[1][2] 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.
[5] 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).
[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 in 1997, showcasing the variety of dishes available and reactions from tofu devotees and first-timers alike.
[4] Famous chefs exhibit their craft on a cooking platform, with fair goers getting the chance to taste dishes from the demonstrations.