The countdown has begun. We’re officially less than 60 days away from the great Minnesota get-together. And, unsurprisingly, the 2018 Minnesota State Fair has exceeded expectations and brought us some truly incredible foods for this year’s festival. I certainly hope you’ve been training your stomach for the abundance of sticky-sweet sugar and savory, cheesy delights: The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled 27 new fair foods and welcomed 5 new food vendors to test the limits of your digestive system.
Granted, not all of the new State Fair foods will make your cardiologist cringe. There are some delicious and healthier selections if, you know, you’re into that kind of thing. But for the most part, you don’t come to the State Fair looking to stick to your diet. So, to help guide you to the most outrageous new food selections, here are some of this year’s highlights you definitely need to add to your list.
Rainbow Cloud Roll
I’m not sure I’m mentally or physically prepared to handle this one. The Rainbow Cloud Roll is three scoops of ice cream sprinkled with fruity cereal and wrapped in a pillow of cotton candy. Hand-rolled on-site. Ice cream choices include Superman, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. Located at Rainbow Ice Cream in the Grandstand, upper level, east section, near the elevator.
Pepperoni Chips with Roasted Red Pepper Queso
Literally just pepperoni. Munch on thinly sliced fried pepperoni chips served with a warm roasted red pepper cheese sauce. Located at LuLu’s Public House at the West End Market, south of the Schilling Amphitheater.
Nordic Waffles
From one of the new food vendors, Nordic Waffles, you can feast on fresh-made waffle wraps in seven varieties: All-Day Breakfast (egg, bacon & cheddar); Berries & Cream (raspberry & strawberry mixture with vanilla cream); Cinna-Sugar Butter (cinnamon, sugar & butter); Slammin’ Salmon On-A-Stick (Norwegian smoked salmon with cream cheese & green onions); S’More (marshmallow crème, crumbled graham crackers & Nutella); Turkey Chipotle Club (turkey, bacon & mixed greens with Sriracha mayo sauce); and Vegetarian Viking (black bean veggie burger, cheddar cheese, mixed greens & chipotle sauce). Find Nordic Waffles at the West End Market, southwest section.
Zesty PB&J Sausage
Not your standard PB&J, this delight is peanut butter, cherry jelly and a hint of cayenne pepper and cilantro blended into a quarter-pound sausage. Located at the Gass Station Grill on the west side of Cooper St. between Dan Patch & Judson avenues, outside southeast corner of the Food Building.
Here are some of the healthier, tasty eats and sweet treats of the new food selection. And by healthier, I mean they actually include vegetables or have no added sugar.
Earth Wings®
Fresh cauliflower pieces dipped in a seasoned batter, deep-fried and smothered in organic sesame BBQ sauce. Vegan and gluten-free. Find them at French Meadow Bakery & Cafe on the north side of Carnes Ave. between Nelson & Underwood streets.
Honey Cream Soda Float
Honey cream soda (made without sugar) poured over Minnesota Grown honey ice cream. Brought to you by Minnesota Honey Producers in the Agriculture Horticulture Building, north side.
Moroccan Sausage Bowl
Coarse ground beef and lamb sausage seasoned with herbs, sweet spices and a hint of red pepper, cooked with carrots, turnips and chick peas, and topped with sautéed onions and a green olive. Located at Sausage by Cynthia on the north side of Judson Ave. between Nelson & Underwood streets.
And be sure to also check out the State Fair’s five new vendors:
The Anchor Coffee House: Serving cold brew coffees, lattes and more.
The Hangar: You’ll find everything from smoked turkey legs and jumbo burgers to chicken-and-waffle ice cream splits and sliders.
Midtown Global Market’s Mama D’s: Cooking up authentic southern fare you’ll find mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwiches, and BBQ.
Midtown Global Market’s Taco Cat: Serving Smokey Black Bean Tacos, Nacho Fries, and General Tso Chicken Tacos.
Nordic Waffles: Come for the fresh-made savory and sweet waffle wraps.
So, if you haven’t started training your digestive tract to properly consume these wondrous foods, you still have some time as the great Minnesota State Fair begins August 23 and runs through September 3. Or, of course, just remember to bring along your Tums.
Check out the full list here: State Fair Foods.
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