Today we plan. I thought I’d share for you my list of new foods, arranged by location. This is easier for you to print out or bookmark and use to walk around the fairgrounds—at least that’s my hope. We’ll be at the fair with my editors tomorrow morning around 9 a.m., starting in the West End and trying to get the breakfast foods before it’s too late—wish us luck! We’ll publish quick takes online and have a writeup hopefully by the end of the night Thursday!
WEST END
Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing at LuLu’s Public House: Like a cream cheese/ranch wonton with ranch dust. West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Patata Frita Focacciawich at West End Creamery: The Minnesota Dairy Lab kettle-chip flavored ice cream in a Wrecktangle Pizza focaccia ice cream sammy. West End Market
PB Bacon Cakes at The Blue Barn: Thick-cut bacon dipped in pancake batter, griddled and topped with peanut butter whipped cream, grape jelly, and banana chips. West End Market, south of the History and Heritage Center
BY GRANDSTAND
Street Sweet Heat Bacon Crunch at RC’s BBQ: Barbecue sauce-slathered slab bacon, topped with hot honey and chili crunch, served over a bed of white rice, and garnished with green onions. By the Grandstand / West End Entrance
Strawberry Lemonade Donut at Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts: Raised doughnut frosted with lemon buttercream, rolled in strawberry lemonade crunch, and garnished with lemon gummy candy and freeze-dried strawberry slice. Served with a strawberry lemonade-filled pipette to squeeze in more flavor. Between West Dan Patch and Carnes avenues and Liggett & Chambers streets, south section
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Koshari at Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine: Rice, pasta, chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, and garlicky vinegar “dakkah” in three varieties—chicken, beef, and vegetable. South of the grandstand under the ramp
WE’RE WALKING
Sweet Corn Cola Float at Blue Moon Dine-In Theater: Sweet corn flavored ice cream, with Minnesota-made sweet corn cola. Top with whipped cream, popping candy, and house-made frozen caramel. Northeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street
Chile Mango Whip at Tasti Whip: Mango Dole Whip soft serve in a chamoy/Tajin-rimmed cup, garnished with a tamarind candy straw. By WCCO Radio booth
Shroomy “Calamari” at French Meadow Bakery: Fried mushrooms shaved into a calamari shape, with a side of chipotle sauce. Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
Blazing Greek Bites at Dino’s: Deep-fry chickpea ball with roasted red pepper hummus. North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
Mocha Madness Shave Ice At Minnesnowii Shave Ice: Caffeine-free coffee flavoring—caramel macchiato cold foam center. Drizzled with chocolate syrup and garnished with dark chocolate espresso beans. West side of Nelson Street between Dan Patch and Carnes avenues
FOOD BUILDING
Afro Poppers at Afro Deli: Sweet and African spicy—deep-fried pastry bites with ground vanilla, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Pick your coating and your drizzle: coconut flakes, sugar, or plain, topped with mango chutney, caramel, or chocolate. Food Building
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
3 Piggy Pals On-A-Stick at Sausage Sister & Me: Three smoked sausage slices wrapped in bacon, filled with a cream cheese mix, and drizzled with barbecue sauce. Topped with a jalapeño slice and served on a stick. Food Building
Crab Boil Wings at Soul Bowl: Crab boil stuff (corn, chicken apple sausage, potatoes) served with chicken wings. Food Building
Raging Ball at Herbivorous Butcher: Deep-fried sesame mochi dough ball, with vegan burger mix, vegan cheddar cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and topped with bacon-flavored powdered sugar. Food Building
Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin at Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken: Ham/pickle/cream cheese combo. Food Building, northwest corner
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR
Grilled Purple Sticky Rice at Union Hmong Kitchen: Yia Vang’s purple sticky rice, hit it with fire until it’s crunchy, top it with shredded Hmong beef jerky or pickled mushrooms, fresh herbs, and Krunchy Chili Aioli, on a stick.
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Nixtamal & Wild Rice Bowl with Wóžapi & Bison Meatballs or Sweet Potato Dumplings at Midtown Global Market: End of the fair only—Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. A wild rice bowl with nixtamal (corn soaked in an alkaline solution) topped with either a bison or sweet potato dumpling and mixed berry wóžapi sauce. Cricket and seed mix topping optional.
Deep-Fried Halloumi Cheese at Holy Land Deli: Wrapped cheese in pastry dough and deep-fried with a side of sweet chili sauce.
Quesabirria Taquitos, Esquitas at El Burrito Mercado: deep-fried Quesabirria Taquitos, their awesome esquites (like an elote in a bowl), and Agua de Sandia Loca watermelon drink with chamoy and bits of seasoned dried mango.
BY SNELLING ENTRANCE
Walking Shepherd’s Pie at O’Gara’s at the Fair: Hot pastries filled with braised ground beef, mashed potatoes, and a blend of onions, carrots, and peas, tossed in herb gravy. Southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street
Turkey Kristo at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop: Ferndale Market turkey on Texas toast, topped with CannonBelles white cheddar cheese, local apple butter, and spicy brown mustard mayo, dusted with powdered sugar. North side of Dan Patch Avenue near the Snelling entrance
Swedish ‘Sota Sliders at Hamline Church Dining Hall: Take the cranberry-wild rice meatball, smash it into a patty, and call it a slider. This is paired with dill Havarti cheese and a red relish of beets, red onions, red peppers, lingonberries, and cranberries, served on two brioche buns. North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets
Dill Pickle Tots at Tot Boss: Fried tots in dill seasoning, should taste like a dill pickle potato chip. East side of Underwood Street between Wright and Dan Patch avenues, south of Kidway
NORTH END/MACHINERY HILL
Cotton Candy Iced Tea at Loon Lake Iced Tea: Sweetened butterfly pea flower iced tea, garnished with a swirl of edible glitter and a rock candy swizzle stick to stir for a color-changing effect. West side of Underwood Street between Wright and Dan Patch avenues
Savory Bánh Mì or Lobster Eclairs at Scenic 61: The New Scenic Cafe team in Duluth is stuffing a lobster roll and a pork and chicken liver pâté Bánh Mì-style in eclairs. South of Little Farm Hands
Ba’bacon Sour Cream + Onion at Baba’s: sour cream and onion hummus topped with beef bacon, sumac tater tots, caramelized onions, scallions, French onion creme fraiche, black cumin seeds, and chive oil. South of Little Farm Hands on Underwood
Cookie Butter Crunch Mini Donuts at Mini Donuts & Cheese Curds: Vanilla-flavored mini donuts coated with vanilla sugar, topped with Biscoff cookie butter drizzle and cookie crumbles, and served in a bucket rimmed with cookie butter and cookie crumbles. East side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues
Marco’s Garden at Jammy Sammies by BRIM: Local rhubarb jam, thyme-marinated locally sourced tomatoes, farmer cheese, jalapeño, and honey served with a side of grilled gluten-free flatbread. North End across from the North End Event Center
Deep-fried Korean Corndogs at Chan’s Eatery: Hot dogs and mozzarella, coated in panko, fried, and finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Option to add a coating of fried potatoes or to substitute toppings for hot Cheetos with spicy mayo. Plus Mochi donuts in eight varieties. Located on the east side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Swedish Ice Cream Sundae at Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall: Vanilla ice cream covered in lingonberry jam, sprinkled with Swedish ginger cookie crumble, and garnished with a ginger cookie heart. North side of Randall Avenue, just south of the Progress Center
ANIMAL BARNS
Buffalo Cheese Curd & Chicken Tacos at Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos: Fried flour shell, blue cheese slaw. Outside the sheep and poultry barn
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Lady’s Slipper Marble Sundae at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream: Strawberry ice cream, plus lemon marshmallow cream and ladyfinger cookies layered in a cup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Northeast corner of Judson Avenue and Liggett Street
Fried Bee-Nana Pie At Sabino’s Pizza Pies: A pie with Minnesota honey, fresh banana, and Biscoff cookie butter, battered and deep-fried. Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, north side
Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick at Waffle Chix: Belgian waffle filled with strawberry shortcake cookie dough, topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce, and served on a stick. By the Sheep Barn
Paella Depot’s Chicken & Chorizo Paella: Traditional Spanish caramelized rice dish with leeks, red bell peppers, zucchini, and snap peas, with option to add fried egg or seafood. Plus, aguas frescas in six flavors made from fruit puree, whole fruit, lime juice, agave, and water. By Miracle of Birth Center
