Chef Norwood Pryor served up strawberry dessert samples and a helping of cooking tips to audiences Friday afternoon, one of several demonstrations starring the red fruit over three days.
His presentation occurred as part of the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival, which opened Friday and ends Sunday at the Santa Maria Fairpark. This year’s festival marks the 35th year of celebrating the strawberries.
Among the chef’s tips: Recognize the assorted varieties of strawberries available at farm stands around the Santa Maria and Lompoc valleys along with southern San Luis Obispo County.
“Taste all of the different ones. Some of them are better for pies; some of them are better for just munching on,” he said. Some may look beautiful, “but the flavor’s kind of flat.”
“So, dip those bad boys in chocolate,” he added with a laugh.
The weekend cooking demonstrations organized by Central Coast Party Helpers will feature different chefs and recipes each day inside the Convention Center at the Fairpark.
On Saturday, chef Gary Thomas will make strawberries and creme torrejas, or Cuban French toast, while Sunday’s demonstration will feature a spicy strawberry salad, according to Brigette Faulkner from Central Coast Party Helpers.
For Friday’s demonstration, Pryor, or Chef Norwood from Baby Bear Biscuits, served up a strawberry shor-biscuit dessert featuring a vanilla custard, Chantilly cream and strawberry coulis, or sauce.
Out of syrup for pancakes? Make up a strawberry coulis, or uncooked sauce, he told the audience.
He plans to open a Carolina-style farm-to-table food restaurant this summer in San Luis Obispo serving up various foods along with offering classes for adults and children.
After his first 30-minute demonstration ended Friday, he chatted with festival attendees while making up additional samples of the dessert.
The festival celebrates Santa Barbara County’s top crop, which accounted for nearly $811 million toward the nearly $2 billion production gross value, according to the 2022 Santa Barbara County Crop Report, the most recent status report on the industry.
New this year to the festival is the Plaza de Fresas — Party in the Plaza — to turn the grassy area in front of Center Stage into a gathering spot with food, beverages, music and dancing.
Hours after the gates opened, festival officials were happy with the debut of the Plaza de Fresas.
“It’s very active out there right now, although the wind’s been a little wild,” said Casey Douglass, fairpark spokeswoman.
While the weekend event will take place under sunshine and highs in the 60s, breezy conditions will continue both days with gusts as high as 20 to 25 mph on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Each day of the festival will include favorite events plus new features inside and outside. The old attractions include strawberry tasting, strawberry cooking demonstrations and a strawberry-eating contest, while a new feature is the daily strawberry piñata drop.
“In planning and putting it together, our primary focus is how do we freshen it up but still keep the traditions?” Douglass added.
The event also includes carnival rides by Paul Maurer Shows, a chalk art display and a classic car show.
Additionally, pony and camel rides also are available while Violin on Fire and Zany Zoe Magical Show entertainment acts can found performing around the fairgrounds.
A number of local and other dance and music groups will perform on the Center Stage during the weekend.
Vendors offer beverages and foods, many topped with strawberries in various forms.
Gates are open from noon to 10 p.m. daily at the fairpark, 937 N. Thornburg St.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $15 for those age 12 to 61, $13 for youths ages 6 to 11 and senior citizens 62 or older, or free for children age 5 or younger.
Youth Day on Saturday means admission will be $5 for those ages 6 to 11. On Sunday for Fiesta Day, students in junior high, high school and college will be admitted for free with a valid school identification.
Sunday will include a Fiesta Day concert that requires buying a separate ticket to enter in addition to paid festival admission. Tickets for the Fiesta Day concert can be bought at the MMG Concerts website.
Unlimited daily ride wristbands are $45 with 40 carnival ride tickets for $35 and 24 for $25. Parking in a fairpark lot is $10.
For maps, daily schedules and other information about the Strawberry Festival, click here.