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| Got tortilla chips? |
Fallbrook, CA
I still remember my first time tasting "real" guacamole. Up until then I wasn't too fond of the stuff, considering my only encounter with it was those shallow containers sold in the grocery store dairy section with what looked like green sour cream inside.
My parents took me to El Torito, and moments after placing our dinner order a quiet little man came to our table carrying a huge tray with halved avocados, onions, tomatoes, limes, cilantro and spices. He carefully scooped the creamy flesh from the fruit and blended it with the rest of the ingredients, topping it off with a few squeezes of lime. It was chunky! It was colorful! It actually smelled like something! And, it soon became apparent that we would need more than the singular basket of chips that were provided.
Learning to appreciate the avocado was one of my first lessons of adulthood. I felt like I had some sort of insider tip or learned some great culinary secret. Truth us, evidence of avocado use dates back to around 10,000 B.C. in Mexico. Naturally.
Although the community of Fallbrook hasn't celebrated this fruit for quite that long, they have had ample time to perfect a festival giving homage to everything avocado-related. Feeling competitive? Bedazzle your avocado for the Best-Dressed Avocado Contest or doll up your kids to compete for the titles of Little Miss and Mister Avocado. The Guacamole Contest is always a huge draw, as would be expected, along with the Largest Avocado Contest.
The less enthusiastic can kick back with some wine and beer tasting while listening to the Battle of the Bands or some relaxing flamenco or mariachi. Ole!
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