2023 MN State Fair New Foods Preview Part 5- Paletas through New Vendors

 Paletas in Two Flavors- Dill Pickle Lemonade and Mini Donut by Hamline Church Dining Hall

Mexican frozen treats on-a-stick in two flavors made locally by La Michoacana Rose: Dill Pickle Lemonade Paleta is lemon-flavored, water-based and includes dill pickle slices (vegan); Mini Donut Paleta is vanilla ice cream with mini donut bits and a whole cinnamon mini donut inside (vegetarian).

Sarah

Oh shit. Another pickle lemonade option. That’s a check mark in each box. But we’ve paletas again! Which is good because paletas are good and I want to eat them. Also, two flavors is much more doable so we can get one of each and try them both. I like sweet paletas so I’m much more looking forward to the mini donut one than the pickle lemonade one. Oh, the lemonade one might just be served with a pickle slice? Huh. I feel like that’s not really a dill pickle lemonade then. That’s just the garnish. Well, whatever. We’ll give it a try and see what’s what.

 

Patrick

I feel like this joke would have punched harder if it had immediately followed the previous Hamline Church Dining Hall entry.  That’s right, they’re back for round tWo, and their second contender is…paletas?  Last year their new item was paletas.  But now they have…more paletas?  New fooooooods!  Ok, first off, I don’t want no damn gross pickle lemonade ice cream bar.  Gross.  And there are ACTUAL pickles in it?  Who’s going to lick a pickle?!  Choo choo, hop onto the pickle train.  Dumb.  Mini donut flavor sounds aight, I guess.  Not sure you want an actual whole donut in your ice cream bar, though.  I told you.  I TOLD you, to quit while you’re ahead.  I’m calling it now, not gonna enjoy these.

 

Anne

HAHAHAHAHA! A FOURTH pickle offering, and this one’s a PICKLE LEMONADE just like Nordic Waffles?

Ok like this seems like a cheap shot though. Hamline had Paletas as a new food LAST year. Yes, these are new flavors, but it’s the same food? Idk- this seems like a cop out to me- lucky they have that hamloaf to fall back on.

Honestly, I was looking forward to these until I saw they had like a whole mini donut and pickle slices in them. Hoo boy, something about that is a biiiiig turnoff for me. I don’t want to LICK pickle slices or a mini-donut, so now I have to, what- BITE ICE CREAM? There is no texturally satisfying way to eat this. This is a sensory nightmare.

 

Pickle Fries by Mike’s Hamburgers

Crispy, tangy thin-cut dill pickle fries lightly coated in a cornmeal and seasoned mustard batter. Served with a side of chipotle dipping sauce.

Sarah

Ope. Pickle fries. Hey! This is from Mike’s! That’s amazing! First off, Mike’s has never seemed like the kind of stand that would futz around with a new food. They’ve been doing the same thing year after year and it’s been great. We love their old school burgers. We even get a whole bunch to bring home and have for dinner. They’re cheap as hell and fantastic. But here we are with a new food! Oh they’re pickle fries, meaning they’re made out of pickles. Hm. I’m less excited about that. There’s already a deep-fried pickle stand that people lose their mind over and we think is blah. Not that we don’t like a good, deep-fried pickle. We’re just underwhelmed by that particular option. Interesting batter here, though. Cornmeal and mustard. That’s intriguing to me. I think this will all come down to the crispiness of the fries and the dipping sauce. You know, this is like the 3^rd chipotle sauce on this list. It’s also sneaking up on us for a possible theme.

 

Patrick

Wooooo!  Mike’s Hamburgers made the list.  In case you don’t know, Mikes makes a very simple, but damn fine burger, and until I learn otherwise, it is the cheapest burger at the fair.  They’re great to pick up a few and bring them home to eat later, all wrapped up in the paper wrappers that is somehow nostalgic but I can’t quite put my finger on why that is.  Anyways, so it looks like they’re making some pickle fries.  Hmm, like pickles, sliced thin, and then battered and fried.  Um…they do know the fair already has a Fried Pickle place that is like crazy popular, right?  Not to say these won’t be good, it’s just…like making a roast beef sandwich when you’re parked next to an Arby’s.  I mean, that’s not totally fair, they have like ALL the meats, so who can compete with that, but you get what I’m saying.  I’ll hope for their sake, because I’m a Mike’s fan ride or die (RIDE OR DIE), that they’ll be good as a side with my armful of burgers.  Wait a second.  What’s that dipping sauce there?  Chipotle?  Hey Sarah?  SARAH!  Look!  Spice up your life!  You got lucky there is no buffalo sauce anywhere on this list this year!  Just like I’m lucky there has been no avocados.  Hah!

 

Anne

Ok now we’re just getting out of control people. You know that pickle isn’t a magic bullet for a new food right? That if you just add pickles to stuff you’re not going to Pickle Rick your summer?

Oh, ok- I thought these were going to be pickle-flavored French fries, but I see they are fried pickles (in stick form instead of slices).

Mike’s Hamburgers?? Well welcome to the new food list, sir. We’re heading our way to stock up on burgers, so might as well snag your pickle fries at the same time.

I don’t LOVE frickles like some other people, and also seems pretty bold to offer a frickle when there’s a whole Deep Fried Pickle stand already at the fair (SPOILER- there’s 2 now- they built a 2^nd building up by the Pet Building this summer, THAT’S HOW POPULAR THEY ARE). So this is meh, but I am glad to see some classic vendors branch out into new foods territory.

 

Smoked Beef Arepa by Midtown Global Market’s Arepa Bar

Smoked roast beef, avocado puree, fresh tomatoes, red onions and arugula in a baked Venezuelan crispy corn pocket. (GF) (8/30-9/4 only)

Sarah

Oh damn that beef looks good. Ah shit, this is the global market, which means we won’t get to eat this until the end of the fair. And I have to say, I hate that garbage. By the end of the fair I don’t want to be eating new foods anymore. I want to be getting one last taste of my favorites. Ugh. But this looks pretty good. Oh it has avocado puree so that will piss Packie off, especially since he loves roast beef. Tomatoes are boo for all of us. Anne frickin LOVES red onions. It legit might be her favorite food? Arugula is great and the arepa sounds great, too! Man. I’d be pretty excited about this if I didn’t have to wait until the end of the fair. That’s really just made me irritated about the whole thing, which is too bad.

 

Patrick

God dammit!  I was so close!  Oh sure, let’s puree the avocado, then maybe he won’t notice.  Screw you!  Welp, here we are with the other posting for Midtown Global Market that will be appearing in the latter half of the fair.  So dumb.  Arepa bar is back with…more arepas.  We weren’t impressed with these arepas last year and I don’t see that changing much.  Sure that roast beef looks good, but we just talked about making roast beef sandwiches.  Arby’s my guy, they have ALL the effing meats!  Don’t think I’ll like this and I don’t hope up much hope for it doing any better than the last two iterations.  At least there is only one this year.  By the time I’ll eat this, we’ll have already forgotten about doing new foods.

 

Anne

I assume this is from that new vendor last year that was just ok? Yes- Arepa Bar. Ope- looks like they got the short end of the stick with the PM vendor slot (2^nd half of the fair). I’m already irritated that we can’t taste this the first day. No one cares about new foods by 8/30 Midtown Global Market!

Well this vendor got a C last year for both their Arepa and drink, so pretty average so far. This sounds and looks great- I feel like I can predict the mouth feel already and I want it. Seriously- I need to go eat lunch apparently bc I am hallucinating eating food. Yes- give this to me

 

Sota-cuterie Board by Sabino’s Pizza Pies

Collection of Minnesota-made meats, cheeses, pickles and other charcuterie board favorites – served on an edible herb-crusted cracker “board”.

Sarah

I’m sorry. This is the saddest looking Charcoot (as we call them) I’ve seen in a long time. That cheese just makes me sad. So does that meat. Listen, I understand not everyone can have a mom that is a master at making charcuteries like we do (LOVE YOU MOMMY) but this is just depressing. Everything on that board looks boring and sad. Well, let me at least read about it. Okay wait. The BOARD is edible? That’s so fun! And so smart! The rest of it is still sad (I mean, listen, I’m gonna try it all. And also, it’s good that it’s MN stuff, but it still makes me tear up) but that board has really kicked this up for me. Though, the more of the board you eat, the less space you have to hold the meats and cheeses. This could become a problem… Sabino’s Pizza? Have I ever heard of this? Oh fuck it’s a coliseum stand. Which means that we have to go in the coliseum to get it. And I can honestly say that I don’t think we’ve ever had anything in the coliseum, for any of the myriad stands, that has been higher than a C. Shit, they might have all been Fs. Last year they were.

 

Patrick

Man, I can’t believe this list is still going.  Gotta be nearing the end soon.  When I first saw this I was like “no one comes to the fair to eat charcuterie.  I sure as hell don’t. Got to do it in the Warner Coliseum, as nothing says rustic, fancy eating like being a steps away from a dirty horse arena.  The arena, not the horses, I’m sure they’re well groomed and clean.  Until they step into that dusty, dirty, dirt-filled ring.  I mean look at this thing, those sausages and cheese look basic AF, like something right out of a crappy Hickory Farms gift box.  Give me some prosciutto and brie, some terrine and gouda.  Why on earth would I want…wait.  Wait a second, is that…zoom in on that board.  Is that board…a cracker?  Holy shit, it is!  That’s…ok, that is friggin’ cute as hell.  I mean what’s on the board is basic, but I love this crack board.  No matter what else happens, you’ve won my heart with your edible cracker “board”.  Bless your hearts.

 

Anne

Ahh, finally got to the shark coochie board. Is this from Wine Country? Sounds like something they would do.

Oh! It’s not. Is this a new vendor? Hmm doesn’t say. In the coliseum, so maybe it’s been there forever and they’re just making their first foray onto New Foods.

Ok first I was like meh- who goes to the fair for charceut? BUT THEN. It’s all Minnesota made, so even though that is some unappetizing orange cheese, imma support our neighbors (also the “Sota” makes sense in this regard. ARE YOU TAKING NOTES RC?). Second- EDIBLE CRACKER BOARD!

Is this board strong enough to hold the meats and cheeses? Bc if it breaks and we loose our shark coochie, I mean… this is a huge risk Sabino. But I like that you took it *tips hat*

So A for creativity on execution. But C for the rest.

 

Walleye Fritter Pops by Giggles’ Campfire Grill

Smoked walleye mixed with a blend of cheeses, dill pickle relish, fresh garlic and spices, rolled in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Served on-a-stick with a side of comeback sauce and a lemon slice.

Sarah

Giggles is back! And they’re focusing on something they’re very good at: walleye! Their walleye cakes are fucking great. And I say this as someone who doesn’t like fish. So I would assume that walleye fritter pops will also be great. Oh fuck it’s smoked walleye? Dammit I think they just ruined it. I don’t like fish and I REALLY don’t like smoked fish. Also, cheese? With fish? I don’t know… there’s a bit of pickle in here, though maybe not enough to count it. I’m not counting lemon slices either. Okay, idk. I think I’m still tentatively excited for this. Also, it looks fun to eat. Just pop one right in your mouth. I’ve spent much of my fair life trusting giggles and it usually pays off, so I think I just gotta trust them here again.

 

Patrick

After a 1-year hiatus, Giggle is back in the new foods ring with some kind of walleye fritter pop.  Usually Giggles knows how to make fish, as their walleye cakes are still damn good!  Looks like we can chalk up another addition to the pickle craze, and I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it being smoked walleye instead of regular walleye, but I’m willing to give Giggles the benefit of the doubt.  Looks tasty enough.  They did kill the chicken fried bacon, though, which I’m still very sore about.

 

Anne

Hey Giggles, welcome back! And wow look at you- these look like a lot of fun. I don’t know if I like the idea of Cheese and Fish, but I’m willing to forge ahead regardless. Yeah I don’t have much to say, they look fun and like a perfect little fair food.

 

NEW VENDORS

Afro Deli

Afro Deli serves Sambusas in three varieties – beef, chicken, or veggie, fried triangle-shaped pastries with choice of meat or lentils, mixed with onions, garlic, and cilantro, and served with “Basbaas”, a spicy Somali dipping sauce made with fresh chili peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, onions, and lemon juice; Sweet Plantains, pieces of ripe plantains fried until golden brown (vegetarian); Somali Tea, a fragrant, spiced infusion of tea leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg, served hot or iced (vegetarian); and fresh mango juice (vegetarian).

Sarah

Okay I’m down with this. I want to try all three Sambusas, and I definitely want to try the tea (iced, because it’ll be late august) and the mango juice. I also very much want the plantains because I love those. I wonder how spicy the Basbaas is. I suspect very. But hey, I’ll try anything once (except balut)

 

Patrick

Awesome!  Excited to see a Somali food vendor join the fair.  That sambusa looks pretty good, and I’m sure the twins will be excited about the sweet plantains.  I’d even try that tea.  Should be a fun experience.

 

Anne

Well this looks like a fun new vendor! Pretty sure they have a restaurant or food truck out in the real world, nice to see them at the fair. I want all of these things. All of them

 

Bandstand Concessions

Bandstand Concessions serves the Bandstand Burger, Lucy Bratwurst, Chicken Press Sandwich, Lil Smoky Hot Dog, Pretzel Nugs, Facepunch Pretzels, Deep-fried Baked Potato, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, assorted candy and a variety of beer, wine, soda, Red Bull drinks, lemonade, and bottled water.

Sarah

I’m assuming this is only for when you’re inside the bandstand and need some food. So therefore, I won’t be trying this any time soon, if ever. Because you better believe I would pregame any concert or show at the bandstand with the fair foods. Wait. They have a deep-fried baked potato??? Fuuuuuuu. I want that! Ugh. I wonder if I can get it?

 

Patrick

Sounds like pretty typical stadium faire, although I am curious about that deep-fried bake potato.  I’m a little confused about their location, though.  Looks like they are literally next to the stage in the bandstand.  Can you even go in there during the fair and outside concerts?  Need to look into that.

 

Anne

Sooooo this is just inside the Grandstand Concert Venue…? Can you even get in there outside of concert time? Gonna have to ask the Info Booth Ladies. Idk- doesn’t seem necessary to add a new Concert Concession stand to the new food list.

 

Churros & Aguas Fresca

Churros & Aguas Fresca serves bags of churros with caramel or fudge sauce; churros filled with strawberry, Nutella or Bavarian cream; churro sundaes with vanilla bean or cinnamon ice cream; and aguas frescas in watermelon, mango, pineapple and strawberry lime flavors.

Sarah

Heeeeeey, I want every single thing on this menu. All the different Aguas Frescas and all the different churros etc. Look at all those fillings and dips and sundaes. Yep. I want this. I love churros with a chocolate dip, especially if that dip is a bitter chocolate. I’m excited about this one.

 

Patrick

Dang that is a lot of churros options.  Bavarian cream?  I’d try the hell out of that.  I’d try several of these.  Not sure if I’ve ever had an aguas fresca before, but they sound refreshing and I’d be up for giving them a shot.

 

Anne

I don’t think I’ve ever had a filled churro before? I also like that they really went all in on Churros. Also I want alllll those aguas frescas

 

MomoDosa

MomoDosa serves official new food Chicken Momo with Tomato Chutney. Plus, Masala Dosa (South Indian crepe of rice and lentil batter, ghee, and served with tomato chutney and coconut chutney); Veggie Pakora (shredded cabbage and onions dipped in chickpea batter, fried and served with mint and cilantro chutney and tamarind chutney, vegan and GF); and Mango Lassi (smoothie made with mangoes, yoghurt, powdered cardamom and cloves). (8/24-8/29 only)

Sarah

Well, we’ll for sure be trying this because they also have an official new food. Pat likes a veggie pakora so there’s a chance we’ll be trying that. OH HOLY SHIT they have Mango Lassi. I LOVE mango lassi! I really really hope it’s as good as the one from India Palace because that’s my fav. Dang, this makes me more excited about getting that new food cuz I can snag one of these, too!

 

Patrick

So this is the only new vendor to make the actual “new foods” list with their Momos.  Looks like they also have a Dosa, which is like an Indian crepe, and veggie pakora which is like veggies dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried.  I’m a big fan of both of those, but we’ll see if we have time and stomach space to try all of it.  I’m sure Sarah and Anne would love to try their Mango Lassi, but the yoghurt is just a little too overpowering for me.  I’ll have a sip though, I’m always willing to give it another try.

 

Anne

SARAH THEY HAVE MANGO LASSI!

Hey you know allll their stuff sounds great. I wish they were there the whole time so we could pace ourselves. I worry we won’t have an opportunity to go back for more after our 2-day bacchanal before they’re gone for the season

 

Peachey’s Baking Company

Peachey’s Baking Company serves Amish donuts made on-site using old Amish recipes, topped with vanilla glaze and served warm; Peanut Butter Cream Doughnut, an over-sized Amish doughnut topped with house-made vanilla custard, peanut butter crumbles and whipped cream; and Southern Sweet Tea, a fresh-brewed tea sweetened with cane sugar.

Sarah

Huh. Amish donuts. I didn’t think the Amish made donuts. I’ve never heard of them until this moment. It’s weird. I wouldn’t think the Amish would be pioneers of extra sweet pastries and extra sweet tea. ARE there even Amish in the south? Well, either way, I love me a no-nonsense donut and Anne and I love sweet tea, so I’m sure we’ll try both. I hope they’re good. A fresh donut is one of the best things in the world, I think.

 

Patrick

What?  Amish dougnuts?  Why have I never heard of these before?  How come no one has texted me, or written an online article, hell pick up the phone at least!  Well whatever, they’re here now at the fair and I’m always game to try a fresh and still hot doughnut.

 

Anne

What do we have here? Pretzels? OMG IT’S DONUTS. Wow! Wow these sound great! Yeah I want to try these for sure! Also I don’t associate the Amish with Southern Sweet Tea, but I like Southern Sweet Tea so I don’t care who is giving it to me.

 

Tasti Whip

Tasti Whip serves Dole Soft Serve in pineapple, mango, strawberry and lemon flavors; Dole Floats with pineapple, mango, strawberry and lemon-flavored Dole Whip in pineapple juice; Dole pineapple juice; and bottle water.

Sarah

Holy shit! Is this just the Dole Whip stand rebranded??? Oh my god! Yes! I think it is! This is amazing! I don’t think anything that has ever left the state fair has made a return and yet here we are! Amazing! I can’t wait to get a Dole Whip once more!

 

Patrick

YEEEEEESSSSS!  We were still lamenting the loss of the Dole Whip stand last year when we had just been turned onto its splendor the year before that.  And here, here we have a new place serving Dole Soft Serve ice cream!  They even come in floats, how exciting!  Hope this is a good as the stand we lost.

 

Anne

What are they trying to fill the Dole Whip gap- oh my god they are! THEY’RE THE NEW DOLE WHIP STAND! And they have flavors that the old Dole Whip stand never had! AND FLOATS! Well welcome/welcome back Dole Whip.

 

Wow Fudge

Wow Fudge served more than 70 varieties of gourmet, handcrafter, old-fashioned copper kettle fudge, including new custom Minnesota State Fair Flavors- Strawberry Rhubarb, Blueberry Cheesecake, and St, Paul Pickle.

Sarah

I don’t find fudge overly wow, so I’m not all that excited about this. Not to mention if you want to bring it home, good chance it will melt. But that said, I don’t mind a fudge with a lot of nuts in it. So maybe we’ll get one to share? Unless they have samples and it turns out it’s really good. Could go either way. I think Packie likes fudge more than Anne and me.

 

Patrick

Um…yup.  Fudge.  I mean, I know its food.  I don’t know, do they not have anyone else selling fudge already at the fair?  I don’t really come to the fair to pick up fudge.  I get fudge when I stop in small towns and go looking through antique stores.

 

Anne

HAHAHAHAH ONE FINAL PICKLE OFFERING.

Otherwise- it’s just fudge (wow…fudge). I’m sure there are a bunch of fudge offerings at the fair.

WOOOO! We Made it! And now we're just 25 days away from trying all these foods and seeing if our predictions hold up. It'll be here before we know it!