2021 MN State Fair Foods Preview Part 4 (The Naughty Biscuit through Sashimi Tuna Tacos)

Part 4 brings us some tasty looking gems. Read on to hear our thoughts 

The Naughty Biscuit - RC's BBQ

Smoked pork belly topped with beer cheese sauce, arugula, pickled red onions and candied jalapeños served on a buttermilk biscuit.

Sarah

At first, I thought that was some dried, stale bun on this thing and I was like, bleh. But then I realized no, it’s a biscuit. And then I saw pork belly. And cheese sauce and arugula and I got pretty excited!

Will this blow my mind? Probably not. But it does have the chance to be a darn good sammy, imop. We’ll see how it does.

Patrick

I still kind of miss Famous Dave’s at the Fair, and I don’t think RC has really fit into their shoes as well as they try to. They’ve had some very good items, don’t get me wrong, but Dave always seemed to really push the envelope each year. This seems…fine? I like the idea of a biscuit sandwich and smoked pork belly. Beer cheese sauce sounds a bit intense for a sandwich. I bet those pickled red onions are sweet and tangy, and I’m actually very curious how those candied jalapenos are and how much heat they retain. I could see this turning out to be great, or just way too much. Jalapenos, Sarah. The trend continues for that poor girl.

Anne

Is…is jalapeno the theme this year? This is like the 2nd or 3rd item with it.

This looks/sounds like a good sammich, but damn that looks like a lot of jalapenos on it in the picture. Honestly, now that I read it again and look at it again, I’ve got some concerns that this is too spicy and too much.

 

Chicken & Macaroni Nordic Waffle and I-Scream Waffle Sandwich - Nordic Waffles

Two new fresh-made waffle wraps: A Southern-fried spicy chicken drummy and cheesy macaroni, finished with a drizzle of honey on a warm Nordic waffle; and a classic ice cream cookie sandwich, crunchy kettle corn and chocolate drizzle dusted with sprinkles all wrapped in a Nordic waffle.

Sarah

Chicken and Waffles seems like a 2018 thing. But, also, this is Nordic Waffles so it’s kind of their thing? I’m also honestly surprised that they didn’t have a chicken and waffles before this. I guess the macaroni makes it different and new.

Anyway, I fucking LOOOOOOOOVE Nordic Waffles. Everything they make is like touched by the gods and I expect these will also be amazing, too. I’m actually kind of bummed they have two new ones because it just means there will probably be more flavors for me to decide between when I want one in the future. TOO MANY GOOD CHOICES, Nordic waffles! CALM DOWN!

Patrick

Hahah, I love this place. Seriously, never had a bad Nordic waffle. That sweet one sounds insane and I am totally on board! Ice cream cookie sandwich, crunchy kettle corn, all wrapped in waffle. You crazy, son! The savory one…how the fuck do I bite into one of these when you have a bone-in chicken drummy inside it? Am I supposed to eat the bones? Am I supposed to eat it separate, and if so, why included it if it is not going to be a part of the waffle sandwich? Don’t get me wrong, everything about it sounds great, I just am really curious how one goes about eating this all together without pulling that drummy out. Baffling.

Anne

Well damn Nordic Waffle, why not just come out swinging?

Ok, I am super excited to eat these both as I always am with Nordic Waffle, but they are not without concerns.

First, I love the look at what they were going for with that entire drummy on that mac and cheese waffle taco, but how are we supposed to eat that? It's bone-in so that means we have to pick it up to eat it separately (which then removes it from the waffle and adding it’s flavor) but then you’ve drizzled it with honey and so now it’s a freaking sticky mess all over our hands. How hard is it to use a chicken tender instead??

Second- I love the boldness of putting an ENTIRE ice cream sammich in the other waffle. I’m sure it’s going to be a hot mess (it doesn’t even look like it fits in the waffle in the pic), but I’m sure I’ll enjoy the hell out of it.

 

Paneer Pakora – Hot Indian

Seasoned paneer cheese cubes fried in a gluten-free batter and served with tomato butter. (Gluten-free). A fan favorite in the Midtown Global Market booth in years past, Hot Indian has a new home of its own in the Food Building and will be at the fair all 12 days! Their menu will also include the Kerala Fried Chicken Kati Roll (new food in 2021), Butter Chicken Samosas (halal), Sweet Veg Samosas (vegan), Bhel Puri (vegan) and Mango Lassi.

Sarah

Pshaa. I guess because they’re a “new” vendor (they’re not) they get more than one food on the list instead of just listing it with their other stuff.

Nordic Waffles didn’t get two entries. Just two items on one entry. Why is Hot Indian so special?

And it’s paneer again.

Listen, these sound good. And I will be very, very happy if they are. I mean, what’s not to like? I don’t like tomatoes, but tomato butter sounds interesting! And it’s served on the side. They’re basically Indian cheese curds and all right. I just don’t have high hopes because of the past…

Patrick

Bull crap, how do they get TWO new food items? Whatever. I love paneer, it is a subtle flavored cheese with a wonderful texture and serving it up as a pakora deep fried and breaded sounds delightful. Having a tomato butter (which I am assuming will be like a butter chicken sauce) is an awesome combo. I just have my doubts they can pull it off. The sauce will be tasteless or the texture of the paneer weird. I just have little faith that Hot Indian can make something I want to eat at the fair. Maybe that’ll change this year, stranger things have happened, but I’m not holding my breath.

Anne

Yup- Indian Cheese Curds. I’m there.

 

Pizza Lucy – Green Mill

Sausage patty topped with pizza sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, stuffed in homemade Green Mill pizza dough, and topped with Italian seasonings, cheese and crumbled pepperoni.

Sarah

I was immediately like “please let this be from Green Mill” and it was!

Green Mill is like 99% awesome. Except for the one year (last year? (and by last year I mean 2019 because 2020 is the year that never happened)) when it underperformed.

This is like a pizza pocket and I’m here for it. Normally I’d probably be like, whatever. But, again, Green Mill has a history of taking something that seems like it will be no big deal and then somehow knocking it out of the park.

I hope this is another of those years.

Patrick

Unless I am mistaken, Green Mill didn’t have a new food last time, and the one before that was Za-Waffle Sticks, which we found mediocre at best. But before that, every year they put out a slammin’ new item that somehow blended Italian with some other cuisine and it ALWAYS worked. I am hoping this is the year they bring it back. A pizza Lucy, some mad science amalgamation of a juicy Lucy and a pizza I am assuming? This looks amazing.  Like a sausage patty stuffed inside a slice of pizza. Just the kind of thing I want to see from Green Mill and what I want in my mouth.

Anne

Welcome Back to the Official New Foods List, Green Mill!

And this looks like a strong showing for your return to the new food list. Ultimately there feels like only so many ways you can reinvent pizza, but Green Mill is always trying, bless them.

I’m sure this will be very tasty, like almost all of Green Mill’s showings

 

Sashimi Tuna Tacos - Scenic 61 by New Scenic Café

Crisp wonton shells filled with ahi tuna, avocado and sesame soy. Thai slaw with peanut dressing, pickled ginger and wasabi served on the side.

Sarah

Okay, first, what’s with the name of this place? Is it Scenic 61? Or Scenic 61 by New Scenic Café? If it’s the second one, does that mean I’m supposed to know who New Scenic Café is? Like it’s some sort of sponsor? I have a lot of questions here…

Onto the food! I’m not a sashimi fan. But I do like tuna sashimi, or when it’s lightly seared. I also like fish tacos, generally. There is nothing about this that doesn’t sound good to me (except for wasabi, but that’s served on the side, so win!)

I like that the shells are wontons. That’s doing Asian tacos right, imop.

I hope this is good. It could be nice and light and refreshing, which is always a welcome option at the fair.

Patrick

This place looks new. Is it new? I don’t really like sashimi, something about just a strip of raw fish and nothing else really bothers me. I think it is probably the texture. Put it on rice though, or in this case shove it into a wonton shell, and now we’re talking. So like a sushi taco? I guess it really would be a sashimi taco, since sushi has rice, but whatever. I don’t really like avocado, but I can usually get over it if it is in things and in sushi rolls, so I’m tentatively eager to try this out. I feel like the textures with that wonton shell will be amazing. Even the Thai slaw sounds great, with a peanut dressing. I’m pretty eager to give this one a try.

Anne

You know what we need more of? Asian Mexican fusion. Bc I love me a sushirito. So this sounds pretty bomb- I love everything on this list, and I really appreciate they left the spicier additions on the side to add as you please. Looking forward to this- I hope the ahi tuna doesn’t jack up the price.

Tomorrow is the last day with Part 5, kicking off with the Sidecar Sandwich. And if you think that sounds like an item that is coming out of a vendor that once had a racist sandwich, well you wouldn't be wrong. See you there!