While Americana at Brand shoppers hustled and bustled across the way, 14-year-old Matthew Winward received his wish on Thursday: a trip to sushi school.
Winward's wish is the second of 10 public wish celebrations during Make-A-Wish Foundation's sixth annual Season of Wishes, and the first of the series at the Americana.
The organization grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Winward, who has Crohn's disease, experiences severe abdominal pain and other complications due to his illness.
"One day I was flaming, and I had a craving for sushi," said the San Clemente resident. "Buying sushi at the store gets expensive, so I started making my own.
"Turns out I'm pretty good at it, and everyone who tries it says it's the best they've ever had."
The sushi lessons, to be held at California Sushi Academy in downtown Los Angeles, were supplemented by a sushi-making demonstration by Katsuya at the Americana.
