Joey prefers the tried and true ;-)
Last week’s poll asked how you like your meat cooked and a surprising majority of you replied, “medium-rare” and even noted that you prefer it really medium-rare and not the fake kind that most restaurants seem to deliver. I’m proud to have you as readers ;-)
This week’s poll comes because we’re less than two weeks away from the 2011 Minnesota State Fair. While I usually cover the new food at the Minnesota State Fair, this year the options were so limited and dismal I didn’t even bother. However, you can find lists at both The StarTribune and City Pages.
Seriously though, when sweet corn ice cream and caprese salad make up items on the list you have to wonder if all imagination is gone from the event. I mean those aren’t even the least bit interesting. People have some work to do I suppose.
However, perhaps you don’t care at all about the new foods at the Minnesota State Fair and instead just go to your tried and true fair foods instead.
So which is it? Do you care about the new items or do you only go and try the ones you’ve been eating for years? Perhaps you don’t go to the fair and all and you don’t understand all the hoopla at all. Whatever you have to say about your preference for the new foods at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair go ahead and comment on below and then vote on the sidebar as well. After you do both of those things feel free to check out our expired polls in the archive or read through the previous posts about polls here.
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August 14th, 2011 at 7:27 am
Surly will be available this year at the Ball Park Cafe (or whatever it’s called). That’s the only food I’ll need to survive 12 days of fun!
August 14th, 2011 at 8:09 am
The photo of Joey is revealing – who trusts the taste of a Packer & Cardinals fan? :-)
August 14th, 2011 at 10:10 am
sigh…state fair food. I guess I generally don’t get it, but perhaps that is my non-foodie handicap? I’m really not curious what something I’ve never tasted before tastes like. Sad, I know.
August 14th, 2011 at 10:19 am
I have not been there since they stopped the stock car racing. When I did go it was just to see exhibits and new products. I loved the fresh cut fries and would always find a foot long hot dog with lots of onion and mustard. I hate crowds and pushy people, plus the cost of everything is ridiculous anymore. It seems everyone thinks they deserve to be overnight millionaires today. Any county fair is a much more rewarding experience.
August 14th, 2011 at 10:53 am
The Caprese salad thing is especially disappointing because another stand did this two years ago. So it isn’t even new, just someone new doing it.
I generally go for the foods I know and love. Over the course of the fair, I try and get a corn dog, corn, corn fritters (oh god I love corn), beer, cheese curds (usually to share), spamburger, and a malt. I will try new food. Looking at the lists of new foods, the only one I’m really excited about is Horchata, and that’s because I love Horchata.
August 14th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
My usual fare includes cheese curds, Tom Thumb donuts, and a milkshake. I try to branch out to at least one new (to me) thing each year, though not necessarily something from the new fair foods list. I’m mildly interested in the sweet corn ice cream and chocolate jalapenos, but this year I think I’ll try the fried green tomatoes instead.
August 14th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
The number of different items tasted all depends on the number of people that I am with. I am very happy just with a bite or two of all my favorites. That being said, I like to nibble on cheese curds, foot long hot dog with tons of onions, Chicago dog, chili dog, corn dog, pita with tabbouleh and Tom Thumb donuts. It is fun to go with people that have different favorites and have a taste of that, too. In general, I eat around beer garden hopping. Number of times I go in a year is usually 3! I grew up two blocks from the fair and love it!
August 14th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I’m disappointed with this years new food selection so I probably am not going to go. Though I’ve lost 52lbs since April and still have 15 more to go so I was thinking I’d just skip it this year anyway!
August 14th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Andrew,
I went to the fair while dieting and found many options that I was able to eat including salads, diet root beer, fresh fruit, pickles on a stick, corn on the cob (no butter but plenty of salt/pepper), etc.
It was certainly a challenge not to be tempted and to find these items but it made it so I could go and watch my wife enjoy the fair. Good luck.
August 14th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I like the deep-fried turkey sandwich, chocolate dipped bacon at Famous Dave’s (breakfast!), chocolate-smothered Perry’s nut rolls, malts from the dairy barn and an ice-cold Summit EPA.
August 14th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
When we go to the State Fair, we usually stick with the tried and true food items. I’m with Marty on this one though, as county fairs are much cheaper and are easier to access. We visited the Dakota County fair this weekend and had all of the usual staples that we seek out when we go to the State Fair: cheese curds, corn dogs, mini doughnuts, and lemonade. Sure it may be smaller than the State Fair, but how many pigs, cows, and tractors do you really need to see anyway?
August 14th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Good to see the Packers featured front and center on LL. Sorry it took my ugly mug to make it happen.
Last year was my first trip to the state fair, though I hope it’s an annual trip. I have no regulars and probably won’t make a point of looking for new food specifically. Fairs are best for the see-food diet, which is what I tend to bring to them.
August 15th, 2011 at 8:51 am
I used to go to the fair every year. Then I figured that every other year would suffice. Now I go if there is a decent musical act, so pretty much never, though I might hit up Twilight Hours for “free” this year.
I did see that there is a bar serving mostly Minnesota craft brews to open this year, including Lift Bridge and Surly products. Then I remembered that I can buy that myself and drink it on my deck on a nice August day vs. not knowing how close the one place I can buy it is to the place where I can see the musical act I want to see.
Bill’s post about the Maplewood wing place sounds like a way better place to try new types of food than the fair ever could.
August 15th, 2011 at 9:46 am
I think it’s been that way for several years now. Marty hit it on the head — for food, the Fair has become “what really terrible-sounding combination can we shove on a stick and charge $8 for 3 oz. but still get the morons from the local TV news stations all gaga about ?” This year, Iowa stole our thunder with deep fried butter on a stick. Stupid.
I always feel compelled to get the cheese curds. It’s a little difficult to find good quality cheese curds outside of the Fair.
But more importantly, I kind of feel like a tool going to Blue Door Pub (where the curds are State Fair style and decent), walking through the mobs of sheeple to the bar and ordering cheese curds to go and dealing with the douche-y “is that ALL you want?”
Yes, Blue Door Pub. Keep your lousy burger. I just want cheese curds and I don’t need your look of mystification. Curds, bag, and a pathway to the Nook where the burgers don’t suck.
Anyway, nobody at the cheese curd booth looks at you sideways for just ordering cheese curds.
I like the corn on the cob too.
August 15th, 2011 at 10:01 am
When I go to the fair, I tend to just get whatever looks good to me at the time. Usually cheese curds and a corn dog at some point, with other stuff based on what I run into.
But I only go the fair nowadays if I have a compelling reason, like if I have relatives in town who want to go or if there’s a show I want to see. Otherwise I don’t find it worth the effort.
August 15th, 2011 at 10:51 am
The fair is awesome. I’ll try something new if there’s something interesting, but since there’s about 1000 options I’m certainly not hard up if there’s not. I’ll be getting that mint lemonade again, and probably the gingersnap peach sunday, Cheese curds (from the place on Dan Patch, they know how to move a line and no fighting to walk through the food building), my oldest is a big fan of the smoked turkey leg (heratige square).
But I don’t just go for the food. I love it all.
August 15th, 2011 at 11:21 am
I like to get things at the Fair that I wouldn’t make at home: pronto pup, fried pickles, etc. But then I always get a milkshake, too. And Sweet Martha’s cookies brought over to the milk stand even though I think I make better cookies at home. I guess that part is just tradition!
August 15th, 2011 at 11:39 am
The few times I’ve gone to the fair it’s to work a booth for someone. I do my time for a few hours, walk around a bit, and then go home. I don’t buy food there.
August 15th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
we’ll miss the hordes of sweaty people standing in line for their 1500 calorie fat pills, the hot temps, higher prices, 100,000 of my close personal friends. i guess we’ll be consistent and stay away, again. i’ll go for a heath bar blizzard and a chocolate malt for the mrs.
bb
August 15th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Lefty,
The Ball Park Cafe is at the far side of the Food Building, halfway between the Leinie Lodge’s free stage and the main Grandstand. Awfully convenient.
For me, it’s gonna be halfway between the two places I need to be all day long, so yippee for me!!
August 15th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
I’ve never been to the State Fair. Crowds, sun, fried foods, just not my thing. But I love that everybody else has such a great time. People are in such a good mood, and they talk to me about their memories of going with their parents and their grandparents. It’s very cool.
Have fun, everybody!
August 15th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
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August 15th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
To be fair, the rest of us at the fair, having fun and enjoying ourselves won’t miss you. :)
August 16th, 2011 at 8:03 am
Wow. And I thought I was being too negative.
August 16th, 2011 at 8:28 am
I seem to remember that the fair people get about 35 cents for every dollar you spend on food. I try not to think about that when forking over my cash.
August 16th, 2011 at 9:31 am
The most fun I’ve had at the fair for probably 20 years was last year. Making a game of it, playing State Fair Bingo brought a new level of interest for me. I think I’ll be heading over with the wife on Sept. 1st.
August 16th, 2011 at 9:33 am
State Fair Bingo Cards are still available here: http://www.lazylightning.org/minnesota-state-fair-bingo-cards
August 16th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Just an honest opinion based upon observation and experience. Sorry you disagree.
August 16th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Voicing a dislike for the fair is clearly an offense to humankind! It’s only a fair; it’s not like I hate babies.
BTW, I am sitting on a sofa watching the world’s cutest great-niece bouncing and laughing. THAT’S fun!
August 16th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
Sandy,
Why are you watching a baby bounce around if you hate babies so much? This tells me you secretly like eating macaroni and cheese on a stick.
Hypocrite!
lefty
August 16th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Caught.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
There are lots of people who love the fair and hate babies. I’m putting barbed wire on the front of my double stroller just for them.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I hate the fair and love my baby. I do not like other people’s babies–or their barbed wire strollers.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
If you want to see real hate check out the Fair’s facebook page. You’d think people that “like” something would be nicer.
August 16th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Mmmm…deep fried baby on a stick.
August 16th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Ooo, I missed that in the list of 2011 new fair foods. Has it been offered before?
August 17th, 2011 at 7:51 am
It was chocolate covered last year.
August 17th, 2011 at 9:20 am
Well, that explains why I didn’t have it. Too many calories.
August 18th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
I hate the fair, but i don’t sink to wondering about other people’s desires to attend. Obviously, since it’s a for-profit organization that appears to make enough money to bring it back Again and Again and Again, enough people enjoy it.
Of course, millions of people enjoyed “Twilight” as well, so popularity certainly isn’t the best measure.
August 21st, 2011 at 7:02 am
[...] week’s poll asked if you care about the new foods at the Minnesota State Fair and the overwhelming majority of you said you did not. While we’re going to go whether the [...]
August 26th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Beers at the Craft Beer Territory at the Ball Park Cafe:
Surly Furious
Surly Bender
Surly Hell
Liftbridge Farm Girl Saison
Liftbridge Chestnut Hill
Schell’s Firebrick Lager
Arrogant Bastard Ale
Alaskan Amber
Alaskan IPA
Odell 90 Shilling
Goose Island 312
Tallgrass Halcyon
20 oz. = $7.50
They have sampler combos, too.
August 26th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Mrs. R., you’re the best.
August 26th, 2011 at 10:35 am
That actually seems like a “fair” price for 20 oz. given that 16 oz. of most Surly products in the liquor store will run you just short of 4 bucks.
August 27th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
i think this guy (lefty, is that you:)) sampled all the new foods AND brews at the wonderful state fair. another good reason we don’t go.
bb
August 28th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Picture of the beers available at the Ball Park Cafe as noted by Mrs. Robinson. The 20 oz Furious was delightful today.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:31 am
Tried the sweet corn ice cream with honey butter bacon sauce. It was good. It wasn’t comparable to Izzy’s, etc. but the flavors worked. The last couple bites sort of tasted like Cap’n Crunch cereal.
August 29th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Nice try bb stacker, but I did not wear a sock to the fair yesterday.
I did have a Furious at the fair though. I must have just missed you Bill.
I was at the fair from about 5 until 9 last night. I purchased, one foot long hot dog, one pronto pup, one salmon on a stick, a bucket of Sweet Martha’s, a couple of gyros, a basket of cheese curds along with a number of sodas and said Furious and an Angry Planet tap.
I ate nothing. Not even a single curd. The beers were pretty good, though!
June 27th, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] State Fair released the yearly list of new food items. While I have covered this in years past (2011, 2010, 2009), this year isn’t any more exciting than any other year has [...]