Restaurant Review SPECIAL!: THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR SPECIAL!

Okay, okay, okay…it’s not ALL about the food, and I have a responsibility to inform anyone who has never heard of “The Great Minnesota Get-Together” before what it has to offer. First, a little history: the first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859 near what became downtown Minneapolis, the year after Minnesota was granted statehood. The Minnesota State Fair would then move to their permanent home at its present location off of Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. Secure in its new surroundings, the Minnesota State Fair began to grow. Physically, the fairgrounds blossomed to 320 acres. Architecturally, it is home for many historically-significant structures including the Arts Center, Progress Center, Grandstand and Coliseum. Attractions offered to fair visitors have changed over time, but it has always strived to reflect the original purpose: encouraging farming in Minnesota.

The scope of available activities has broadened immensely though—from the large-scale entertainment features that have been home to some of the world’s most famous bands; to the technological and industrial exhibits boasting the latest in farm machinery and tools; and the scores of educational and government institutions that display the winning pieces from the annual art contests—the State Fair has something for everyone.
But let’s get to the food: I know that people are obsessed with the State Fair and will always be tempted to go for whatever foods they usually get every year. For example: cheese curds—who doesn’t get those delicious little fried morsels of battered cheese EVERY year? I mean, someone’s getting cheese curds, it’s just a given. A great tip for trying out new things is to purchase a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book, which is a coupon book that costs $5, but is packed full of deals for all kinds of food. Already this year, I had me this awesomely delicious apple dumpling ice cream sundae, where the dumpling was perfectly warm and tender and the ice cream was heaped on top in huge scoops!

But I would encourage you to try at least a few new things every year—not only because it’s available, but because you can say you tried it. Maybe you haven’t tried Famous Dave’s “Pig Lickers,” (that is, chocolate-covered bacon strips), but I have. And I don’t obsess about them every year, I’m just glad for the new experience. I always tell people to go for it—wanna try deep-fried alligator? Ostrich-on-a-stick? Deep-fried oysters? Deep-fried pickles stuffed with cream cheese? Go on ahead and try it once—and then see if it makes the list again for next year, like the BBQ Pork Baked Potato did with me.

There are also foods that are surprisingly delicious, even though they sound incredibly common. Perfect example: Sweet Martha’s fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies—I don’t know who Sweet Martha is or what she puts in those cookies that makes them so different from my butter, eggs, flour, and Nestle Tollhouse recipe at home, but honey, Sweet Martha turns out a mean cookie. Meaning it’s mean to make them taste that good because you will eat at least five. The secret: they are FRESH. Eat them fresh and you will never find a chocolate chip cookie that compares to these. These cookies alone are worth the trip for some people. Also noteworthy that I tried was the fresh guacamole from Tejas (also in the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book)—you just don’t appreciate food like the fresh food prepared at the State Fair. People want you to keep coming back, after all.

There are also many booths that specialize in Minnesota foods. In what is known as “the Food Building” at the State Fair, stands are opened up and serving homemade lefse—a Norwegian flatbread made with potatoes, butter, and flour; wild rice cheeseburgers; and walleye-on-a-stick. There is also the infamous Corn Roast stand, which offers sweet corn-on-the-cob that has been roasted in its husk. (The corn comes from a special farm in Minnesota and is specially grown for the fair annually!)

Ooh, it will get hot…after all, it is August in Minnesota! But there are plenty of sweet treats to cool you down. One cool treat that I’ve only ever seen at the State Fair is Dole Whip—a fruity treat that comes out like soft serve into a cone or a dish, but it tastes incredible and not like ice cream at all. I’ve also walked many-a-time past the Pizza Palace, which boasts over 10 flavors of freshly made gelato—the Italian’s version of ice cream made with eggs, milk, and cream. There are sno-cones everywhere, but splurge on the Hawaiian Shaved Ice—it’s so much easier to eat!
Don’t overlook the smaller stands that have been around for years and are still going strong—when you eat at these places, you’re eating history! My boyfriend (and frequent dining partner), turned me on to a little place called the Midway Men’s Club, serving normal, everyday grill fare and snacks like bratwursts, popcorn, chips, and pretzels…but what he can’t pass up every year are their hamburgers. Maybe because it’s because you eat diner-side right at their order window or maybe because it’s just an old-fashioned burger. It’s no muss, no fuss and wrapped in a piece of white paper, he stands by what he calls “the best burger at the fair.”

What are some of your favorites from the old Minnesota Get Together? Did I get some good ones in there? Do you have something obscure—a hidden treasure I just have to try? Let me know via email: thaoelizabeth@ gmail.com.
Have a GREAT time at the fair and as always, happy eats!

Some information provided by www.mnstatefair.com

Hours of Operation: 12 Days of Fun from August 25th through Labor Day! The fairgrounds are open every day during those 12 days from 6:00 A.M. until midnight!

Cost: Adults (13-64) $12, Seniors (65+) and Kids (5-12) $10, Children (under 5) FREE
September is awesome because the very first five days are always the last days of the Minnesota State Fair, home of deep-fried anything and everything on-a-stick!

By Elizabeth Thao