "Calendar". Archived from the original on 2004-12-26.
  10. "LA Tofu Festival - Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.
  11. "LA Tofu Festival - Eating Contest". Archived from the original on 2007-09-10.

"Interview with Maggie Downs". The Desert Sun. March 31, 2006. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Alt URL

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