Sweet Squeakers From Blue Barn
White cheddar cheese curds coated in a funnel cake batter, deep fried, and topped with a scoop of fresh lemon whipped cream. Finished with a drizzle of berry sauce. (Vegetarian)
Sarah’s Thoughts
Ooh, what’s this now??
Looks good. Is this savory or sweet? Can’t tell from the picture. Could be both.
Cheese curds, natch. Funnel cake batter? Delish! Don’t know if I’ve ever had a funnel cake curd before. I’m excited to give it a try. Lemon whipped cream sounds delightful and then berry sauce for the win.
Okay. This sound amazing. I am VERY EXCITED to try this one. I think because it’s sweet, but also cheese. So a bit of the best of both worlds. God I hope this is good.
Where are we picking this up?
Blue Barn! Okay! I think they’ll be able to pull this off! We used to really dislike BB. Then they started putting out some great stuff and we came around. But they’ve gone a bit backwards, ditching a favorite of mine and making a few things that were not great again. But there’s nothing about this that seems like it should fail?
So, I predict this will be good.
Anne’s Thoughts
LOL hiiii. Omg- is it cheese curds? Is that the squeaking reference in the name? I bet it is.
Holy moly get in my mouth. YOU GET IN MY MOUTH RIGHT NOW!!
Have we had a cheese curd funnel cake before? What did Funnel Cakes do like 2 or 3 years ago? A savory something or other, but maybe it wasn’t cheese curds?
Or was it something from Lulu’s?? (gaaawwwddd I just know it was something in 2023 which hasn’t been updated yet)
(18 hours later)
Ok yes, I don’t know how I could’ve forgotten (probably because a nameless someone hasn’t updated the blog yet), but it was the SPECTACULAR Cheese Cake Curds from Lulu’s in ‘23.
Ok, so we have precedent that this can be great.
Also I think sweets is something that Blue Barn can sometimes shine at.
I mean, this just looks great- there’s nothing I don’t want about it.
Don’t you let me down here Blue Barn. Don’t you do it.
Packie’s Thoughts
Hey, there they are. Was starting to get worried they didn’t make the cut this year. Blue Barn really goes to the extremes with highs and lows, but it is always exciting to try whatever fun foods they’re putting out. I like their creativity and effort to think outside the box, and when it hits right, it hits hard. Here we’ve got…some kind of dessert cheese curds? Hmm, that is a lot of sweet to go along with savory cheese, but this might work. The curds themselves look nice and crispy, and I love the idea of lemon whipped cream with a berry sauce drizzle. I hope this turns out good, but I’m excited to try it either way. Love the name, BTW, very cute. Cause if they don’t squeak, they’re not really cheese curds.
Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha by Holy Land
Spiced tandoori chicken layered with a blend of Monterey Jack & mozzarella cheese and a mixture of sauteed onions, mixed bell peppers, jalapeños, corn, cilantro and green chilis. Folded inside paratha bread and griddled on a flat top grill. Served with a side of Holy Land's Avocado Cilantro Lime Sauce.
Sarah’s Thoughts
At first glance this looks like a quesadilla so let’s figure out what’s what.
Okay. I don’t think I’m going to like this. There are too many peppers and chilis for it to sit well with Sarah’s palate. But. It could surprise me!
I’m not against it in theory. I think it sounds good, there’s just ingredients I don’t like, which is a me problem.
That avocado cilantro lime sauce looks great. Packie will probably hate it because he don’t like avocado or cilantro. But otherwise it seems like something he might enjoy?
I have no idea where Anne will fall on this one. She’s an enigma.
Holy Land does make great gyro meat, though.
Anne’s Thoughts
SIIIIGGGHHHH another tortilla?? Is the theme quesadillas/tortillas this year? (seriously- what is the theme this year, can someone tell me?) Ok wait- it’s not a tortilla, it’s paratha bread. So that’s better but ohmygod it’s more jalapeño THAT’S 4 NOW!!
Boy there is not a lot I actually want here- I don’t love tandoori chicken, plus it has bell peppers AND Green Chilis.
If I had the choice I would probably opt out of this one.
Packie’s Thoughts
Oh nice, it’s like an Indian quesadilla! This looks tasty and sounds tasty too, with the tandoori chicken, the cheese, the…the peppers. The jalapeños. Shiiit, that’s the theme this year, isn’t it. You know, we poke a lot of fun at Sarah on here, and I’d just like to take this time to remind everyone that Sarah is a person with feelings and food preferences that are… well, they’re just awful to be honest. And sure, Anne hates curry, and vegetables, risotto, and Sarah. Um…no, I think that about covers it. Way I see it, there’s not much chance of us still running into SPAM, bananas, or more ice cream, so I think I’ve got this in the bag. But hey, just remember. We’re all getting a cherry this year, so you have to keep the peace.
Timber Twists Giggles Campfire Grill
A savory mixture of Italian sausage, mozzarella, cream cheese and barbecue rub piped into three large manicotti shells, then wrapped in bacon. Cooked in a wood-fired smoker for an infusion of smokey flavor. Served with a side of Giggles' signature barbecue sauce.
Sarah’s Thoughts
WOOO! Giggles is back!!!
I don’t know when the last time was that Giggles had a new item. They used to be our bestie and favorite, but then they started letting us down. So now we mostly just have fond memories. But here’s a new chance to reconnect.
What am I looking at? Looks like meat? A rib of some sort?
…What…what the hell? That’s a pasta wrapped in bacon??
I’m.
I’m honestly speechless about this one. There were so many twists and turns in this description I don’t know what to think.
Well, at the very least it sounds a bit bonkers, which is what we want out of our fair foods, so I’ll give them that.
I have absolutely no idea if I will enjoy this or not. Not a clue. But I guess that’s what will make it exciting!
Funny enough, it’s served with Giggles signature BBQ sauce and I don’t think we’ve ever, in all our years, tried that.
Not sure what that says about anything.
Anne’s Thoughts
Is this…is this twisted meat??? I really hope it’s a fun twisted meat and not like just bacon wrapped around something. Who is this from? We already saw RC’s BBQ on the list. Oh- Giggles. That tracks I guess (the tip-off was the Timber in the name Anne. Get your head in the game)
Ok, so it IS Bacon wrapped which is disappointing. I don’t want bacon wrapped things, I just want bacon. Bacon wrapped things are always chewy bacon that is hard to bite or cut- they just don’t execute well.
I am interested in this whole meat piped into pasta and wrapped in meat idea. I hope it’s good- it’s just going to really depend on execution of that bacon though.
Packie’s Thoughts
Look at that, Giggles made the list this year. I feel like it’s been a while (actually they only had last year off). You know, looking at that picture, I never, NEVER would have imagined it to contain all those things listed in the ingredients. I was like, “Are those meat skewers? Or Riblets?” Nope, way off. They’re apparently a manicotti pasta dish stuffed with cheese, sausage and barbecue rub and then wrapped in bacon. That is just a lot. I’m not sure I can even picture in my head what this might taste like. I feel like the bacon will likely overwhelm everything else, but who knows. Comes with a side of BBQ sauce for dipping too. Seems like a weird mix of Italian and bbq, something I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before. Should be interesting, if nothing else.
Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts from Solem’s Concessions
Chocolate mini donuts dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate icing, and topped with chocolate sprinkles and mini milk chocolate chips. Served in a bucket rimmed with more chocolate icing and sprinkles. (Vegetarian)
Sarah’s Thoughts
I sighed and rolled my eyes as soon as I saw these.
I’ve made my thoughts on fancy mini donuts clear: I don’t want them. Yes, I am sometimes proven wrong, but I am never going to ask the mini donut to be reimagined.
I cannot imagine a chocolate mini donut working. Mini donuts are fried. Generally chocolate donuts are cake donuts which are baked. I suspect this will have a texture that is not what I want from a mini donut.
Also, looks like we’re getting a whole fucking bucket of these. Jesus. Maybe we can convince some family to take them off our hands so we don’t have to waste a literal bucket of food.
WHY DO THEY THINK WE WANT A BUCKET OF MINI DONUTS?? A messy bucket on top of that!
Some person in charge was like, “how will the fair peasants carry these?” and someone else was like, “what about a bucket, milord?”
And he was like “Yes. I love it. But make the bucket covered in syrup and other messy things so they can’t actually use it for its functional bucket purposes.”
Shit, even some Sweet Martha’s stans don’t want a bucket and those cookies make like a million dollars a year, no joke.
You have to EARN the bucket, Solem. Even if your mini donuts are generally pretty good.
FML.
Anne’s Thoughts
Ok here we go again! A probable excellent mini donut that will be a hot mess to eat. I was like are they going to treat the rim again making it impossible to hold without making a mess? Dear reader, they did.
This donut will be great. We will have to get the whole mega container and it will cost legit $20, and we won’t need that many mini donuts or that messy rim, but it will still earn a B or even an A.
I HAVE PREDICTED.
Packie’s Thoughts
Lol, heeeey they’re back. Back with their crazy mini donut buckets, where for some reason they rim the bucket with sauce and such for some reason like it’s a damn cocktail. Am I supposed to lick the bucket? To this day, no one knows. As jokes aside, Solem’s makes some pretty killer mini donuts, and despite their wild and messy toppings, these tend to work out as a deliciously sweet treat (albeit very rich). I love chocolate, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this as well, though I’m sure there is no way we could eat all those donuts in one sitting.
Uncrustaburger by Coasters
A 4 oz. hamburger patty with cheese, pickles and special sauce, sandwiched between two deep-fried peanut butter & grape jelly Uncrustables®.
Sarah’s Thoughts
Just seeing the name of this made me laugh. I assume it’s a spin on an uncrustable?
LOLOL okay, not a spin. The buns are literally uncrustables. That’s bonkers and amazing and I love it.
Good on you, Coasters. This is the kind of stuff the fair was made for!
This will probably be great. PB definitely goes nicely on burgers, and I’m sure the jelly will just add a nice little pop of sweetness, never a bad thing.
I hope it’s not huge. It could be cuz, you know, 2 uncrustables. But I guess we’ll see.
Anne’s Thoughts
OMG is this a cheeseburger with an Uncrastable as a bun? That has to be what we’re looking at here, right?
That’s exactly what it is.
Well at least they deep fried the Uncrustables? I hope they’re crispy- they look crispy.
I’m not exactly sure what to say about this one. It’s our second “fancy bun burger” offering. IDK maybe that doesn’t need to be a thing? Everyone’s always trying to reinvent the hamburger bun but they just never seem to succeed because the original is pretty dang great already.
OOH I made it to the new vendors!!
Packie’s Thoughts
We’ve made it to the end of the new foods list at last and we’re ending on a Frankenburger unlike any I’ve imagined before. Someone said, “You know what goes great with peanut butter? Jelly!” And everyone agreed. Then some nut job was like, “You know what’s good on a burger? Peanut Butter!” And I’ll be damned, they were right. If you’ve never had it that way before, you’ll be surprised how well it works. Then Coasters was like, “Holy my beer.” And now we have an uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwich as the buns for a effing burger. I mean…I guess this makes sense? This was the next most logical step in ramping up this equation. We skipped the jelly burger and went straight on to the trifecta. I’m both terrified and excited to try this. Maybe this is the next greatest thing? We could be seeing history in the making you guys! I’m all here for it.
Beans and Beignets
Beans & Beignets serves freshly made beignets (deep-fried pastry dough topped with powdered sugar), plus a variety of iced and hot beverages, including tea, coffee, chai lattes and espresso drinks.
Sarah’s Thoughts
Ooh I hope these beignets are good! You never really know what you’re going to get out of beignet game up here in the north.
I am very excited to try these, though, which means I am very excited for this new vendor!
Anne’s Thoughts
Ok I'll bite…into a Beignet that is!
Listen- I love me a Beignet, but man is it easy to not make good Beignets (at least in my eating experience). If this is all you do, it better be an excellent Beignet. I’m counting on you Beans
Packie’s Thoughts
Aaaaw, I’ve always wanted to try a good beignet. Never been to New Orleans and any local varieties I’ve tried apparently did not live up to the hype. Maybe these will? Plus coffee drinks, so I’ll get my caffeine buzz going. Very nice.
Chocolate Strawberry Cup
Chocolate Strawberry Cup serves fresh strawberries in a cup with toppings in four flavors: Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup (layered with Belgian-style chocolate, pistachio butter, kataifi and pistachios); Matcha White Chocolate Strawberry Cup (layered with matcha white chocolate and melted chocolate topped with marshmallow sauce); Chocolate Strawberry Cup (covered with melted Belgian-style chocolate); and Chocolate Strawberries & Cream (covered in melted chocolate and topped with a tower of whipped cream and chocolate drizzle). All strawberry cups are gluten free, except the Dubai chocolate cup.
Sarah’s Thoughts
Don’t we already have a strawberry vendor? You know, the one that’s literally shaped like a strawberry?
Well, that place is always subpar, so maybe this one will be better!
Shit we love dubai chocolate so probably that one will win out, but dang, look at all those choices! I want to try every single one!
I’m sure we’ll start with one and then if it’s good, maybe we’ll try the others on later days.
Nice that there are GF options, too!
Okay, I’m excited for this one to shame the other Strawberry place.
Anne’s Thoughts
I was like is this just freaking strawberries in a cup with chocolate sauce? Because we’ve tried the same with cream instead and it’s underwhelming. But I do see they at least have some fun flavors, including Dubai Chocolate (which is the best, forever, the end). Maaaybe I’ll try one. Probably not on Day 1 though
Packie’s Thoughts
Sooo…it’s a cup of strawberries with chocolate drizzled on top. That’s your whole deal? I mean, I get that there are varieties of chocolates to choose from but…m’kay. Kind of seems basic.
Greater Tater
Greater Tater serves Tater Kegs – jumbo deep-fried tots stuffed with savory fillings – in five flavors: Bacon Jalapeño; Bacon Cheddar; Breakfast Skillet; Cheese Bomb; and Reuben. Served with choice of sauces: thousand island, blue cheese, Top the Tater®, maple syrup and ketchup. All Tater Kegs are gluten free.
Sarah’s Thoughts
Wait, is this place trying to compete with Tot Boss? Because I suspect they’ll lose.
Wait, do they JUST do tater kegs?
I love tater kegs!
Wait. Scratch that. I love tater kegs when they’re well done. They can be easy to screw up (pretty sure O’Garas and maybe even Giggles and Blue Barn have had subpar kegs (though maybe BBs were good? I can’t remember))
I think we’d have to go with bfast skillet or cheese bomb here. I’m worried the fillings might impact the texture of the keg, and I argue that the texture is the whole point.
But I guess we’ll find out.
Pretty sure Packie does not care for a tater keg. Could be wrong, though.
Anne’s Thoughts
First- nice rhyme scheme.
Ok so it’s a Tater Keg vendor. Sarah likes a Tater Keg. Probably worth a try- especially maybe the brekkie one? No thanks on Reuben or Jalapeño (OBVIOUSLY)
Packie’s Thoughts
So they make tator kegs and stuff ‘em with savory fillings. I mean, I guess that’s a little different than Tot Boss, but not by a whole lot. I personally like my tots to be…well, tots. Kegs get to be a bit too much, not a good crispy to soft potato ratio. Just one man’s opinion. One cis white man, with a loooot of privilege, just saying.
Lumpia City
Lumpia City serves lumpia – traditional Filipino fried spring rolls – in two fusion flavors: Pizza Lumpia (mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, pizza sauce and Italian herbs); and turon-inspired Ube Butter Banana French Toast Lumpia (French toast strips soaked in ube butter syrup with caramelized bananas, dusted with powdered sugar).
Sarah’s Thoughts
Oh shit, is this a lumpia vendor? And is this the first Filipino vendor at the state fair? I think so! YAY! And good for them!
Ooh, we have a savory and sweet option. That’s pretty exciting. They both sounds great. I suspect we’ll get whichever one we’re more in the mood for when we hit the shop.
Hopefully they’re good and we can justify trying the other one.
Anne’s Thoughts
Ok I’m not gonna lie- I saw this vendor on a small thumbnail spoiler, and at a glance I could not figure out how these were not Zombie thumbs.
I see now that they are spring rolls and not decaying digits, so my apologies.
Holy Shit NGL these both sound great- Pizza or Banana French Toast?? 1 of each, please. I guess Turon is a traditional Filipino snackle, so I’m always game to try some new culturally-relevant foodstuffs. I’m pretty excited about this one!!
Packie’s Thoughts
Oh! I’ve never had lumpia. In fact, I am just now learning that lumpia is a Filipino spring roll. Neato. Hmm, was kinda hoping to get to try an actual traditional lumpia, but these ones apparently only come in pizza flavor or…aw hell! They got me with the bananas. Thought I was safe. Still, actually sounds kind of good. I think I’d try either of these, or maybe even both.
Magdalena Chimney Cakes
Magdalena's Chimney Cakes serves Chimney Cakes (a rotisserie-baked Hungarian pastry shaped like a cone) filled with vanilla ice cream and choice of Nutella® or caramel spread and toppings (crushed OREO® Cookies, rainbow sprinkles or frosted flakes).
Sarah’s Thoughts
LOL what do we have here?
Okay so it’s basically an ice cream cone, but instead of the cone we have a pastry cake.
Yup.
I want this. This sounds great. Think we’re gonna have to go with the Nutella one. Love that frosted flakes is a topping option, too.
This looks fun! I think it has the possibility of being amazing. I hope it is. We all deserve amazing things in our lives during the times we’re in.
Anne’s Thoughts
Hur Hur Hur. Man, there’s a lot of desserts this year that are really making me smile! I ABSOLUTELY will be getting one of these- I will take Nutella and Oreo please.
Packie’s Thoughts
Aw hell, they got me with the ice cream. Oh Packie, you’ve gone and made a fool of yourself, talking smack way too soon. Anywho, WOW, this looks great. Just karate chop that ice cream off the top and you got yourself a nice, sweet treat. Give me the Nutella one, thanks!
MGM Irie Jamaican
Midtown Global Market's Irie Jamaican serves oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet, fried bread); sweet plantains; coconut shrimp skewers; and a ginger & hibiscus drink. (Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 only)
Sarah’s Thoughts
Okay, so here’s a limited time menu item. And of course it’s at the end of the fair. Which means there’s a chance we will never get to try this (sometimes, we don’t make those later days.)
Which is too bad because you know my feelings about meats.
Oh man. This whole menu sounds great. Want to try both oxtails, those plantains, skrimps (skrimps is bugs (to be fair, bugs are actually land skrimps))
Kinda want to eat it all. May not get to eat any of it.
Sigh.
Anne’s Thoughts
Oxtail? Yes
Sweet Frybread? Yes
Sweet Plantains? Yes
Coconut Shrimp Skewers? Yes
Ginger Hibiscus Drink? Ehhh maybe
Ok so this vendor has the Time Restriction of the 2nd half (the worse half for new foods). Does that mean the Somali Street Fries are only the first half of the fair?
Packie’s Thoughts
Holy shit! The second MGM vendor didn’t make the new foods list!? I mean, they made the new vendor’s but that’s not the same! And it’s the later fair vendor! It’s a damn miracle! Might still give this a try, but nice that we don’t have to cover it in our official new foods. Some bbq oxtail, sweet plantains and such, sure I’d try that, but again, never been impressed by Midtown Global Market.
MGM Oasis Grill and Hoya Sambusa
Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa serves Official New Food Somali Street Fries; cones of mini sambusas & full-size sambusas (beef or lentil) with choice of sauce; and slushies in two flavors (Vimto and watermelon). (Aug. 21-26 only)
Sarah’s Thoughts
Okay, so they have this place listed as a new vendor, but they also have a new food? Feels like it’s doubled up.
But what that means is I was right above. Those street fries are only available the first half of the fair.
Ooh, a watermelon slushie, though! Definitely count me in for that!
Otherwise I’m generally meh about sambusas. I always want to like them but am generally disappointed.
Anne’s Thoughts
Ope- there it is. So yes- better get the official new food in the first 6 days. Too Bad those oxtails didn’t make the list, but at least we’re free from reporting on an Official New Food on the last day when it helps nobody.
Ooh watermelon slush- sounds good. Wonder what Vimto is…
Ok it’s a British fruit soda- grape, berries, currants. Yeah I’d like to try that one!
Packie’s Thoughts
Alright, I think I already said enough about MGM that I don’t need to rehash it here. Looks like they also offer sambusas and some slushies. Yippie.
Urban Glow Mocktails
Urban Glow Mocktails serves craft mocktails, including: Dirty NoTini (lemon, dill pickling spices & olive brine); Nojito (minty-lime with a hint of molasses); CosNo (cranberry, orange & lime); Grilled Peach No Fashioned (caramelized peach garnished with peach & cherry); Autumn Mule (apple, warm cinnamon & spicy ginger); Pineapple Upside Down Cake (chilled pineapple slushie); Bonspiel Blue (cucumber, lemon & blue tea); and Nitro Cold Brew (cold brew on tap, carbonated with nitrogen, with assorted flavor shots). Plus, small bites – Cheweenies (mini Kramarczuk's all-beef hot dogs nestled in sweet Hawaiian rolls paired with mocktail-inspired mustards).
Sarah’s Thoughts
FUN!!! A mocktail vendor!
We’re definitely going to have to try some of these!
Oh shit. Which one, though? Maybe the Grilled Peach No Fashioned? Bonspiel Blue?
Aww! And Cheweenies! Those sound great! Kramarczuk’s is good so I’m sure they’ll be good, too.
Anne and Packie, let’s get the Cheweenies, okay? We gotta.
Anne’s Thoughts
Oh! These look pretty! Yeah I would try a bunch of these! So nice to have more fun “adult” beverages that are non-alcoholic for us (mostly) non-drinkers. Also did you see those small bite Cheweenies? LOL yes I’ll take those too.
THAT’S IT! I DID IT! Only took me 2 days! And now we have just 40 days until the fair!!!!
SEE YOU ALL THERE!!
Packie’s Thoughts
Ooh, a new drink place, nice. Wow, a lot of these sound really interesting. I’d love to give some of them a try. Hah, they have cheweenies! Little hot dogs in Hawaiian rolls with mocktail-inspired mustard!? Sounds wild.
