Favorite Carnival/Fair/Festival Foods?

CraigC

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We used to go to a Cajun Crawfish festival that the city of Ft. Lauderdale used to host. The boiled crawfish were a favorite. Now I do them at home during season. At the festival they didn't serve them with the standard veges and andouille sausage common at home boils. The festival is long gone now.
frown.gif
Oh, I miss the bands that played there as well, but the music is still a favorite because it reminds me of folks having a good time. Laissez les bons temps rouler!:dance:
 
My favourite is the BBC Good Food Show which happens twice a year in both Birmingham and London. I haven't been for a while - but the great thing is that the top TV chefs are there demonstrating their cooking and very often you can taste the results. There are also numerous food & drink exhibitors with freebie food & drink samples - one year there was a stall with malt whiskies which let us taste loads of them for free. I can't quite remember the rest of that day...
 
We used to go to a Cajun Crawfish festival that the city of Ft. Lauderdale used to host.
I would love to go to a festival like this. To me, carnival food means deep fried abominations. Having said that, I do often try a few bites of an elephant ear, knowing full well I'll be sick from it later. Here's something I would love to try if I ever see it at a fair:

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It's a "sushi corn dog": there's a sushi roll in the middle, but it's got a corn dog coating. I would skip the mustard (unless, maybe, it's Chinese hot mustard).
 
I would love to go to a festival like this. To me, carnival food means deep fried abominations. Having said that, I do often try a few bites of an elephant ear, knowing full well I'll be sick from it later. Here's something I would love to try if I ever see it at a fair:

View attachment 30719

It's a "sushi corn dog": there's a sushi roll in the middle, but it's got a corn dog coating. I would skip the mustard (unless, maybe, it's Chinese hot mustard).

Snap, I'm in too.

Russ
 
We have here in summer the a and p show. It's the agricultural and pastoral 4 day show, animals compete, wood chopping competitions fair ground activities. I used got air out kids when young, they loved it. My son took his three kids last year, cost him about $100 to get in, then you have to pay for rides etc. I guess it's all relative?? It's a big event here, tractors and all sorts for sale.

Russ
 
I guess the only one that immediately springs to mind is the multicultural food show that is held in Canberra city center over the course of 3 days. It is rapidly getting bigger and bigger. There are loads of food stalls with mostly Asian, Thai and various African countries food with a few European one as well. Each year we try to eat from as many as we can and each year we come back to the same conclusion. We love the Ethiopian food.

There are also various towns harvest festivals which are good to go to for food tasting and alcohol. Last year one of the stalls was a whisky stall with free samples and next to it was a company that specialises in Braggot (ale with mead or mead with ale) again loads of free samples...
 
I'm always amazed at the foods served at country fairs around here. Deep fried everythings -- sugars and fats all over the place.

I was just at a fair last Friday. The only really appealing thing was the lemonade that they made while you watch... because I could say, "you know, the amount of sugar you usually put in that? Could you just add one quarter of that?" "Sure! And you can come back to the booth and I'll add more sugar if it turns out you don't like it that way."

I liked it that way. I wish this type of lemonade stand was at all country fairs.

A few years ago, this fair used to have a Vietnamese food truck. While it wasn't primo in comparison to most restaurants, it was tasty enough that I keep looking for it to come back. Far and away the best food at that fair! This year I had an order of mozzarella sticks, and a hot dog with mustard. Meh.

The thing that gets me about these country fairs - the food competitions. They exhibit, and award farmers, for the best tomatoes, squash, onions, etc and leave the contestant plates sitting out all weekend. The healthiest food of all... and NO ONE is selling any of that!
 
I would love to go to a festival like this. To me, carnival food means deep fried abominations. Having said that, I do often try a few bites of an elephant ear, knowing full well I'll be sick from it later. Here's something I would love to try if I ever see it at a fair:

View attachment 30719

It's a "sushi corn dog": there's a sushi roll in the middle, but it's got a corn dog coating. I would skip the mustard (unless, maybe, it's Chinese hot mustard).

I'd enjoy that!
 
The State Fair of Texas starts today (Friday September 30).

Besides the regular favorites like Fletcher's Corn Dogs (the original corn dogs), smoked turkey legs, funnel cakes, and roasted corn on the cob -- plus plenty of beer to wash it down -- there are some new items on sale for 2022.

BAYOU BOWL Located at Mac Loaded by the Texas Beer & Wine Garden

A loaded bayou explosion! This concessionaire takes their three-cheese macaroni and tops it with shrimp and lump crab after being cooked to perfection in garlic scampi butter. Then, they drizzle this culinary creation with a mouth-watering Cajun cream sauce, accompanied by a piece of succulent andouille sausage and a side of perfectly toasted French bread to sop up all the Cajun goodness.

CHAMOY! PICKLE Located at Candy Pickle Factory in the Tower Building food court

This treat will have your tastebuds in a pickle. Pickle meets candy in a major way with the chamoy stuffed candy pickle. A big, juicy pickle is first wrapped in a fruit roll up. Then, the pickle is stuffed with fruit gushers, coated with chamoy sauce, and sprinkled with tajin.

CAJUN LOBSTER BISQUE CROQUETTES Located at Crazy Otto’s by Big Tex and at Gulf Coast Grill by the Lagoon

Croquette’ is French for a fancy, filled tater tot! Cajun Lobster Bisque Croquettes are lightly seasoned potato balls filled with a mixture of rich lobster meat and creamy brie cheese, and fried golden brown. Three generous croquettes are served with a side of Cajun lobster bisque for dipping – a rich and creamy lobster soup-based dipping sauce that is the perfect complement to the croquettes. The whole order turns the heat up when it is topped off with our Cajun seasoning. Get an order of three, mon cheri!

CHERRY DIPPED WAFFLE CONE Located at Once Upon a Cone on the Midway by Giant Slide

We all scream for ice cream, especially served to you from a Big Tex-sized ice cream cone stand! Once Upon a Cone keeps it classic and simple with soft-serve ice cream made from high-quality milk, sugar, and cream. This cone is dipped into a vat of cherry topping, leaving you with a sweet and creamy treat.

CHISMOSA Located at Ranchero Fajitas on Nimitz

From seasoned vendor the Garza family, the Chismosa is a new twist on a beloved brunch classic: the mimosa. With a name that translates to “nosy person,” this drink is inspired by brunch-goers favorite pastime—catching up on all the latest gossip! This frozen mimosa combines champagne and orange juice with a chamoy and Tajín rim, giving fairgoers delicious fruity flavor with a little bit of a kick. To get your brunch on, follow the sounds of popping champagne bottles to Nimitz, where Garza’s Ranchero Fajitas stand is ready to satisfy all your bubbly needs!

COOKIES AND CREAM MINI DONUTS ON A STICK Located at Tracy’s Mini Donuts by the Top o’ Texas Tower

Do-nut hesitate to check out this portable sweet treat! Homemade mini donuts are dipped in a glaze base and then sprinkled with Oreo crumbles. Served on a stick, you can carry these donuts with you wherever you go as you enjoy the rest of your Fair day.

CRISPY DILLY DOG Located at Trio on the Green by the Coliseum and at State Fair Foot Long Corndog by the Hall of State

This item begins as a juicy dill pickle, then it is cored and filled with an all-beef hotdog. To complete the creation, it is dipped in freshly made corndog batter and rolled in perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs, fried to a golden crisp. Once out of the fryer the masterpiece is finished off with a drizzle of zesty chipotle mayo – you could say it’s a big DILL!

DEEP FRIED HONEY Located at Jack’s French Frys in Cotton Bowl Plaza

Have you heard the buzz? There is a new fried food in town… nature’s perfectly sweet treat, as only Texas can imagine – Deep Fried Texas Honey. Raw and all-natural Texas honey is wrapped and deep fried, producing a perfect caramelized honey treat. The creation is then topped with powdered sugar, a cinnamon sugar concoction, and of course raw Texas honey from Texas’ own Rescue Bee Ranch for a dessert that’s as sweet as can ‘bee!’

DEEP FRIED PRALINE CHEESECAKE EGGROLL Located at Mac Loaded by the Texas Beer & Wine Garden

A dessert like none you’ve had before, this Deep Fried Praline Cheesecake Egg Roll is sure to be a sweet escape! Rich and creamy praline cheesecake filling is wrapped in an eggroll wrapper, then deep-fried to golden perfection. The eggroll is drizzled in a delicious homemade praline sauce and topped with candied praline pecan crumbles to please even the sweetest tooth!

DEEP FRIED SOUTHERN DESSERT DUMPLINGS Located at Ruth’s Tamales on Nimitz near the Livestock Birthing Barn

These delightfully indulgent dumplings are a mashup of two southern favorites, sweet potato and pecan pie with a twist that might make even grandma jealous! Actual pieces of sweet potato and pecan pie – yes, including the crust! – combined with morsels of dark chocolate are folded into a wonton wrapper, deep-fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. Like any good dumpling, they are served with a special sauce, Ruth’s homemade rum-raspberry chipotle dipping sauce.

DEEP FRIED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CRUNCH ROLL Located at Gourmet Royale in the Tower Building food court and on Nimitz near the Livestock Birthing Barn

This crazy delicious Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Roll is dipped into homemade pink waffle batter infused with strawberry purée and fried to perfection. Then it is drizzled with cream cheese icing and covered with an addictive strawberry crunch – consisting of vanilla Oreo cookies, strawberry JELLO mix, and melted butter. Finally, the crunch roll is carefully dusted with confectioners’ sugar and garnished with a fresh strawberry for the sweetest treat of Texas.

DEEP FRIED TEXAS COUNTRY COOKOUT Located at Benavides Foods on the Midway by the Pirate Ship

This hearty dish includes an array of flavors celebrated throughout the great state of Texas! It starts with a healthy serving of well-seasoned pulled pork, then they mix in a generous amount of herbed goat cheese and homemade special sauce. This tasty Texas-sized patty is then coated in breadcrumbs to give it just the right amount of crunch in every bite. To finish, it has a dollop of coleslaw and potato salad on top of this deep-fried masterpiece, drizzled with sweet homemade jalapeño BBQ sauce, giving you that delicious Texas tang!

DIM SUM LOCO BURRITOS Located at The Dock in the Embarcadero Building

The east meets southwest with Dim Sum Loco Burritos! Dim Sum means “touch of the heart” and this culinary masterpiece is a touch of the heart – deep in the heart of Texas. Traditional Tex-Mex flavors of smoked shredded pork, lightly fried diced potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and mildly spicy, super melty pepper jack cheese are rolled burrito-style in egg roll wrappers and deep-fried to a crunchy golden brown. The flavors are complex and loaded with umami with lingering flavors of cumin and chipotle. These burritos are then served with charred beer-battered sweet, smokey Shishito peppers and a thin, salty meaty broth garnished with cilantro and diced green onions as a dip for both. Each dish comes with a fortunate cookie, is decorated with a Texas flag, and served in a food tray lined with fiesta tissue to celebrate all the cultures coming together in this one spectacular dish. Trust us, you won’t need the fortune cookie to tell you this is a must-try at the 2022 Fair!

DIRTY SODA Located at Stiffler’s Mom’s Cookie Factory on the Midway

A Midwest trend gets a refreshing, Texan twist! This decadent drink is made with a beverage base of your choosing from soda to sparkling water, then made “dirty” and oh-so-delicious with a spike of cream, flavored syrup, and fresh fruity add-ins. Fairgoers looking for a tasty concoction will enjoy all the custom combinations with odes to State Fair landmarks. From a classic dirty soda like the “Midway,” made with a soda, pineapple, and coconut cream, or the flavorful “Funhouse” made with sparkling water and a mix of grapefruit, mango, and fresh lemon. If you’re feeling creative, simply make your own mixture – there’s a flavor for every fairgoer.

DOH-MUFF Located at Vandalay Industries on Nimitz and on the Midway

Known as “Fried Jesus,” Abel Gonzales is back with another fried concoction! Starting with a fluffy doughnut stuffed with Bavarian cream and coated in banana nut muffin batter, the Doh-muff is then dropped into the fryer and deep fried to that perfect golden crisp. To top it off, the creation is then covered with pecan butter glaze, fresh bananas, and strawberries. It’s up to you to decide if it’s a doughnut or a muffin, but one thing’s for sure – it’s a sweet State Fair treat you’re sure to love.

FAT ELVIS Located at Holy Biscuit in the Tower Building food court

Bringing a new food concept to the Fair, Isaac Rousso has a full lineup of different biscuits at this food stand. The Fat Elvis is a mouthwatering explosion that starts with a blend of creamy peanut butter and strawberry jelly whisked together. To start, they take a warm out-of-the-oven biscuit and spread a thick coat of peanut butter and jelly onto the biscuit. Then they layer delicious marshmallow fluff and fire toast it just for a second to give it a golden-brown campfire taste. As thick-cut juicy bacon comes off the griddle, it finds its home on top of the marshmallow fluff. At the same time, the fried plantain bananas are coming out of the fryer caramelized and ready to complete this delicious decadent food experience. You’ve never tasted a biscuit like this!

FRIED SOUL FOOD EGGROLL Located at Dickel’s Smokehouse across from the Lagoon in Cotton Bowl Plaza

A twist on a southern staple that is guaranteed to become a State Fair favorite! An eggroll is filled with tender, barbecue-flavored marinated chicken, combined with grandma’s old-school-flavored collard greens then mac and cheese. The eggroll is then deep fried to golden perfection and topped with a fusion sauce bringing together Southern and Asian flavors that perfectly complement the dish.

FRIED SPICY BEEF EMPANADA Located at Chimichurri & Milagro Taco outside of the Automobile Building near Big Tex Circle

It’s no secret that Texans love their spicy food, and these fried spicy beef empanadas are no exception. Ground beef is sautéed with a hard-boiled egg, green olives, aji peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a spice blend. This mixture is wrapped up in a pastry and fried until crispy. While traditional empanadas usually taste on the mild side, the aji peppers add a savory twist and heat that are sure to satisfy.

FUNNEL CAKE CHICKEN SANDWICH Located at the Dock in the Embarcadero Building and at Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory by Big Tex Circle

Do you love savory foods but also have a sweet tooth? You can get the best of both worlds with the Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich! A juicy, country-fried chicken breast filet is sandwiched between two signature 5-inch Fernie’s funnel cakes, fried to golden brown perfection. After being drizzled with your choice of honey or syrup, this creation is finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar.

HAND DIPPED NEW YORK CHEESECAKE Located at Drizzle Cheesecakes in the Tower Building food court

You can have your cake and eat it too with Drizzle’s New York-style cheesecake on a stick. Each piece is dipped in magic-shell Belgian chocolate and rolled in a variety of toppings including hazelnut, crushed Oreos, red velvet cake, strawberry crumble, and more. Be sure to check out this new vendor’s other specialty flavored cheesecakes like pumpkin spice.

LOADED QUESO FRIES Located at The Spicy Hut across from the Hall of State by the Esplanade

There’s no such thing as too many toppings, and these loaded queso fries really do have it all. Crispy golden French fries are smothered in delicious queso Blanco. Then come all those delicious toppings – the cheesy fries are topped with bacon, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, and jalapeños for a true flavor explosion.

MOTHERCLUCKER CHICKEN SANDWICH Located at Palmer’s Hot Chicken on the Midway near the Greenhouse

There’s a new bird in town, Nashville Hot Chicken! This elevated fried chicken sandwich will make your mouth water. A filet of juicy Nashville Hot Chicken is fried and then paired with homemade pimento cheese and pickles, the perfect combination of creamy and crunchy.

PEARLIE’S SOUL SLIDER: HOT HONEY CHICKEN AND SWEET POTATO PIE WAFFLE Located at Pearlie’s Southern Kitchen in Nimitz Terrace

If you enjoy chicken and waffles or have been dying to try the classic combination, come indulge in this new southern fried chicken and sweet potato pie waffles slider. This curated twist on a classic recipe incorporates a crispy fried chicken filet sandwiched between sweet, thick, and fluffy Belgian waffles stuffed with Pearlie’s heirloom sweet potato pie recipe, which has been handed down three generations. The waffles’ extra deep pockets absorb the warm buttery maple sweet syrups after it is topped with crispy, savory bacon.

PICKLE PIZZA Located at Pizza by the Giant Slice in the Tower Building food court and at Pizza, Funnel Cakes, & Lemonade by the Children’s Aquarium

This tasty treat takes a State Fair classic – pizza, and Texifies it. What’s more Texan than juicy, mouthwatering pickles and ranch? Pickle pizza starts with hand-tossed dough, it’s then layered with a creamy homemade dill-flavored ranch sauce base, smothered with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and the final topping: savory, crunchy, dill pickles. And in true Fair fashion, you even have the option for FRIED pickle pizza if you’re feeling spicy. For all the pickle lovers, this one is a huge dill!

PORK BELLY BURNT ENDS PIZZA Located at Texapolitan Pizza on Lone Star Boulevard by the Hall of State

Naples, meet Texas barbecue! The pork belly burnt ends pizza combines Neapolitan pizza with classic Texas BBQ pork. Texapolitan pizza dough is made from 00 flour imported from Italy, kosher salt, fresh yeast, and water. The smoked pork belly burnt ends pizza consists of red sauce, mozzarella, smoked pork belly burnt ends, fresh jalapeños, cotija cheese, and Pit Commander Barbecue Sweet Heat BBQ sauce. Each pizza needs only 90 seconds in the 900-1,000-degree wood-fired brick oven to reach thin, crispy perfection.

PUPUSA Located at Tony’s Taco Shop in the Centennial Building with the Texas Auto Show

From El Salvador to Texas, pupusas are a worldwide sensation. It’s corn! The traditional dish resembles a corn pancake and is made with corn mix then stuffed with pork and cheese or spinach and cheese. This dish is accompanied by curtido, a pickled cabbage relish, and tomato salsa before being cooked on a hot griddle to golden perfection. Be sure to keep the tradition alive and enjoy this taste of Latin cuisine new to the Fair this year.

RASPBERRY CHIPOTLE SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE Located at Baileys in the Tower Building food court

Sweet raspberries and spicy chipotle are blended with cream cheese to create a sweet treat with Texas heat. The spicy cream cheese filling is topped with our homemade sweet raspberry glaze, topped with a crispy buttery sugar-coated crust. Served with a drizzle of raspberry compote, whipped topping, and chopped pecans, with candied jalapeños available upon request.

SHAKING BEEF SALAD Located at Chan’s Chicken on a Stick near the Gateway shopping pavilion

An iconic dish taken to a whole new level – Big Tex’s level, that is. Shaking Beef is a French-inspired Vietnamese dish, they take beef and cut it into small cubes – the size of playing dice – before sautéing. Then they mix in cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pepper, and soy sauce, in the skillet.

TEXAS HOT BULL RIDE Located at Shrimp Doc in Cotton Bowl Plaza

Nashville hot chicken ain’t got nothing on Texas Hot Bull Ride! They took shrimp and battered it up with a special Texas seasoning. Then, it is tossed in a special sauce that is hot and smoky with a smidgen of sweet. To cool its heels a little, it’s served up with a side of zesty ranch dressing. Texas Hot Bull Ride is sure to take your tastebuds for a wild ride. Hold on tight, partner!

TEXAS RANCH HOG WINGS Located at Nevin’s Grand Stick across from the Hall of State near Big Tex Circle and in Cattle Barn One

After one bite of Texas Ranch Hog Wings, you’ll start to believe that pigs CAN fly! First, they take fall-off-the-bone pork and season it with our secret blend of spicy ranch salt. Then, they drizzle the creation with a special homemade sauce and garnish it with fresh green chives. Talk about being in hog heaven!

TEXAS TWOSOME Located at Highland Park Soda Fountain in the Tower Building food court

Two Texas favorites collide into a taste explosion. Texas grilled cheese meets Mexico’s Pepper Belly, also known as FRITOS® pie, for a match made only in Texas. They grill Texas toast and add a thick layer of American cheese, stacked high with Fritos, chili, and jalapeños to add a Texas kick. Only in Texas can two state favorites come together to give you a savory treat that requires no need to dip the chip and has enough cheese to make Wisconsin jealous.

CD
 
Back when I lived in California, the state fair always had big chunks of artichoke hearts breaded and deep fried. Pure junk and absolutely delicious with a squirt of fresh juice from a lemon wedge.
 
Back when I lived in California, the state fair always had big chunks of artichoke hearts breaded and deep fried. Pure junk and absolutely delicious with a squirt of fresh juice from a lemon wedge.

That sounds very California... but deep fried. :laugh:

Did you ever go to the Gillroy Garlic Festival?

CD
 
Gilroy was fun, but once was enough. The only reason I would go to the state fair every year was the artichokes. :happy:

I used to drive through Gilroy every year on the way to the Pebble Beach Concours and the Monterey Historic Races. That garlic smell was pungent.

CD
 
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