Fair Food!!

[NDPlanner26]

I was at the County Fair last night and was walking through the midway and took an mental inventory of the food vendors, ya know for after the beer gardens, and got to thinking how times have changed since I was younger. What I remember fair food as being is elephant ears, indian tacos, foot long hot dogs, sausages, burgers, and corn dogs.

Now they have all these crazy, but unbelievably tasty, creations like deep fried oreos, df snickers, frozen bananas, any kind of meat on a stick, and my favorite df twinkies . I tried them all over the week of the fair and are all very good. My question(s):

Did you ever go to the fair when you were younger?
What are the foods you remember from the fair?
What is the strangest food you've ever tried at the fair?

[zman]

I remember attending the Mid South Fair and Rodeo in Memphis a number of times, as well as the Greeley Independance Stampede during college.

I look forward to consuming Funnel Cakes, but they are so greasy I can only have one a year.

Also roasted corn dipped in butter is just great, BBQ sandwiches (with slaw on top!) and turkey legs are making me very hungry right now!

[tsc]

I know the guy who started the deep fried twinkies...got to have them before they were on the menu. They have the best fried fish in NYC...the Chip Shop in Brooklyn. Great place...good beer. The other British foods are good too

[mendelman]

my favorite was/is elephant ears and hotdogs....love the hot dogs....mmmmmm

[jordanb]

I know the guy who started the deep fried twinkies...got to have them before they were on the menu. They have the best fried fish in NYC...the Chip Shop in Brooklyn. Great place...good beer. The other British foods are good too

^-- That guy was interviewed in the movie Supersize Me

[mileage2762004]

Italian Sausage with onions and peppers, corn dogs, lemonade.

[Duke Of Dystopia]

1 liter german mug of bier at the festplatz in hand,

Bag of sauerpomes (mild sauer gummi sticks from the black forest gummi bear factory) from the candy booth.

Swiss cheese with salt on it.

And a schnitzel sandwich on the fest table!

All to a live german oompah pah band!

[Repo Man]

I love corn dogs and fried cheese on a stick. The butter drenched roasted corn is great too, but I hate walking around with corn stuck in my teeth.

[Miles Ignatius]

Growing up in NW Pa, there were county fairs, township fairs, etc.

What I remember the most were the "ox roast" sandwiches - "shredded slabs o' beef" slapped on a hard roll or hamburger bun - good stuff!

I don't think my current metabolism would agree.....

[passdoubt]

What's the difference between a carnival and a fair? Is there one?

[nerudite]

Fresh, hot churros and real kettle corn, for sure.

[JNA]

I don't think my current metabolism would agree.....

I am with you on this.

[Zoning Goddess]

We used to go to the regional fair every year when I was a kid. The only food I remember having, though, was cotton candy. One year my mom got us a machine that would make cotton candy at home; yum...

[Bear Up North]

My guess is that Z-Man knows of this one (1).....

At some festivals in the Toledo area.....especially ethnic Hungarian and Polish events.....there is some sort of strange sandwich called (I think) "Hunky Turkey".
In addition to slamming those of Hungarian descent with the name, the items "slam" your system.

A chunk of bacon, bacon grease soaked into the bread that is wrapped around the bacon, tomato, lettuce. I never had one (1).....anybody know this.....is my description accurate? Help.

Bear With The Bicarb

[jsk1983]

The best fair food has got to be fried dough. A serving is usually a flat disk about the size of a plate, and is best with a gallop of cherry pie filling on the top.

[Budgie]

Hey, didn't we have the deep fat fried twinky discussion last year?

[the north omaha star]

I was at the County Fair last night and was walking through the midway and took an mental inventory of the food vendors, ya know for after the beer gardens, and got to thinking how times have changed since I was younger. What I remember fair food as being is elephant ears, indian tacos, foot long hot dogs, sausages, burgers, and corn dogs.

Now they have all these crazy, but unbelievably tasty, creations like deep fried oreos, df snickers, frozen bananas, any kind of meat on a stick, and my favorite df twinkies . I tried them all over the week of the fair and are all very good. My question(s):

Did you ever go to the fair when you were younger?
What are the foods you remember from the fair?
What is the strangest food you've ever tried at the fair?

What is this elephant ear you speak of?

[Maister]

1 liter german mug of bier at the festplatz in hand,

Bag of sauerpomes (mild sauer gummi sticks from the black forest gummi bear factory) from the candy booth.

Swiss cheese with salt on it.

And a schnitzel sandwich on the fest table!

All to a live german oompah pah band!

This is what fair food SHOULD be. As a kid my parents insisted I indulge in corn dogs and elephant ears at the fair, all the while I was screaming what I really wanted was a nice landjaeger and a litre of dopplebock! Parents - sheesh!

[NDPlanner26]

What is this elephant ear you speak of?

It is a funnel cake, fried sweet dough, topped with either powdered or regular sugar. Its about the size of a small plate. VERY GOOD.

[DC Librarian]

It is a funnel cake, fried sweet dough, topped with either powdered or regular sugar. Its about the size of a small plate. VERY GOOD.

I always thought that there was a difference between an "elephant ear" (usually fried pizza dough with sugar added) and a "funnel cake" (usually pancake batter drizzled into the hot oil out of a metal funnel).

Growing up I went to the Erie County (NY) Fair and the New York State Fair (and Expo)

There is so much good fair food, it's hard to know where to start...

[zman]

My guess is that Z-Man knows of this one (1).....

At some festivals in the Toledo area.....especially ethnic Hungarian and Polish events.....there is some sort of strange sandwich called (I think) "Hunky Turkey".
In addition to slamming those of Hungarian descent with the name, the items "slam" your system.

A chunk of bacon, bacon grease soaked into the bread that is wrapped around the bacon, tomato, lettuce. I never had one (1).....anybody know this.....is my description accurate? Help.

Bear With The Bicarb

I believe you are correct. There are many similar things in Hungarian Cuisine, but we never had something exactly like it, just things similar to it. Remember, we are South Bend Hungarians who cheer for Norte Dame. We're a little different.
Bear, I am seriously thinking of attending the Hungarian Festival in Toledo sometime in the next couple years. You up for it? I'll bring you some Rolling Rocks!

[mgk920]

1 liter german mug of bier at the festplatz in hand,

Bag of sauerpomes (mild sauer gummi sticks from the black forest gummi bear factory) from the candy booth.

Swiss cheese with salt on it.

And a schnitzel sandwich on the fest table!

All to a live german oompah pah band!

And don't forget the cream puffs!!! (this is *WISCONSIN* after all)

Mike