One aspect of any fair that I think everyone loves is fair food! Lets just say I've been around the block, or should I say up and down Grand and Rock Island Avenues, a time or two, and have tried many fair foods on the state fairgrounds. Through my years of living at the State Fair I have came up with a must-eat fair food list that I'd like to share with all of you. It was really easy to make it through my list when I was there for ten days but will be challenging (not to mention gut wrenching) to accomplish in one day...
- Pork Chop on a Stick (Iowa Pork Chop Shop)
- Chocolate Milk Shake (Dairy Barn)
- Turkey Tenderloin Sandwich (Iowa Turkey Grill)
- Mark & Gary Burger (Iowa Cattlemen's Beef Quarters) - and I'm looking forward to trying a new menu item of their's - Deep Fried Bull Fries - that's right people, you can get Rocky Mountain Oysters at this year's fair!
- Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich Meal - includes baked beans and chips (Iowa Pork Tent)
- Lamb Burger (Iowa Sheep Industry trailer)
- Fried Pickle Dawg (Dawg House)
- Cheese Curds (Brad & Harry's) - and new this year they have a Cajun flavored cheese curd that I'll have to try
- Cookies in a Cup (Barksdale)
- Fried Vegetables - Cauliflower, Pickles, Jalapeno Poppers, etc. (Veggie-Table)
- Pork Tenderloin Sandwich (Xtreme Tenderloins)
- Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (The Best Around)
- Gyro (Greek Garden)
- Strawberry Shortcake (Iowa Fruit and Veggie Stand)
Ok, wow, after looking over this list I realize that this is in no way possible in one or two days! Can you tell I use to be at the fair for all ten days?!? I realize now that I need to share a must eat one day list. So, drumroll please...
- Pork Chop on a Stick (Main Meal)
- Fried Pickle Dawg (Snack)
- Chocolate Milk Shake (Dairy Barn)
- Deep Fried Bull Fries (New Food)
 |
| Did you know that at the 2012 Iowa State Fair the Iowa Pork Producer's sold more than 60,000 Chops on a Stick! Here is a photo of My Farmer (on the left) and two of our friends working at the Chop Shop last year |
What are you hungry for? What is your favorite fair food? Have fun at the fair - after all "Nothing Compares"!
I have a weakness for fried pickles, so the fried pickle dawg sounds amazing... As does Cajun cheese curds. Dang it, now I'm hungry!
ReplyDeleteThe pickle dawg is great! You know at graduations people have the pickles wrapped in cream cheese and ham or pastrami. Well, imagine that, but as a whole pickle spear and then fried! It was a new food last year. Before that I just had a plain pickle dawg always but now I've got to go with the fried version. It is the fair - you can indulge a little, right?
DeleteI actually didn't know that is what a pickle dawg was. It must be more of an Iowa thing and less of an Oklahoma thing... but it sounds amazing!! If I ever see one, I'm ordering it!
DeleteOh course you can indulge! I mean, with the fair you have to walk everywhere anyway, so might as well put those calories already burned to good use. ;)
You can always get cookies in a cup to have as a snack on the way home! They travel well! ;)
ReplyDeleteGood point! Love it!
DeleteMine is the fried mini doughnuts with cinnamon and sugar! SO good! We had our fair last week, so I got my fix! Oh, and homemade, fresh-dipped corn dogs. YUM!
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about fair food makes me can't wait to indulge! I just started counting calories post-baby but I'll have to give myself a free day when we head to the fair!
DeleteAbsolutely the chocolate covered bacon---not sure if I had that at the Iowa or the Minnesota State Fair but it was fabulous!!!! And the Tiny Toms...yummmmmm.
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet you the other morning at the breakfast!!!
Great to meet you too! I've never done the chocolate covered bacon but have have bacon sundaes... I'm sure it would be a good salty-sweet combination!
DeleteI always get a caramel apple - from the Ag building maybe? I'm not an expert like you. I don't even know all the building names!
ReplyDeleteYes - the Ag Building. Did you get one this year Katie?
DeleteI'm hungry now! I have actually never been to a state fair, and really want to go. Missouri's is a long drive from STL so not a day trip (and no nearby hotels).
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to add a trip to the State Fair as part of one of your next getaways! I obviously am biased towards the Iowa State Fair, but I guess any State Fair would do. Maybe you should revisit Iowa next year during the fair - it is only 349 days away, August 8-18, 2014!
DeleteYummy! So many good choices at your fair!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, lots of good choice! Too many good choices...
DeleteMy daughter's in-laws keep inviting us to the Iowa State Fair, but it falls during a busy time on the farm, so we haven't made it yet. I'm going to send the link to them and see how many they've tried. (Checking you out from the Country Fair Blog Party!)
ReplyDelete