The Great Minnesota Get Together

It's that time of year again.  I  have enough years under my (exceedingly loose) belt to understand exactly how to prepare for it.  Don't eat too much the day before, and definitely don't eat too much the day of.  Wear comfortable shoes as well as comfortable, loose fitting clothes and make sure your camera is charged.  Drink a lot of water, and make sure to bring a good sized bag for all the free giveaways.  These are just a few of the many tips I have picked up after 20 years attending the Minnesota State Fair.  My mom's birthday is always during the State Fair and we go each year.  This year, my mom and I went to the fair on her birthday, the day after it opened.  After a bowl of Special K for breakfast, and a quick run to Dunn Bros on the way (free coffee drink on your birthday) my mom and I were ready for the fair.  I was so excited I could taste the pronto pup.


People go to the fair for many reasons.  Some people are there to show animals from their farm, some like to go on rides in the Middway, and many are there to simply eat and drink.  I go for the food.  There are endless options of food and there is something for everybody.  Each year I've noticed improvements in the variety and quality of the food.  Midtown Global Market has a huge presence at the fair with many of their restaurants and even a fresh produce stand.  There is a lot of ethnic food at the fair, such as in the International Bazaar but there is also local favorites like roasted corn on the cob.  The fair celebrates food in many forms from many places but what I really appreciate is how it showcases where food comes from and who is creating it.  For example, outside the cattle barn is a leather shop, and outside the poultry barn is a "Turkey To Go" food stand.  Farmers can showcase their farms and products and we can go to learn about and enjoy what they offer.  The fair shows the different parts of the process of creating many of the foods, which is something I think is really important in today's society.  You can watch a piglet being born in the Miracle of Life building and then walk outside and grab bacon on a stick.  The fair offers a total appreciation for food and where it comes from.

As I walked through the doors of the State Fair, I was on a mission to find the yellow Pronto-Pup stand.  I decided this was going to be a Papa-Pup year, pulling out the big guns and going for the footlong; rather than the regular Pronto-Pup.

And I found it.  Pronto-Pups are so much better than regular corn dogs because they do not use corn meal in the batter.  I am usually not a fan of food made with corn meal, such as corn tortillas or corn bread and much prefer flour, such as in the Pronto-Pup.  Eating a Pronto-Pup takes me back to my childhood and memories at the State Fair.  They brush ketchup and or mustard on the side of the pup so you don't have to worry about it being too messy.  Each bite includes amazing texture and flavor.  You get the crunch from the browned batter, the salty perfectly cooked hot dog inside and then the salty-tangy-ness from the perfect amount of ketchup and mustard.  It is the most perfect fair experience.  Exactly the reason I opted for the Papa.

I make it a mission each year to get one or two new food items, alongside my absolute must-haves.  I really did it up big this year and tried just about anything that sounded appealing to me.  My mom and I like to split food so we can try more without getting full.  Here are some of my favorite new fair foods:

Me and my veggie fries

• "Veggie Fries" AKA veggie tempura or fried veggies.  These deep fried veggies were almost guilt-free in comparison to most Fair food.  They were battered and fried carrots, broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower (my fav) and onions.  At the counter they offered various sauces for dipping as well as fresh lemon wedges.  I squirted some lemon over the "fries" and added a little ranch.  The lemon made them taste fresh and they were so incredibly delicious.  Crunchy, filling, flavorful, and vegetables!  The only kickback was that they were 7 dollars, although I still recommend!

Wild Rice and Beef Burger

• Wild Rice and Beef Burger.  Found in the Food Building and probably one of the best foods in there.  I had heard good things about it, but I was skeptical it was some kind of attempt at a healthy wild rice burger that would fall apart at the seems.  Once I learned it was with beef and only 5 dollars, I decided to get it.  And wow, I'm glad I did.  When I ordered, the lady asked me "onions or no onions?"  Although I don't know why anyone wouldn't want these soft, almost caramelized sweet onions that created a nice creamy element.  There is no cheese and no topping other than the onions, but that's really all you need.  The burger itself is super juicy and tender, and here's the kicker: the wild rice!  Not only does it make me feel like this is a burger I would get in Minnesota, but it adds such a wonderful texture and extra bite.  Traditional Minnesota ingredients such as wild rice + gourmet burger - 5 dollars= one tasty State Fair bite.

• Hot Dish on a Stick.  Where to begin?  This was something I really have been wanting to try because it is a "traditional" Minnesota dish.  How can one put hot dish on a stick you might ask?  Well, layer tater tot, meatball, tater tot, meatball and roll it in corn meal batter and deep fry.  Serve with cream of mushroom soup as a dip, and you have one failed State Fair food.  First off, tater tots have no business being further fried, and cream of mushroom soup that appears to have come from a can does not suffice as a dip.  There was little no to flavor in the meatballs and it was all entirely too doughy.  Some things are not meant to be on a stick, and not at the fair, and this is one of them.  After a couple of bites between my mother and I, we threw the rest away.
  
  
  

  

  Hot Dish on a Stick

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Of course, there are always the classic Fair faves.  The food I anticipate all year.  Food I can, and will only get at the State Fair and will never change.  Besides my beloved Pronto-Pup, here are some State Fair staples:

• Honey Sticks.  They can be found in the Agriculture building. What can I say other than I bought 20 of them between five different flavors: sour strawberry, sour cherry, mango, peach and sour raspberry.  They are fun to eat and perfect to gnaw on in between Fair food.  I also like that they last for a week or so after the fair so I can get a taste of the fair long after I leave.  And 20 sticks for 4 dollars is a deal you can't beat.

• Sweet Martha's Cookies.  Are there any other kind of chocolate chip cookies?  Because there shouldn't be.  I don't want to know how much butter is in them, and I don't really care.  They are so ooey-gooey and chocolate-y that you can't eat just three.  Pair it with all you can drink ice cold milk from the milk stand, or if you can't wait, you can buy milk from Sweet Martha's.  Sweet Martha's Cookies are a treat that guarantee a couple of days of cookies (if you get the tub) and maybe a rotten gut.  But trust me, it's worth it. 

Eating at the Fair is one of the most exciting food experiences a Minnesotan can have.  Yeah, there are not many James Beard award winning chefs walking around, and sure most of the food is fried and fatty, but it is an experience full of memories, tradition and exploration.  There will always your favorite foods and there will definitely always be something new to try.

Seed art, "Grow Your Own Food"

Man at Island Noodles in the International Bazaar

Mom winding down the day at the International Bazaar with a "perfect" cold Leinie's