So many of us enter the Fairgrounds using a shuttle at the West End. With that in mind, I’ve put the new foods in order based on the journey around the Fairgrounds. (Find the State Fair map at the bottom.) I’ve also ranked all 38 new items, from yum to hmmm.
Provided
West End Market:
The Blue Barn
Breakfast Gnocchi: A bed of potato gnocchi topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, pesto cream, shallots and balsamic glaze.
Sweet Potato Poutine: Sweet potato waffle fries topped with cheese curds, Beyond chorizo sausage, turmeric gravy, pico de gallo and fresh cilantro. (Vegetarian)
Lulu’s Public House
Tot Dog: All-beef hot dog dipped in corn dog batter, rolled in a mixture of minced tater tots, cheddar cheese and onions, then deep-fried.
Nordic Waffles
Belly Full Nordic Waffle and Vanilla Dream Nordic Waffle: Two new fresh-made waffle sandwiches. Belly Full is a spring onion–infused Nordic Waffle filled with sous vide seasoned pork belly with coleslaw and locally made jalapeno jam. Vanilla Dream is a Nordic Waffle coated with cinnamon and sugar, and filled with Norwegian vanilla custard cream.
Provided
Near the Grandstand:
RC’s BBQ
Minne Hot Hot: Smoked rib tips tossed in Nashville Hot Sauce, served with Comeback Sauce.
German Root Beer and Popcorn
Cotton Candy Float: Cotton candy soda poured over Kemps vanilla ice cream and topped with cotton candy.
The Hideaway Speakeasy
All Quacked Up!: Fried, farm-fresh duck egg from Graise Farm in Faribault atop shaved smoked ham, aged cheddar cheese, tomato, and spinach, served open-face on toasted sourdough bread with paprika aioli.
Blue Moon Dine-In
Lemon Cookie Tortilla Chips: Lemon sandwich cookies deconstructed into four large tortilla chips made from a blend of cookies and corn, served with creamy-center-of-the-cookie cream dip topped with lemon curd.
New Mexico Chile Dog Sliders Two Ways: Green chile and red chile, made with roasted-on-site New Mexico Hatch chiles and a hint of chorizo pork, topped with queso-style cheese and red onion, served over all-beef hot dogs on slider buns. Comes with a prickly-pear cactus slushie shooter on the side.
Provided
Near the Coliseum and the Barns:
Bridgeman’s Ice Cream
Gray Duck Sundae: Bridgeman’s Black Licorice Ice Cream topped with marshmallow cream, crunchy mini marshmallows, whipped cream, and a cherry.
Aldo’s
Concha Bacon Burger: All-beef patty with raspberry aioli, lettuce, pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, and bacon served on a concha, a traditional Mexican sweet-bread roll. Located in Warner Coliseum, west side.
Snack House
Deep-Fried Ice Cream: Handmade ice cream bar covered with a crispy corn-flake coating, deep-fried, drizzled with raspberry and blueberry sauces, and topped with sprinkles—vegetarian-friendly. At Snack House, located in the Warner Coliseum, south side.
Minneapple Pie
Minneblueberry Pie: Handmade blueberry pie made with a crisp, flaky crust, filled with blueberries and served with vanilla ice cream. (Vegan if served without ice cream.)
Provided
Near WCCO-TV and Radio on the Way to the Food Building:
Mancini’s
Celebration Cake On-A-Stick: White cake infused with almond flavoring and decorated with white frosting. This mini version of Mancini’s house cake can be personalized on site with short text to celebrate a favorite Fair fan or a special occasion.
French Meadow Bakery
Vegan entrees—Earth Sliders TM; “Meat” Balls & Marinara: Earth SlidersTM are marinated, battered, and crispy fried “chicken” patties topped with house-made, slightly spicy secret sauce, shredded lettuce, and house-made cucumber pickles that have been marinated in turmeric, garlic, and sweet onion, all served on a grilled bun. “Meat” Balls & Marinara are Italian herb-seasoned “meat” balls browned and sauteed in a house-made garlic-and-oregano red marinara sauce, topped with plant-based Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, and served with a slice of grilled sourdough bread.
Dino’s Gyros
Tirokroketes: Mix of spicy feta, cream cheese, and mozzarella blended with Dino’s Greek seasoning, then rolled in a gluten-free panko, deep-fried, and sprinkled with lemon juice, Parmesan, and Dino’s seasoning. (This is gluten-free, vegetarian.)
Daryl’s Dog House
Vegan Corn Dog: Plant-based vegan hot dog hand-dipped in plant-based vegan corn dog batter and deep fried.
Bridge n’ Barrel Root Beer
Two locations serving Lift Bridge Root Beer, Lift Bridge Black Cherry Soda, pink lemonade, and other assorted sodas.
Provided
Food Building
Soul Bowl
Serving official new food Soulsicle (fried chicken on a stick, topped with candied yam sauce, cornbread crumble, mac-and-cheese-seasoned cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and green onions), plus Donut Peach Cobbler (yeast-raised donut topped with peach cobbler filling and cookie crumbles), and Queen B Lemonade (blueberry lavender lemonade).
Nautical Bowls
Will serve four fresh superfood bowls: Anchor Bowl (açaí, granola, banana, coconut flakes, cashew cacao butter); Nauti Bowl (açaí, pitaya, granola, banana, cacao nibs, peanut butter); Paddle Bowl (Blue Majik, mango, coconut, granola, strawberries, coconut flakes, honey); and Sunset Bowl (ube, blood orange, granola, blueberries, coconut flakes, honey). Ingredients are organic, gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, and contain zero refined sugars.
Herbivorous Butcher
Two new vegan entrees—Poultrygeist (fried chicken topped with sausage gravy and French fried onions on buttery Texas toast) and Steak-xorcist (chicken fried steak topped with sausage gravy and French fried onions on buttery Texas toast). Plus, Monster Mash combines Poultrygeist and Steak-xorcist in the same boat.
iPierogi
Sweet Cheese Blintz: Soft baked crepe filled with sweet vanilla-flavored cream cheese and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Gass Station Grill
Chick N Swiss Sausage: Grilled chicken sausage custom-made with chunks of Swiss cheese and asparagus, ground pineapple, bacon, and jalapeno, served on a bun.
Sausage Sister & Me
Buzz’n … Hot Honey Chicken Sausage Kebob: Hot honey drizzled over chicken sausage skewered with cornmeal biscuit chunks and served on a bed of coleslaw.
Provided
International Bazaar
West Indies Soul Food
Turmeric Ginger Lemon Surprise: Fresh ginger, turmeric syrup, and a dash of bitters mixed with West Indies Soul Food’s Original Caribbean Lemonade. (Gluten-free, vegan.)
Tandoor-Fired Jerk Chicken Mini’zza: White chicken meat, bell pepper, onion medley, whole-milk mozzarella cheese, and West Indies Soul Food’s signature Jamaican Jerk Sauce on a buttermilk naan crust baked in a tandoor oven.
Holy Land
Chicken Tandoori Rolls: Chicken seasoned with tandoori spices, onions, and peppers, wrapped in paratha flatbread then grilled and served with a side of avocado-cilantro-lime sauce.
Pink Guava Slushie: Frozen slushie drink made with juice squeezed from fresh pink guavas.
Union Hmong Kitchen
Mov + Nqaij (Rice + Meat): Purple sticky rice with choice of sauce, including Krunchy Chili Oil (dried Thai chilis, garlic, shallots), Lemongrass Scallion Dressing (lemongrass, ginger, garlic, shallots), and Tiger Bite (Thai chilis, garlic, shallots, cilantro, fish sauce, oyster sauce, lime juice); plus, choice of skewered and grilled meat, including Hmong Sausage (house-made coarse-ground pork sausage link with Krunchy Chili Oil), Hilltribe Chicken Thigh (ginger, lemongrass), or Lemongrass Turmeric Tofu (marinated in a lemongrass and turmeric blend). (All items are gluten-free; vegan options available.)
Dej Qab Zib (Sweet Refreshment): A coconut lychee colada made with a blend of coconut milk, lychee syrup, lime, and mint, served over ice. (Vegan.)
Andy’s Garage (Aug 25-30)
Molotes: Deep-fried corn masa empanadas with choice of fillings. Chipotle Style is filled with shredded chipotle chicken and topped with chipotle sour cream, cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro. Elote Style is filled with roasted corn and topped with mayo, cotija cheese, and Tajin seasoning—and can be prepared vegan. (Gluten-free.)
Arepa Bar (Aug 31-Sept 5)
Three arepas—Pulled Pork, The Queen, and Vegan: Baked Venezuelan crispy corn pockets with choice of three fillings: The Pulled Pork Arepa is pork shoulder slow-roasted in red wine and vegetables served with shredded cheddar cheese, cabbage, carrots, green onions, and parsley. The Queen (Reina Pepiada) is pulled chicken and avocado puree salad topped with mozzarella cheese and fresh arugula. And the Vegan Arepa is house-prepared black beans, fried sweet plantains, cabbage, carrots, green onions, and parsley. (All arepas are gluten-free.)
Provided
Heading North
O’Gara’s
Reuben Rolls: Corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut hand-rolled in an egg roll wrapper, deep-fried, and served with a side of O’Gara’s homemade Thousand Island dressing.
Minnesota Farmer’s Union
Pork Schnitzel Sandwich: Breaded and deep-fried Minnesota pork loin topped with pickled cabbage and served with mustard mayo on a toasted bun.
Tejas Express
Chilaquiles Breakfast: Fried corn tortilla strips sauteed with guajillo chile salsa and topped with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, avocado, and crema
Hamline Church Dining Hall
Birthday Cake Paleta: A Mexican frozen dessert on a stick made with chunks of birthday cake, sprinkles, and a vanilla extract base, specially created by locally owned La Michoacana Rose to celebrate Hamline Church Dining Hall’s 125th year at the Fair. Additional paleta varieties are also available.
Rick’s Pizza
Pickle Pizza: Hand-tossed homemade pizza dough topped with homemade specialty dill ranch sauce, fresh mozzarella, and crunchy dill pickles, all finished with dill weed seasoning.
Waffle Chix
New vendor serving Brownie Waffle Stick, Chicken in a Waffle On-A-Stick, Breakfast Sausage in a Waffle On A-Stick, and assorted sodas.
Jammy Sammies by Brim
Sundae Sammie: Grilled sandwich with cinnamon bread, Minnesota strawberry jam, vanilla cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, toasted peanuts, confetti sprinkles, and flaked sea salt. (Gluten-free and vegan options available.)
Baba’s Hummus Bowls
Baba’s Two Hummus Bowls—Beauty and the Buffalo; Coco-Nuts: The Beauty and the Buffalo bowl features ranch hummus, buffalo chicken, crumbled blue cheese, scallions, buffalo sauce, and buffalo dust, served with pita puffs. The Coco-Nuts bowl features hazelnut chocolate hummus, chocolate chips, hazelnuts, shredded coconut, and bananas, served with powdered sugar pita puffs. (Coco-Nuts is vegan and can be gluten-free without the pita puffs.)
Here’s a rough idea of the path (although you’ll have to venture astray for a few of the things):
