Japanese chef returning to Avocado Festival

FALLBROOK — Chef Yujiro Masuda of Sushi no Hanayoshi restaurant in Japan has announced that he will return to Fallbrook for the second year in a row to prepare his famous California roll as an entry in the 21st Annual Fallbrook Avocado Festival on Sunday, April 22.

Yujiro started making avocado sushi for his customers about four years ago. The dish captivated them and his fame has grown because of his innovative use of the fruit. That very fame drew him to the Avocado Capital of the World last year to display his sushi-creating talents at the 20th Annual Avocado Festival. He enjoyed that experience so much that he is returning to Fallbrook this year for a repeat performance.

Yujiro will be a part of a larger culinary experience sponsored by the festival organizers, the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. An “Avocado Dish Preparation Demonstration” area at the festival has been created to provide festival-goers with the opportunity to learn new methods and ideas for preparing avocados in creative and innovative ways.

Local chefs have been invited to participate in presentations at the demonstration area. Avocado dish preparations will begin on the hour at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m.

The festival will also feature a culinary contest for both professionals and amateurs. Professionals will compete in the categories of Best Tasting Guacamole, Best Tasting Salsa and Most Creative Avocado Dish. Amateurs will be judged separately in the same categories, plus an additional Best Tasting Dish Using Fallbrook Fruit category. The contest will begin at 9 a.m.

The avocado preparation demonstrations and the culinary contest will take place in the parking lot of Controltec at 330 South Main Avenue.