Because ChatGPT can’t plan your entire life, I’ve taken all the new Minnesota State Fair foods that I know about, and I’ve grouped them together in a logical walking tour. On Thursday, Aug. 21, the Minnesota Monthly team and I will start at West End and work our way through the Fairgrounds, using this as a guide.
I hope you bookmark it, print it out, put it on a clipboard, and find this useful. Happy State Fair!
West End Marketplace:
LULU’S PUBLIC HOUSE (Caprese Curds): Tomatoes with deep-fried cheese curds instead of fresh mozzarella. Basil, balsamic too. At LuLu’s Public House, located at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater
WEST END CREAMERY (Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog): Minnesota Dairy Lab Vanilla ice cream, sandwiched between two pieces of Grandma Doreen’s Coffee Cake—a family recipe from Elgin, Minnesota—made by Wrecktangle Pizza. Skewered on a stick and drizzled with house-made strawberry rhubarb jam. Garnished with cinnamon toast-flavored crispy treats, whipped cream, and sprinkles. At West End Creamery, located at West End Market, northwest section
BLUE BARN (Sweet Squeakers): white cheddar cheese curds coated in a funnel cake batter, deep fried.Topped with lemon cream cheese and finished with a drizzle of berry sauce. At The Blue Barn, located at West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Between West End and Grandstand:
RC’S BBQ (Hula Kalua Pork): Caramelized with a Hawaiian barbecue sauce, inspired by the flavors of traditional Hawaiian Kalua pork. Served atop a charred banana leaf with banana chips and Japanese quick-pickled cucumbers on the side. Finished with a sprinkle of coarse red sea salt. At RC’s BBQ, located on the north side of West Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett & Chambers streets
RICHIE’S CHEESE CURD TACOS (Pizza Cheese Curd Tacos): New location! Pepperoni, sausage, and pizza-flavored fried cheese curds with a crispy flour shell. At Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos, located on the west side of Chambers Street between West Dan Patch & Carnes
FLUFFY’S HAND CUT DONUTS (Hot Honey Jalapeño Popper Donut): Hand-cut, yeast-raised doughnut frosted with homemade jalapeño cream cheese, Topped with crumbled bacon, pickled jalapeños, and drizzled with hot honey. At Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts, located on the northwest corner of Carnes Avenue & Chambers Street
COASTERS (Uncrustaburger): Cheeseburger with pickles with a deep-fried
peanut butter and grape jelly Uncrustables® on either side as a bun. At Coasters, located on the southeast corner of Carnes Avenue & Liggett Street
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Walking to the WCCO Radio Booth to See My Show:
MANCINI’S (Cannoli Gelato Nachos): Cannoli chips topped with a scoop of cannoli-flavored gelato: chocolate sauce, rainbow sprinkles, and a cherry. At Mancini’s al Fresco, located on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood streets
DINO’S (Athena’s Whipped Feta): Whipped feta topped with schug—a Middle Eastern mildly spicy green sauce, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkled with crunchy toasted wild rice. Served with deep-fried pita bread. At Dino’s Gyros, located on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood streets
TASTI WHIP (Cherry Bigfoot Limeade Float): limeade juice with cherry Dole soft serve. At Tasti Whip, located on the northwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Underwood Street
LOON LAKE ICED TEA (Dill Pickle Iced Tea): other side of the grandstand near the Steak Sandwich
Garnished with a rim of chamoy, Tajín, salt, and dill. At Loon Lake Iced Tea, located on the west side of Underwood Street between Wright & Dan Patch avenues
Food Building
AFRO DELI (Afro Bean Pops): A black-eyed pea hushpuppy with onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and seasonings with a spicy red chili sauce. Afro Deli, located in the Food Building, east wall
SOUL BOWL (Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries): double-breaded bacon strips. Dip them in Cashville Hot, a brown sugar Nashville-style hot sauce, or 24k Gold BBQ, a passion fruit Charleston gold barbecue sauce. At Soul Bowl, located in the Food Building, east wall
SARA’S TIPSY PIES (Cinna-sugar Crust Tidbits): Tipsy Pie’s pie crust strips that you dip in whiskey-flavored caramel dipping sauce. At Sara’s Tipsy Pies, located in the Food Building, northwest wall
GRANNY’S APPLES + LEMONADE (Green Apple Sucker Ice Cream): Tart green apple ice cream with caramel swirls. At Granny’s Apples + Lemonade, located in the Food Building, west wall
GASS STATION GRILL (Smashadilla): quesadilla with a hamburger inside. At Gass Station Grill, located on the west side of Cooper Street between Dan Patch & Judson avenues, outside southeast corner of the Food Building
HERBIVOROUS BUTCHER Freaky Fryday: Chicken-fried vegan bacon served with vegan fried chicken strips infused with bacon flavor. Top it with mini doughnut cinnamon sugar and maple syrup, pickle seasoning and ranch dressing, spicy buffalo sauce and dragon dust—or a combination of all three. At The Herbivorous Butcher, located in the Food Building, west section, south wall
Near the Snelling Entrance
HAMLINE CHURCH DINING HALL: Not on the official list of new foods, but Hamline added Dan Patch Dip: cheesy street corn dip served in a boat dish with corn tortilla chips and pineapple slaw for $11. Lemon-Rosemary Chicken: Chef Alison Kirwin has given her personal touch to the longtime favorite, Baked Chicken, by marinating the chicken legs with fresh lemons, rosemary, and garlic. Gluten-free. Minnesota Maple Shake-Up by GINKGO Coffee: Espresso and Minnesota maple syrup, all shaken together to reach the perfect foamy texture.
NEW VENDOR! Chocolate Strawberry Cup: Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup (layered with Belgian-style chocolate, pistachio butter, kataifi, and pistachios); Matcha White Chocolate Strawberry Cup (layered with matcha white chocolate and melted chocolate topped with marshmallow sauce); Chocolate Strawberry Cup (covered with melted Belgian-style chocolate); and Chocolate Strawberries and Cream (covered in melted chocolate and topped with a tower of whipped cream and chocolate drizzle). Located on the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Cooper Street
O’GARAS (Pot of Gold Potato Dumplings): O’Gara’s and the Saturday Dumpling Co. team made cheesy garlic mashed potato dumplings, they’ll fry it and serve with Top the Tater® “The Original” Chive Onion dip. At O’Gara’s at the Fair, located on the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Cosgrove Street
KORA & MILA’S COOKIE DOUGH (Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick): Cake batter cookie dough covered in a crunchy cake confetti shell topped with rainbow sprinkles. At Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough, located on the south side of Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper & Cosgrove streets
MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION COFFEE SHOP (Bison Meatball Sub): bison and bacon meatball sub, topped with gravy. Sounds nicely balanced with quick-pickled cucumbers and crispy fried onions. The bison is from Minnesota-based Eichten’s Bison and Hidden Stream Farm. Served on a toasted wild rice hoagie bun.
Pastries from Patisserie 46: Pull-apart apple glaze doughnut dough, and the brown-butter crumb cake with banana s’mores vibes. At Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop, located on the north side of Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper & Cosgrove streets
International Baazar:
SHANGHAI HENRY’S (Pimento Cheese Puffs): Pimento cheese (cheddar, mayo, peppers), wrapped it in puff pastry and fried served with a side of pepper jelly. At Shanghai Henri’s, located at the International Bazaar, north wall
UNION HMONG KITCHEN (Shrimp & Pork Toast On-A-Stick): A mixture of ground pork and shrimp combined with Hmong aromatics—lemongrass, ginger, garlic, shallots, and Thai chilis. Deep fried on a stick with a side of apricot jelly hot sauce. At Union Hmong Kitchen, located at the International Bazaar, south wall, west corner
EL BURRITO MERCADO (Flauta Dippers): Seasoned shredded chicken stuffed in rolled corn tortillas and fried. Served in a cup filled with mild tomatillo salsa, sour cream, and cotija cheese. At El Burrito Mercado, located at the International Bazaar, south wall
MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET HOYO SAMBUSA (Somali Street Fries): Fries on Somali Beef Suqaar—spiced beef, vegetables, cheese, and herbs. Topped with white garlic sauce and green jalapeño hot sauce. At Midtown Global Market’s Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa, located in the Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall
HOLY LAND (Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha): A riff on a quesadilla with Indian paratha bread—tandoori chicken layered with a blend of Monterey Jack and mozzarella cheese and a mixture of sauteed onions, mixed bell peppers, jalapeños, corn, cilantro, and green chilis. At Holy Land, located at the International Bazaar, southeast corner
Near Coliseum/Animals:
BRIDGEMAN’S (Land of 10,000 Cakes): Bridgeman’s butter brittle ice cream with NADIA Cakes cupcakes – Crème Brûlée, Loaded Pistachio, and Chocolate Bliss. At Bridgeman’s Ice Cream, located on the northeast corner of Judson Avenue & Liggett Street
ROOTED & WILD (Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites): Bites of breaded tofu, deep fried, and tossed in a tangy, spicy sauce. Served on a bed of pineapple and napa cabbage slaw. Topped with sesame seeds and scallions. At Rooted & Wild (Snack House), located in the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, south side
NEW VENDOR! Greater Tater: Tater Kegs—jumbo deep-fried tots stuffed with savory fillings—in five flavors: Bacon Jalapeño; Bacon Cheddar; Breakfast Skillet; Cheese Bomb; and Reuben. Gluten-free. Located on the west side of Liggett Street between Carnes & Judson avenues, outside the Horse Barn
NEW VENDOR! Beans & Beignets: Coffee (beans) and beignets (deep-fried pastry dough topped with powdered sugar), plus a variety of iced and hot beverages, including tea, coffee, chai lattes, and espresso drinks. Located near the Sheep Barn
NEW VENDOR! Lumpia City: Pizza Lumpia (mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, pizza sauce, and Italian herbs); and Ube Butter Banana French Toast Lumpia (French toast strips soaked in ube butter syrup with caramelized bananas, dusted with powdered sugar). Located near sheep/poultry barns on the north side of Judson Avenue between Liggett & Clough streets
NEW VENDOR! Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes: Chimney Cakes are a rotisserie-baked Hungarian pastry shaped like a cone filled with vanilla ice cream and choice of Nutella® or caramel spread and toppings (crushed OREO® Cookies, rainbow sprinkles, or frosted flakes). Located NEAR the DNR building by the Coliseum side
Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair
Machinery Hill/North End:
GREEN MILL (Hot Honey Pizza Ballzz): A stuffed pizza dough ball with cheese curds and pepperoni brushed with garlic butter and topped with more pepperoni, herbs, and Parmesan cheese, drizzled with hot honey. At Green Mill, located on the east side of Cooper Street between Randall & Wright avenue
BABA’S (Fawaffle): Take falafel batter and press it in a waffle, top it with tahini butter, tomatoes, hummus, green sauce, and mint. BABA’S, located on the west side of Underwood Street between Lee & Randall avenues
SPINNING WYLDE (Croffle Cloud): Similar to Baba’s but it’s croissant batter. That waffle gets topped with whipped cream, fruit puree, and a cloud of cotton candy. Yuzu Meringue (yuzu puree with lemon meringue cotton candy), Banana Caramel (caramel drizzle with banana taffy cotton candy), or Coconut Cream (coconut drizzle with coconut cotton candy). At Spinning Wylde, located north of Wright Avenue between Cooper & Cosgrove streets, at Family Fair at Baldwin Park
GIGGLES (Timber Twists): Italian sausage, mozzarella, cream cheese and barbecue rub and pipe it into three large manicotti shells, wrap it in bacon, then smoked. At Giggles’ Campfire Grill, located on the southeast corner of Lee Avenue & Cooper Street at The North Woods
Urban Glow Mocktails: Craft mocktails, including: Dirty NoTini (lemon, dill pickling spices, and olive brine); Nojito (minty-lime with a hint of molasses); CosNo (cranberry, orange, and lime); Grilled Peach No Fashioned (caramelized peach garnished with peach and cherry); Autumn Mule (apple, warm cinnamon, and spicy ginger); Pineapple Upside Down Cake (chilled pineapple slushie); Bonspiel Blue (cucumber, lemon, and blue tea); and Nitro Cold Brew (cold brew on tap, carbonated with nitrogen, with assorted flavor shots). Plus, small bites—Cheweenies (mini Kramarczuk’s all-beef hot dogs nestled in sweet Hawaiian rolls paired with mocktail-inspired mustards). Located at the North End, northwest section, across from the North End Event Center
SOLEM’S CHEESE CURDS & MINI DONUTS (Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts): Chocolate mini doughnuts with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles and chocolate chips in a bucket rimmed with chocolate icing. At Solem’s Cheese Curds & Mini Donuts, near the Giant Sing Along
