2025 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 3- Fawaffle through Hot Honey Pizza Ballzz

From some of our most excited for straight to some of our least excited for. Read on! 

Fawaffle from Baba’s

Falafel – a traditional Middle Eastern fritter of chickpeas and herbs – pressed in a waffle iron, topped with tahini butter, and served with cherry tomatoes, traditional hummus, green shatta, mint and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. (Vegetarian)

Sarah’s Thoughts

Looks like we have another waffle entry. If we get a third, it could be in the race for the theme of the year!

Hmm. Not sure I like how that waffle looks. Color is sus. Makes me think it’ll be dry or grainy or have some other sort of weird texture.

Ohhhh, it’s falafel pressed into a waffle. Eh. I’m not a falafel fan. They just don’t do it for me. I do like hummus, but since we have Baba’s at the fair, nothing really competes with them, so I’m sure this hummus will be ho hum (heh.)

LOLOL

Oh wait! This is from Baba’s!

Well, ain’t I a scamp.

At least that means the hummus will be good. But, still predicting I won’t like the texture of the waffle. I’m sliiiightly more hopeful, though, because even when they do weird stuff at Baba’s, they generally knock it out of the park.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok is the theme Waffles this year? That’s two so far (twice as many as the pickle offerings internet, in case you’re keeping score (we are)).

Is this like hummus and tomatoes on a waffle? I prefer my waffles sweet, but Baba’s is a good bet, so let’s see what we actually have going on here.

Ooooh it’s a Falafel. Jeeze I am not with it today- like OBVIOUSLY it’s a falafel with that name, what’s wrong with me (boy does my PC not want me to write that name correctly. STOP FIGHTING ME ROBUT).

What’s Green Shatta? Oh apparently it’s a pounded green chili paste.

Ehhhhhh. I don’t love a falafel. I’m not a huge fan of spicy. Tomatoes are dirt fruit (though I recently learned (THANKS INFO BOOTH LADIES AND VEGETABLE AND POTATO SUPERINTENDENT) that Tomatoes are classified as a vegetable (even though botanically a fruit) because of some funky act of congress back in the day). Baba’s is a good bet so I’m curious to see if the good bet of Baba’s overcomes the not-really-wanting this of the ingredients.

Packie’s Thoughts

Baba’s really ignited my newfound appreciation for hummus and have continuously put out fun, interesting, and often delicious hummus combinations with soft, delightful, little pittas.  Its exciting to see them branch out from just a strict hummas/pita combo to this little majesty.  I’m really excited to try a falafel in waffle form, and all the flavors they’re including with the toppings makes this look like it’ll be a tasty mouthful.  Super excited to give this a try.

Flauta Dippers by El Burrito Mercado

Seasoned shredded chicken stuffed in rolled corn tortillas and fried. Served in a cup filled with mild tomatillo salsa, sour cream and crumbled cotija cheese.

(Editor's Note- IDK why the pictures got small- I could not fix them. Don't @ me)

Sarah’s Thoughts

I’m calling it. Dippers/Dips is the theme this year!

What do we got here? Am I going to hate this? Possibly.

Seasoned chicken. Welp. That’ll probably do me in.

As said before, I don’t like sour cream and I ALSO don’t like cotija cheese either (like feta, it’s too dry)

I don’t think I’ll HATE hate this. But I’m sure I’ll try it, say no thanks, and not eat any more.

But I like the idea of it. I suspect Packie and Anne will like it, and as long as those flauta’s stay crispy and don’t get soggy in the salsa, it seems like it could be a hit.

Oh, it’s El Burrito Mercado. A place I’ve never eaten ate for obvious reasons, but that I’ve heard good things about. This is their first year at the fair, right? I like when local places get a spot at the fair. Feels like a nice celebration of Minnesota.

Oh wait, it’s at the Bazaar. Maybe it’s not their first year? I think they might have been there last year. Can’t remember for sure. (the more I think about it the more I remember that they’re not new this year)

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh shiiiiiit. I love me a taquito. I know these are flautas which are taquito adjacent (for the uninitiated, taquitos are rolled corn tortillas (and usually smaller, or as we would say in this house, “more wee”), and flautas are the sub-par flour tortilla and often rolled larger for some dumb reason. I don’t love a tortilla, but Corn are superior bc more flavorful. Corn Tortilla is to Flour Tortilla as Corn Dog is to Pronto Pup. And you know how we feel about Corn Dogs) 

(...if you’re new here, we’re team corn dog)), so my interest is piqued already.

Ok so these are chicken, which is subpar to beef. But they are corn tortillas (sooo…. Taquitos after all…?) which is a plus. I don’t love a green/tomatillo salsa but I appreciate that it’s mild. And I’m a fan of sour cream and cheese, so overall I think this is in the positive category. It’s not SUPER inventive but still convenient for fair eating.

Damn- two sour cream offerings for the sour cream crybaby fan club (see Bison Meatball Sub for context). Mexican food to boot too- at least Sarah can maybe just take a bite of the flautquito without all the other stuff to dampen the experience for her.

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh dang, Anne is sure to be excited about this.  She loves Flautas.  Or is it taquitos.  Hold on, what’s the difference?  Seems flauta’s are usually made with flour tortillas and taquitos with corn, and maybe their size and preparation as well differ.  But…t-these are made with corn tortillas?  But, they’re flautas?  Wow, Anne is going to sure be excited about this!  I mean, come on, me too.  I love Mexican food, and though this seems like pretty standard flautas, I’ll still give them a shot.  This is just El Burrito Mercado’s second year at the fair, and we only tried a couple of things last time, so hoping they put their best foot forward now that they are an official new food.  Sarah is just getting hit real hard this year.  We’ve had beans, spicy food, and now Mexican.  All we’re missing is Hormel chili and she might flip out.

Freaky Fryday by Herbivorous Butcher

Chicken-fried vegan bacon served with vegan fried chicken strips infused with bacon flavor. Optional toppings include mini donut cinnamon sugar & maple syrup, pickle seasoning & ranch dressing, spicy buffalo sauce & dragon dust – or a combination of all three. (Vegan)

Sarah’s Thoughts

OOH! More chicken fried bacon.

Wait.

Fuck me it’s vegan bacon. Which means this has to come from the---Yep. Herbivorous Butcher.

I’ve never eaten anything there that I even remotely like. A few things we’ve downright detested. 

Why do we have pretty much 2 identical new foods this year (chicken fried bacon) that are also both a copycat of a food item that was a regular on Giggles menu? Seems a little sus and lazy.

I will say, the breading on this looks pretty decent. Possibly better than the one at Soul Bowl. I feel like vegan bacon (the worst of the fake meats, imop) always tastes like fake smoke, like they think it’s the smoky flavor people like about bacon. It’s not.

Oh look, bacon flavor infusion. So even more fake bacony taste?

I will never understand the need for vegan food to try and mimic non-vegan food. Like, just serve vegan stuff. It doesn’t have to pretend to be meat. If you DO want it to pretend to be meat, it has to be identical in texture and flavor, like seitan. 

Oh, I will say, I DO like that it comes with optional dusting flavors. That’s fun. AND they let us get all 3! Dang, Herbivorous Butcher, that actually makes me like you a little.

Of course one is buffalo seasoning so we can just toss that in the trash (and then I’ll take a picture of Packie trying to fish it out of the trash for him and Anne to try cuz they like buffalo flavoring and I’ll post that trash diving pic onto socials alongside the ground eating pic and people will reaaaaaally start to lower their opinions of Anne and Packie. But not Sarah. Never Sarah)

Listen, HB, I always always want your food to be good. Please let this year be the year. Those strips look tasty. I want to like them, I really do. Help me to like you.

(…also, are Herbivorous Butcher foods always named after, like, spoopy stuff? Freaky Fryday. Poltrygeist? Others from the past?)

Anne’s Thoughts

Is this… is this SOMEHOW ANOTHER CHICKEN FRIED BACON? Like what is happening here? Some sort of Freaky Friday situation?

(SEE WHAT I DID THERE??!)

Ok for real though, what is this and who is it from.

HAHAHAHAHAH OOOOMMMGGGGGGGGG IT IS CHICKEN FRIED BACON WHAAAAAATTTTT.

Ok Vegan Bacon. Which means…. Herbivorous Butcher…??

Yup- the movie reference title should’ve been a dead giveaway, I really am off my game.

Ok so mostly we are excited and then really disappointed by their offerings. But last year wasn’t bad. I do like that they have the 3 seasoning options that all sound fine and interesting AND that you can get all 3! THANK YOU for giving the people who try all the things all the options!

Damn did you ever imagine a year in which Chicken Fried Bacon would come back not once but twice?? What a world we live in.

Packie’s Thoughts

Holy SHIT!  Can it be?  Two F***ING deep fried bacons this year?  It’s making a comeback baby!  Wait…wait a damn minute, what’s that…that smell?  Is that…schmeat?  Oh EFF me, it’s vegan bacon.  OF EFF OFF, it’s Herbivorous Butcher!  BLECH!  Wait, what the hell is this?  Chicken fried vegan bacon served with vegan fried chicken strips.  Oooh, the picture was a bit hard to make out, so there are chicken strips AND breaded bacon?  All schmeat, of course.  I’ve never liked anything that came out of this kitchen.  Their ‘meat’, or schmeat as it is colloquially called, always tastes funny and I feel like their breading is always weird, doesn’t hold to the schmeat, and is just bad.  This is bad, I feel bad, and I’m hopping mad.  I don’t care how many effing dustings you offer to season it with.  Crap damn, this sucks.

Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog by West End Creamery

Vanilla ice cream, created by Minnesota Dairy Lab, sandwiched between two pieces of Grandma Doreen's Coffee Cake – a family recipe from Elgin, Minn. – made by Wrecktangle Pizza. Skewered on-a-stick and drizzled with house-made strawberry rhubarb jam. Garnished with cinnamon toast-flavored crispy treats, whipped cream and sprinkles. (Vegetarian)

Sarah’s Thoughts

What do we got here? I can’t quite parse it from the picture. It’s clearly some sort of dessert hot dog.

Okay so we have vanilla ice cream. Tame, but not bad. Sandwiched between coffee cake. I don’t know Doreen so I have no pre-opinion of her coffee cake other than that I’m sure it’s not as good as our Mom’s (shout out #3 for Mommy Ahiers!)

Oh, the coffee cake is made by Wrecktangle Pizza? That’s a little weird. But we love their pizza so I’m not mad about it. And that’s jam, not caramel, so I’m happy about that (I like caramel, I just don’t want everything to be caramel flavored, you know?)

What’s that cinnamon toast flavored crispy treat? Why do we need that on top of the coffee cake? Is it to add texture? Now I’m unsure about this.

Cinnamon sugar is also creeping up in the list of themes with 3 now.

Oh! Is this the place that had that potato chip ice cream last year that was so good I cried a little? I think so!

Okay, then good chance this might also be good? Though, I will say the dessert from them last year was a bit of a nightmare to eat. Borderline impossible. But that ice cream…

Of course, this is just vanilla ice cream sooooo…

I think this will be good. There’s a chance it might be too sweet? But it’s gonna come down to that coffee cake me thinks. There’s also a chance this could be absolutely amazing, so we’ll cross our fingers for that.

Is Anne most excited about this? Hard to tell.

Anne’s Thoughts

Well well well, this is the 3rd dessert offering that makes me excited. Is it some sort of fancy Ice Cream Sammich?

Ok we’ve got a bunch happening here. Grandma Doreen’s coffee cake made by Wrecktangle Pizza (did…did Grandma Doreen sell out??), Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Rice Crispies. Honestly this sounds bomb. BUT! It’s going to all hinge on the textures- is the coffee cake something we can bite through? Is it soggy or stale? Is the ice cream rock hard?

West End Creamery made the delectable Kettle Chip Ice Cream last year, but then they paired it with focaccia slathered in honey and expected you to somehow eat it with a spoon, so a stick is an improvement here. I hope this is baller.

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh, hey!  It’s the place that brought us that weird potato chip ice-cream focacciawich last year.  Weird sandwich, good ice cream, and that’s coming from the guy who turns his nose up at ice cream.  Seems this year they’ve forced poor Grandma Doreen to slave away at their food stand in the summer heat and shovel out her famous dessert dogs (gonna be honest, don’t know if Doreen will actually be there, or if her so called dessert dog is famous).  Oh shit.  Well, this is embrassing.  I read the name and just ran with that joke, but turns out Grandma Doreen doesn’t make dessert dogs, she makes coffee cake.  Wait, this is a family recipe, that was made by Wrecktangle Pizza?  What is going on here?  Who the hell is Doreen?  Is she even a Grandma?  Ok, shut up, I gotta actually look at this thing.  Wow.  WOW.  This, this sounds amazing.  With the ice-cream sandwich made with coffeecake, drizzle of strawberry rhubarb jam, and cinnamon toast-flavorted crispy treat garnish?!  This is the kind of ice cream Packie can get behind.  Looks great!

Green Apple Sucker Ice Cream by Granny’s Apples & Lemonade

Tart green apple ice cream with swirls of sweet caramel – flavored like a caramel apple lollipop. Served in a cup. (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

Sarah’s Thoughts

As I said, I like ice cream.

People love those green apple suckers. I think they’re fine. So I suspect this will be fine, too.

Honestly, I think the thing I like about this the most is that it’s wee. We don’t need a huge serving of things.

Kinda wish this was a sorbet instead? But that’s not what we’re getting.

Caramel flavoring also creeping up on the list too. 

Don’t know that I’ve ever had anything from Granny’s Apples & Lemonade. Not even sure I’ve ever seen them before. Maybe they’re new? 

They’re in the food building, so now I think they ARE new, since I feel like we know everything in there. If they’re new, what did they replace?

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh! What a delightful little snackle we have going on here! I remember those suckers being all the rage in my youth, and I occasionally imbibed and they were good!

Hmmm- is this a new vendor? Or just new to us? I gotta say, I like the look of the size of this ice cream- but ONLY if it’s priced accordingly- it’s wee, so it better be a wee price.

I hope it’s as delightful as it looks.

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh shit.  How do you…where are the effing emoji’s on a word document.  Oh god this is so retro, hold on.

:-O

Nailed it.  I LOVE THOSE SUCKERS!  And they made an ice cream dessert based on that idea? Shut up and take my money!  Why are the ice creams NAILING it this year?!  You’re making me look like a fool!  Where is Sarah and Anne’s ice cream?  I DON’T SEE IT.  GET THE EFF OUTTA MA WAY!

Hot Honey Jalapeno Popper Donut by Fluffy’s Handcut Donuts

Hand-cut yeast-raised donut frosted with homemade jalapeño cream cheese. Topped with crumbled bacon, pickled jalapeños and drizzled with hot honey.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Dammit. I don’t want slices of jalapeños on anything ever. 

I don’t even dislike jalapeño flavor all that much (I put them in this breakfast muffin I sometimes make) but big pieces just gross me out. I don’t even like how they look. Unappetizing.

Okay, so what do we got after I flick those little fuckers off (you know where you can go and get them, Packie, if you want them. And you’ll know what happens next…)

Fluffy’s donuts again. I think they make good donuts? I don’t really remember. They’re in a weird location so I feel like we always eat them later in the day when we’re tired and fooded out, so it’s hard to remember them. 

Hmm. Don’t know how I feel about cream cheese on a donut (I’m FINE with the jalapeño cream cheese.) I think they’re striking a good balance with the savory and sweet with this. 

This COULD be great. But it could also be too much, or maybe just not work at all. 

Feeling pretty middle of the road about this.

Anne’s Thoughts

C’mon. 

C’mon. 

Why? Why is this a thing? Like WTAF Fluffy? You make good stuff, Why are you doing this to us? Goddamn do I not want ANYTHING to do with this. I know I'm overtired from work but damn if this didn’t almost make me want to cry a little bit with the not-wanting of it.

Oh God- the jalapeños are even in the cream cheese? So we can’t even just pick them off? GAAAAWWWWWWDDDDDDD

(Anne- note to self- add a great gif here, like maybe Dash dying in the ocean from Incredibles)

The Incredibles Dash GIFfrom The Incredibles GIFs

Packie’s Thoughts

Aaaaaahahahahahaha!  Sarah, look!  WAAAHAHAH!  It’s got…ohmyeffinggod!  Ooook, ok, ok.  Sorry, I just…aw I’m sorry girl, you got it so rough this year.  Lemme look at this thing and…

I don’t want this.  I love their donuts, but this…this is just too far.  I don’t want bacon and jalapeños on my donut.  And they got the hot honey too, I just…I don’t know.  I don’t like this.  This skirts the line too finely between savory and sweet.  If you meet the two exactly in the middle…there lies madness.  This is donut abuse.

Hot Honey Pizza Ballzz by Green Mill

Three pizza dough balls stuffed with cheese curds, pepperoni, herbs and Parmesan cheese. Brushed with garlic butter and topped with more pepperoni, herbs and Parmesan cheese. Finished with a drizzle of hot honey sauce.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Ope, now we’re up to 2 hot honey items! Could be a theme sneak attack!

Pizza ballzz? They coming from Green Mill?

They are! Green Mill is usually a fantastic new foods vendor. I think only once did they make something that was meh, and more than once they’ve had items on the A list.

I hope this is another addition to that column.

Hey nice! There’re 3 balls (you’re 3 balls) which means we each get one of our own!

Yeah, this looks great. There’s nothing on this or about this that I don’t want.

I hope it’s soft and extra cheesy and flavorful and really good.

I’m excited for this one

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh look out everyone! We got a double Z here- it must be edgy AF!

Some more damn Hot Honey- I thought we had moved on from that trend already. I don’t want hot honey! HONEY SHOULD BE SWEET, NOT HOT.

I knew it was gonna be Green Mill so I felt a little bad with the words I said because Green Mill is our pal, but I had to say it.

Anyway- apparently these are stuffed with CHEESE CURDS?! See, why didn’t we just stop there before the hot honey sitch?

Maybe the savory goodness of a typical Green Mill offering will overcome the not goodness of the hot honey.

Packie’s Thoughts

Aah, I am happy again.  It’s Green Mill.  They always put out something safe and delicious.  Pizza dough ball stuffed with cheese curds, you got the pepperoni, the parm, all the Italian goodness, mama mia!  I uh, I don’t know why you need to throw the hot honey on top, that just seems like the odd man out, but whatevs I guess.  Hope this is good, honey or no.

OK! Onwards to Day 4 where we meet some more meat.