State Fair Food

[snarg2001]

 Ah, how I love the al fresco experience of carnival foods--the array of unusual and traditional and just plain weird! (Never mind that we rarely have the money to attend--it's fun to muse about what we MIGHT try!)
 Our Wisconsin state fair opens tomorrow with the promise of a plethuera (sp?) of "food on a stick" as well as some tried and true favorites.
 The new: Apple Bacon Pie. Yup, apple pie with bacon bits ensconced in the filling. I personally do not like bacon, but I suggested to a local tv anchor that they might want to throw a wedge of cheddar cheese in that as well (this being the dairy state, after all). You have smokey apple bacon cheeseburgers, so that whole combo might work well.
              Chocolate-covered Bacon on a Stick: Technically, this was trotted out last year, but worth the mention again.
              Cousin's subs Cheesesteak on a stick: Haven't seen any photos yet of this-don't have an opinion yet.
               
The traditional: Deep fried cheese curds (this is the dairy state, I might remind you) Breaded cheese curds deep fried. A heart attack waiting to happen.
                      Roasted sweet corn: So good, it needs NO butter (but being the dairy state, we add it anyway!)
                      Salt water taffy: Okay, its from Jersey, but its fabulous!
                       Cream Puffs: Such a big hit, they've set up a drive through to accommodate the demand   for these pastry wonders stuffed full of fat and surgar, also known as real whipped cream (did I mention we ARE the dairy state?)
 What are some of the regional specialties that you have encountered?
Have you even attended a state fair?

[P P Panda]

I've attended the Orange County Fair for several years in a row awhile back when I was still young and didn't care about my overall health. I always loved the ginormous corndogs and the blooming onions. But alas, I've stopped going for general health concerns...

[marka]

The new: Apple Bacon Pie. Yup, apple pie with bacon bits ensconced in the filling... Chocolate-covered Bacon on a Stick: Technically, this was trotted out last year, but worth the mention again... Cousin's subs Cheesesteak on a stick... Deep fried cheese curds... Breaded cheese curds deep fried.

Please don't take offense snarg, but ... do you people in Wisconsin take a lot of drugs? :p

Re state fairs: I once went to the Minnesota State Fair. It was huge. The most memorable parts: Eating my first (and last) corn dog and not barfing, and coming upon a strange-o collection of bigots at some tent, with a woman in prairie clothes handing out leaflets stating the Holocaust never happened. No idea how they got away with that.

Also went to a festival in Kalona, Iowa. It wasn't a state fair, but sure beat the Minnesota one. Kalona has lots of Amish, and I got into a chat with a Mennonite woman, who decided to teach me all about the social differences between Mennonites, Old Amish, and New Amish. Afterwards I recorded everything in a journal, but all I remember offhand is that she was plain-dressed in blue, was a very cool person, and was thrilled to be a less conservative Mennonite so that she could have a washing machine. Also remember they had really delicious pie at the festival, and I bought a bag of homemade egg noodles that, when cooked, were totally yummy.

I'm not really into food, so I don't tend to pay attention to weird food. But I did have a genuine crab cake for the first time at some Scottish festival in Maryland, and although I was suspicious, it ended up being so delicious I could've eaten a dozen.

 
  

[Lady Macbeth]

I almost never go to fairs but...FUNNEL CAKES!!! 

Fried bread covered in powdered sugar. Food of the gods.

I have heard of deep-fried Pepsi. I can't figure out how that works...

[matthew]

Bacon and apple pie. I almost think I might try that.

I can recommend deep-fried mars-bars and the like.

Deep-fried pepsi? Isn't that like grilling a raw egg? IE impossible?

I've never been to a state fair, but I'd imagine the food is like a bakery/delicatessen or a big general party food.

>>Fried bread covered in powdered sugar. Food of the gods.
Really? Fried bread and sugar. And it tastes good. Right. Will try.

[Lady Macbeth]

http://www.squidoo.com/deep-fried-pepsi

Found a recipe. I like Pepsi but this looks icky.

[snarg2001]

Wow. Deep fried Pepsi.
 That just boggles my mind.
 

[Scott]

I haven't heard of deep-fried Pepsi before.  Coke, on the other hand...

[marka]

  That looks like chopped-up Alien naughty bits.

[P P Panda]

I almost never go to fairs but...FUNNEL CAKES!!! 

OH RIGHT. I forgot about the "funnel cake" I had at my last fair. It's called a Mexican Funnel cake. It was a tangled up mess of a churro with either strawberries, whip cream, or chocolate syrup on top.



It tastes better than it looks, I assure you.

[Woraug]

I'm not really big on fairs, but I do love the chicken on a stick one of the vendors for my home towns county fair has.  I also get 10lbs of free pulled pork (Just cause this guy makes AWESOME pulled pork) for helping him set up his stand/trailer every year.

[matthew]

Well it had to be the liquid or mixed with something.
What did it taste like Scott?
*Wondering what flavor to use*

I don't know Panda it looks pretty good.

[Scott]

I actually have no idea what fried Coke tastes like.  However, I can highly recommend deep-fried pulled pork.  I tried that one by accident at a food fest, thinking it was a piece of chicken.

[Gaelin]

I love the idea of fair food, but it always disappoints.

We usually go to the San Diego County Fair, but didn't make it this year. Part of the magic of it is that the fair is held at the Del Mar Racetrack, which is seaside, and the saltwater and sunblock smells mingle with the food smells and barnyard dust and  all the beautiful spinning carnival lights. It is one of my favorite events. That said, I've never eaten anything good there aside from fudge, a gyro sandwich, and some of the pre-packaged offerings at the seller's booths (salsa, jam, jerky). Even the mini donuts were just okay. Here's a rundown of things I've eaten in past years and a synopsis:

Indian fry bread: decent, greasy
Chow Mein: terrible, greasy, and so not what I was expecting
Gyro sandwich: good, just like the ones at the mall, except overpriced
Deep Fried Avocado: I REALLY wanted this to be delicious, but they didn't season it at all.
Smoked Turkey Leg: overcooked! Good flavor, but tough as hell
Cheeseburgers: Undercooked! Strangely from the same booth as the turkey leg
Pizza: My elementary school served better
Mini Donuts: Good, but not magical, I'd actually prefer donut shop donuts
Fudge: Good, but very plain, I can make my own for a lot less $

I have never had the deep fried cookies or candy offerings (I can never find the booth), and would never pay for chocolate covered bacon (I can make that at home - it's delicious). I never buy funnel cakes, churros, or ice cream, because I can get them here whenever I want them, and I hate kettle corn because it's always too sweet and usually kind of burnt.

I am intrigued by bacon apple pie, though I don't think I'd like it. I'd prefer the bacon in the pie crust with some rosemary and gruyere and cracked black pepper. I like my bacon crispy or not at all. I would totally eat the deep fried cheese curds, I love deep fried cheese on a stick, I can only imagine it being better bite-sized. I've had cheeseCAKE on a stick, but never cheeseSTEAK, which also sounds good. I love saltwater taffy, but have no use for cream puffs. I hope you get to go Snarg, and tell us everything if you do.

Scott: the deep fried coke looks a lot like deep fried clams.

[FE_Papiroku]

I haven't heard of deep-fried Pepsi before.  Coke, on the other hand...

WHAAAAAT?!?!?!?!