2026 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 5- Dill with It, Cookie! through New Vendors

 Dill with it, Cookie! By Urban Glow Mocktails

White chocolate chips, finely chopped dill pickles and fresh dill baked into a cookie. Finished with a sprinkle of sugar and Maldon sea salt. Created by Holman’s Table (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Another dill offering. Usually by now a theme has emerged, but there have been a lot of things with, like, two entries and not much else. I’m getting a little worried that a theme will be difficult to parse this year.

But here we have a cookie! I think it’s rare we have a cookie on the list so that’s fun! I love dill (the herb, less so the artificial flavor) and I already talked about how I don’t want pickles in things. But I do love a cookie, especially if it’s crispy or crumbly versus soft, and weird cookies are great. Anne makes a savory olive shortbread cookie that I love.

I think this looks like that. So I’m tentatively excited for it. I don’t know what Holman’s Table is. 

I wonder how much a cookie (or two?) will cost. I’m interested to find out.

Anne’s Thoughts

Come onnnnnnnnnn.

Come on!

How many pickle offerings are we at? Is this #2 or are we higher than that? (looks like it’s just 2. I’ll try and take it down a smidge. But just a smidge. And so help me if there’s another one still lurking on this list…)

Ok if I have learned anything from my Baked Goods entries last year, people are not ready for savory cookies- at least with olives they aren’t.
“BuT iT’s NoT eVeN sWeEt!!1!” a judge might say, despite no rules requiring sweetness.

Ok let’s see what we’re DILL-ing with here

(DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?! I’M SO CLEVER!)

Ok I’m still sort of worked up about my cookies last year, because these are VERY similar. 

Like one of the judges scored me like a 74 or some low-ass score like that and yet STILL FELT COMPELLED TO WRITE COMMENTS SO I COULD TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THEY DIDN’T LIKE IT. Like, jesus Delores. I get it. It wasn’t for you. I mean, far be it from me to serve you SPANISH SAVORY SHORTBREADS IN THE INTERNATIONAL BAKING CATEGORY that I carefully tested and ordered authentic spanish olives for. If it’s not sweet it’s absolute shit I guess.

Anyway, good effing luck here, Urban Glow. Good effing luck.

Packie’s Thoughts

Wow, coming in reaaaaal late on that pickle train.  Ok, so it is a place that makes mocktails and they decided to try making a cookie?  And boy did they go wild with this one.  Is this supposed to come off as savory or sweet?  Hard to tell to be honest.  Did we ever actually get to try one of their mocktails?  I know they were a new vendor last year, but not sure we got around to it.  Might be a good excuse this year to grab one if we didn’t.  Anyways, you can’t just throw pickles into anything and I’m gonna include cookies into that list.  Stop trying to bring back the pickle fad, it needs at least another few years before it comes back around again.

Two-Tone Bloody Mary Mocktail by Urban Glow Mocktails

Homemade tomatillo salsa layered with a zero-alcohol blend of tomatoes, herbs, spices and olive brine. Garnished with a skewer of pickles, cheese, tomato, olive and an Urban Glow Cheweenie (™) sausage.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Urban Glow Mocktails has two foods on the list, so that’s handy. We can get this drink and the cookie at the same time, which is helpful.

Packie has finally gotten me and Anne on the Bloody Mary train with him (or as he calls them “BMs”, which I absolutely hate. Unless we’re drinking in the hot tub. Then they’re either a cocktub, or a hotcock, depending on who you are (if you’re me, it’s hotcock all the way.))

Oh. This cocktail has salsa on the bottom. I don’t… I don’t want that. I don’t want chewy things in my drinks unless they’re boba.

Also, why no rim on this BM mocktail?

Listen, I was excited to try this BM, but now… That salsa is really turning me off and I’m worried this will be a nightmare, like that one drink from Farmer’s Union that we literally had to chew (I can’t remember what it was. Something spicy. Jalapeno maybe?)

Hopefully the cookie will make this more tolerable. There’s a chance we could be dealing with a double downfall though.

Anne’s Thoughts

Hahahahah how did they know that we’re in our Bloody Mary Era? (or as we like to call them (that I’m sure Sarah and/or Packie have already mentioned) BMs. YES WE WENT THERE).

Did they also tell you about how we’re in our Cocktub/Hot Cock Era as well? (if they didn’t then this comment will make no sense but I'm banking on that they did and I REFUSE to come back here and edit this if they didn’t).

So…is that the salsa there on the bottom? Not gonna be two-toned for long bc we gotta mix that STAT.

I’m a little cautious about this. I’m just not sure. Like I like a good BM, but there are definitely some not good ones out there. I’m not sure how I feel about straight salsa in this one.

We’ll see, man. We’ll see.

I MADE IT! I MADE IT TO THE NEW VENDORS! THE END IS IN SIGHT!!

Packie’s Thoughts

Holy crap, how many more items are on this list?  Oh, this is the last one?  Thank god.  Urban Glow Mocktails again?!  What did I say about two new foods?  No!  At least this one is actually a drink this time, and I did say we needed more of those, so eff me I guess.  But oh ho, what is this?  A bloody mary mocktail?  Did you know?  Did you know this is Patrick's alcoholic beverage of choice?  I mean…there’s no alcohol, but that’s fine, I guess.  It definitely looks pretty, though I’m not sure how I feel about a tomatillo salsa version, but hey I’ll definitely give it a try.  I mean, let’s be honest, I have to, that’s the rules.  Plus, it has a skewer with things.  Things!  A cheweenie!  I hope this is good, I really do.  Is it spicy?  Hard to say.  I won’t count it on the HEAT list.

YES!  We did it.  We made it to the finish and that’s --- wait…awe hell, there’s still

NEW VENDORS!

dodopop- new vendor

dodopop serves dirty sodas in six flavors: megalodon (Dr Pepper ® - diet available, raspberry syrup and coconut cream); golden yeti (orange pop, vanilla syrup and vanilla cream); liger (lemonade, Starry (™) and cherry syrup); big red dog (Pepsi- diet available, cherry, vanilla syrup and vanilla cream); sasquatch (rootbeer, vanilla syrup and vanilla cream); and babe’s lemonade (sparkling lemonade, blue raspberry syrup and raspberry popping pearls)

Sarah’s Thoughts

YESSS! I’ve made it to the new vendors! 

Our mom totally called that there would be dirty sodas at the fair this year and here she is, proven right.

I like the idea of dirty sodas. So far I’ve been underwhelmed. The flavors have never popped.

So, yeah. But maybe this one will be the one that shows me how it’s done.

Um, problem though. I want all of these. We’ll have to decide which one to try. Probably not the lemonade cuz we already have one of those. And then hopefully it’s good enough for us to want to try the others!

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok I don’t really understand the naming conventions here. Like I thought at first it was going to be like prehistoric animals, but then we fell into cryptids and fictitious characters that don’t exist (but you know what DOES exist, dodopop? Capitalization).

I mean I'm sure these will be fine. IN GENERAL, when we’ve tried dirty sodas they’ve been pretty mid (with some exceptions). I think megalodon and babe’s lemonade sound the most interesting. The rest just seem like regular pops that already exist, like cream soda, or cherry sprite.

Packie’s Thoughts

AH HA!  Holy shit, we called it.  We said there’d be dirty sodas at the fair, and damned if weren’t right.  Not sure how I feel about this new craze, but I’ll keep trying it until get tired of it or get fully on board.

Iemochi Japanese Confections- new vendor

Iemochi Japanese Confections serves Tanghulu (fruit skewered and coated in a hard candy shell) in four varieties: strawberry, green grape, Mandarin orange and dual-mix with strawberries and grapes. All Tanghulu is gluten-free.

Sarah’s Thoughts

YESSS! TANGHULU! Tanghulu is the best and I can’t wait to eat more of it!

I love that they’ve got a dual mix option, because then I don’t have to choose. We can get that and the oranges.

Fun times!

Anne’s Thoughts

Is that a capital I or a lower case l? Freaking dodopop got me all confused now. Probably an I, right?

Anway, I LOVE Tanghulu

It’s SO DAMN GOOD

But here’s the issue

It does not hold up well in high heat- the sugar coating melts and loses its shatter and then they all stick together and become a sticky, chewy mess.

So the weather might make or break these.

Packie’s Thoughts

YESSSSSSS!  I loooove tanghulu.  For those who are unfamiliar, it is…well, just look at it.  It’s candy shell coated fruit.  It is delicious!  Gotta try this.

Jive Turkey BBQ- new vendor

Jive Turkey BBQ serves Crack-n-Cheese ® Bowl (homemade macaroni and cheese, hickory-smoked turkey barbecue, deep-fried turkey cracklins and signature sauce); Soul Rolls (macaroni and cheese with collard greens deep-fried in an egg roll); Soul Punch (muscadine lemonade); and Stuffed Turkey Legs in two varieties; Cajun Shrimp and Alfredo (stuffed with cajun shrimp and dirty rice, topped with alfredo sauce) and Thanksgiving Stuffed (stuffed with choice of three fillings: macaroni and cheese, stuffing, gravy, yams, collard greens or cranberry sauce). Plus hickory-smoked turkey legs and turkey barbecue sandwiches.

Sarah’s Thoughts

What do we got going on here?

Okay we kind of have a southern mac and cheese thing. All right. I’m looking forward to trying this. Don’t think we need the turkey leg, or a turkey sammich, cuz we all know where the best turkey sammich at the fair is. I think I’d vote for Crack-n-Cheese bowl.

Oh shit wait. The turkey legs are STUFFED?

Holy shit. That sounds amazing? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PICK WHAT TO TRY HERE?

God I hope whatever we get is good, so then we come back to try the other stuff.

Anne’s Thoughts

I mean

I’m not a fan of STUFF on my mac and cheese. Like just let it shine on its own.

I think I'm most interested in their stuffed turkey legs here- particularly the Thanksgiving one (cran+stuffing+gravy ftw)

Packie’s Thoughts

At first glance at this, I was like, I don’t really want a bunch of stuff on my mac and cheese, but holy shit when I started reading, it was like a crazy rollercoaster I wanted to hop on immediately.  I HAVE to try some of this, it all sounds so wild and amazing.  Deep-fried turkey cracklins?  Soul Rolls?  Soul Punch?  Fucking stuffed turkey Legs?!?!  Oh my god!  I want to try so much of this.  Has a new vendor ever been my most excited for?  This could be a first!

El Taco Torro from Midtown Global Market- new vendor

MGM’s El Taco Torro serves Birria Crunch Bombs (deep-fried tortilla balls filled with birria beef, Oaxaca & mozzarella cheese rolled in a tortilla chip coating and drizzled with lime crema, served with a side of consomme dip); Fairground Fiesta Tacos (deep-fried flour tortilla cone filled with al pastor pork, pineapple pico, queso and finished with cilantro & onion); and Horchata and Mangonado drinks (Sept. 2 through Sept 7 only)

Sarah’s Thoughts

Here's the vendor for the second half of the fair. Decent chance we won’t get to try this. At least they don’t have a specific new food on the list. 

I’m sure Packie would be interested in the Birria Crunch Bombs (he thought Birria would show up in more new foods this year.)

Obvs nothing on here is something I would order, but I’m happy to try anything that we do end up getting, if we do.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok so here’s the second half of the fair’s MGM booth. Too bad they didn’t make the official new food list because those Birria Bombs look like A LOT of fun. Like how’d those get the snub compared to straight up uncreative jalapeno poppers?

Anyway, let’s for sure get these before they leave for the season

Packie’s Thoughts

Thank you.  Thank you for not putting a new food on this list that I have to get a week after the fair starts.  Also, hah, I called there being something birria at the fair this year.  Man, we were on par for all of our predictions. All things said, though, not sure how stoked I am to try this.  Gonna be looking to get all my favorites by the time this rolls out and not sure I’ll have room for it.  We’ll see.

Minnesota’s Original Apple Fries- new vendor

MN’s Original Apple Fries serves Apple Fries (fresh-cut apples, fried, tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with a side of caramel); Apple Fries Deluxe (larger portion of Apple Fries served with a side of caramel and whipped cream); and apple cider. All gluten-friendly and vegetarian.

Sarah’s Thoughts

IDK. It’s just apples you dunk into caramel. We literally do that for a dessert sometimes.

I honestly don’t even feel like we need to try this…

Anne’s Thoughts

OK. So caramel apple sticks basically

I mean they look tasty

Packie’s Thoughts

Nah.  No thanks.

Roon’s Savories- new vendor

Roon’s savories serves hand-rolled waffle cones flavored with parmesan, cheddar and herbs. Savory cones are available with four choices of fillings: BBQ Pulled Pork Mac (slow-smoked pulled pork layered with macaroni and cheese), Chicken Tinga & Rice (chicken and smoky toast-chipotle sauce layered with seasoned rice- gluten free), Classic Chicken Salad (house-made chicken salad with fresh herbs- gluten free) and Three Cheese Mac (three cheese macaroni and cheese- vegetarian)

Sarah’s Thoughts

For a second I thought we were getting ice cream. But that is a mistake,

So we have savory dishes served in waffle cones.

All right! I’m on board for that! It sounds fun and I would pretty much try any of these, though the Pork Mac would probably be my top choice. 

Anne’s Thoughts

Heh- these look cute/fun. Would probably be willing to try the 3 cheese mac

Packie’s Thoughts

I thought this was a dessert at first glance and then the horror set in.  Savory cones filled with savory things.  I’d probably try either the straight up mac and cheese or the chicken salad one.  Maybe the one with the BBQ, but I don’t tend to like things added to my mac and cheese.

Saturday Dumpling Co.- new vendor

Saturday Dumpling Co. serves Chinese Sausage & Cheese Poppers (fried dumplings with savory & sweet Chinese sausage and provolone cheese); Ube Cheesecake Wontons (deep-fried wontons, drizzled with sweetened condensed milk and sprinkled with crushed Biscoff ® cookies- vegetarian); and Salted Mango Yuzuade (mango puree, yuzu juice, salt, simple syrup- Vegan).

Sarah’s Thoughts

My very first thought was “those look like the shitty dumps from O’Gara’s last year” and then I saw that this is Saturday Dumpling Co and that I was right.

So, those were a huge disappointment, which means I am not in the least excited about this.

But, in the hopes that maybe that was just the O’Gara’s curse, I would like to try the Chinese sausage ones. And then if those are good, perhaps the others.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok we had dumplings from this place at last year’s fair, through O’Gara’s new food. Which was pretty sub par. So I've been giving this vendor a side-eye ever since.

I guess now we have a 2nd chance to give them a 2nd chance.

I’m surprised that ⅔ of their offerings are sweet- unexpected. Like just 1 dump on offer here?

Packie’s Thoughts

Is this a restaurant?  Have I eaten here before?  It sounds so familiar, but it is a new vendor at the fair, so I don’t know.  I don’t know about all of this.  All of it sounds a little weird, and not in a good way.

Solem’s French Fries- “new vendor”

Solem’s French Fries serves fresh-cut french fries in four sizes with a dedicated sauce bar offering a variety of self-serve spices and dipping sauces Plus, fresh-squeezed, frozen lemonades, fountain sodas and bottled water. Fries are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan.

Sarah’s Thoughts

What the fuck? Solem’s opens another stand and it counts as a new Vendor? Bullshit. I mean, I’m sure you could always get fries at their stands.

Also, we already have a French fry stand at the fair. Who needs another one?

Though this does have a self-serve spices and dipping sauces, so I am intrigued by that. Perhaps intrigued enough to want to buy some.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok Cmon now

Solem is not a new vendor. Like fr- they have a massive compound of mini donuts and funnel cakes. THE FRIES HAVE JUST BEEN ADDED TO THEIR ESTABLISHED INFRASTRUCTURE! Like you don’t get to add an additional food offering and call yourself a new vendor.

I call BS on this

Packie’s Thoughts

Hmm, so Solem’s also sells French fries now?  Did we need another french fry vendor?  There’s gotta be a thousand places to get french fries at the fair

Summer Lakes Boat House- new vendor

Summer Lakes Boat House serves a variety of food options: Official New Food Dockside Poppers; Bacon-wrapped Shrimp Skewers; Crispy Chicken Sandwiches; Riblets ‘N’ Chips; Hand-cut Chips and Dips; and sliders in two varieties: slow-roasted ribeye and wild rice walleye. Plus, hard seltzer-based cocktails and mocktails made with Summer Lakes Beverage mixes in eight flavors (all gluten-free and vegan) and a full beer menu, Also, bottle cocktail mixes available for purchase. In a brand-new building, with live entertainment daily.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Here they are! Good for them for getting an official new food on the list! And I was right that they’re a Summer Lakes Bevvies spinoff.

Oh, those sliders sound hella good. Kinda wish they were the food on the official list.

Well, I’m sure we’ll come for a drink at some point so can probably try those sliders then.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok so Summer Lakes Beverages just leveled up. Well good for them! I would deffo try some riblets or hand cut chips and dips. Looking forward to seeing their new venue!

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh dang, they got cocktails and mocktails made with Summer Lakes Beverage mixes.  They must be owned by Summer Lakes then and the name wasn’t just a coincidence.  Hmm, that said, none of the food items on here sound all that exciting to me personally.  Also, not much of a hard seltzer fan.  But we’ll try those dockside poppers and see how it goes.

2026 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 4- Bucket of Chicharrones through Pumpkin Bar Funnel Cake

 Bucket of Chicharrones by San Felipe Tacos

Freshly deep-fried chicharrones (pork rinds) sprinkled with chili pepper and lime seasoning. Served with a trio of dipping sauces: hot sauce, creamy chipotle sauce, and chamoy.

Sarah’s Thoughts

I like pork rinds. (“Pork rind? Pork rind.” NAME THAT MOVIE!) This is just pork rinds seasoned and with a dipping sauce. I like dipping things. These don’t feel special, though. I can get seasoned pork rinds at the grocery store, 

At the very least hopefully they’re light and airy. That will make a big difference here. But, again, it’s like serving a seasoned potato chip and calling it special.

Though, one of our fav fair foods is literally a giant pile of potato chips so, you know, there’s always room for anything to break out.

I don’t know if we’ve ever had anything from San Felipe Tacos before.

Anne’s Thoughts

Hur Hur Hur.

(insert some sort of food guzzling gif here)

Straight in my mouth. All of them. GET YOUR OWN BUCKET SARAH AND PACKIE.

Ok calm down Anne, you haven’t even read the description yet.

Yeah these look bomb.

But listen- you promised us freshly deep-fried. You said it RIGHT THERE in the description. If these are sitting out getting all hard I'm gonna give you an F. THIS IS MY PROMISE RIGHT NOW. You Promised Fresh, I’m Promising F (if not fresh).

More sauces.

Can sauces be the theme? Is this a normal amount of sauces and I'm just really noticing them this year? Or has there really been an emphasis on the sauces we’re using?

I don’t want/need any of these sauces. But I guess I'll try them. I DO like that they’re giving us all three so we don’t have to choose between something we’ve never tried before. I wish there was a different option here like a lemon or garlic aioli maybe? These are all pepper/spicy profiles, and you already have chili pepper on the chicharrones

Just realized this is our 2nd pork rind option this year.

Give me a year of pork rinds, I tell you what.

Packie’s Thoughts

Hell yeah!  I love pork rinds, and fresh pork rinds are just slammin, no cap.  Is this something crazy out of the box?  Nope, it is just fucking pork rinds, but fuck it, I’m all in for this.  Plus, pork rinds are all airy and light, which I could use a lot more of with all the fair food I gotta eat in one day.  That said, I don’t really want any of those dipping sauces, and I’m sure the twins will back me on that.  But whatever, the nice thing about dipping sauces is if you don’t like em, you stop dipping.  Add another to the HEAT theme and we're at an 8 count.  I’m so burnt out on the heat that I lost count, because that actually makes 11.  Get it together man, we’re like only 2/3rds of the way through this list.  

Sweet Peach Lemonade Sparkler by Quench’d: Lemonade/Bottled Water

Fresh-squeezed lemonade layered with peach syrup and peach sweet cream cold foam. Topped with a sprinkle of popping candy and garnished with a peach slice (Gluten-friendly, Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

I always think it’s fun when we get a drink on the new foods. Because it’s just such a relief. And there are plenty of ways to make a drink fun. More places should lean in on drinks as an option.

So we’ve got a peach lemonade, pretty much. I do love a cold foam. And popping candy is always fun. 

I think this will be good. It’s pretty hard to screw up lemonade unless you make barfonade and that isn’t this so we’re probably safe.

I hope the cold foam makes it creamy and delicious and thirst quenching.

I have no memory of Quench’d though.

Anne’s Thoughts

I was just thinking that I was surprised we haven’t had a beverage offering yet. Especially since one of our guesses for the theme this year was potentially dirty sodas (though hard to do for new FOODS. But I bet we still see some around the fair this year).

I feel like Quench’d is a newer vendor, but I can’t remember about them…

IDK i just scrolled through the last 2 years of posts and didn’t see them. Maybe they were a recent new vendor and we didn’t feel obligated to try them. I’m too lazy to do additional research (and clearly too lazy to update our damn food by vendors list).

I mean this sounds great. No Notes. I’m excited to get this from a vendor other than Loon Lakes because their beverages have no flavor and I really want this peach flavor to shine through. Do right by us here

Packie’s Thoughts

Another thing we could use more of on the list is drinks.  Not sure I’ve seen this vendor on the New Foods list before, so that’s pretty exciting.  I love peach flavor, so getting an ice-cold sweet peach lemonade sounds splendid.  The popping candy garnish isn’t necessary, nor is the peach slice, but the sweet cream cold foam is a nice touch.  Nothing super ground breaking with this one, but if it is quenching and sweet, I’ll give it my full approval.

Elote Tots by Tot Boss

Deep-fried tater tots tossed in Tajin and topped with an elote-style sauce made with roasted corn, diced peppers, cheddar cheese, crema and cream cheese. Finished with cotija cheese and more Tajin (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

God dammit. Every year the fair makes me and Packie eat elote or esquites. Like, come on.

This year its tots. Which, I would argue this is more esquites than elote but wtf do I know, right?

At least Tot Boss makes good tots. But I don’t like tajin so that’s not going for me. And then all the other stuff that’s usually on elote that I still don’t like.

Will this be enough to finally get me to turn the corner on elote?

All signs point to no.

Anne’s probably tentatively excited for it, though.

Anne’s Thoughts

HAHAHAHAH Oh sucks to be Sarah and Packie.

Dear reader, in case you don’t remember/are new here. Sarah and Packie hate Elote. In fact, here are some pull quotes from when they were forced to try Elote back in 2018 as a new food:

Sarah:

No. OHHHHH NOOOOOOOO. PACKIE. PACKIE WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

Anne has been trying to get Packie and me to try elote for years now. And we’ve always said “NO. NO WE WILL NOT DO THAT.” 

Packie:

Ah hell crap damnit poop ass banana skunk.

“hey, I’d never eat worms, but throw them on a cob and sprinkle with cheese, and you got a real seller there, champ.”

And spoiler, readers- trying elote did not change their minds (they gave it a D despite it being a B)

But we all know they’re wrong

Elote is great.

Tot Boss knows how to make an excellent Tot, so I know that part will be great. I hope this is tasty. It looks tasty. And we really like Tot Boss, but now that they’ve moved into the Fair we hardly get them anymore just because of the sheer amount of other foods we have to try/eat. So I'm glad when they show up on the new foods list so we’re forced to get them.

Packie’s Thoughts

Ah hell, they got us again, Sarah.  Of course someone had to put elote on the list.  Et tu Tot Boss?  Honestly, this looks more like some kind of corn cheese sauce than actual elote, but I guess we’ll see how it tastes when I try it.  At least the tots will be good.  I think I’ll actually reserve judgement on this one, even if I dislike elote.

Caramel Apple Iced Tea by Loon Lake Iced Tea

Black tea brewed with natural tart apple flavor and topped with caramel infused cold foam. Garnished with a Caramel Apple Pops ® lollipop (Gluten-friendly, Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Another beverage! Yay!

It’s from Loon Lake Iced Tea. Boo.

God I fuckin love Iced Tea. And god does Loon Lake make a weak, watery, unflavored iced tea that always disappoints me.

Like it either needs to take like tea, or sugar. But theirs always taste like water. And I don’t want to pay $8 for a water when I can bring it from home for free.

So we’ve just got a supposed tart apple tea and then cold foam. Plus a lollipop we can’t split. 

There barely looks like any foam on that drink. Especially compared to the peach lemonade. Like, THAT’S a cold foam. This is like some frothy bubbles from pouring the drink.

I think I’m past being disappointed by them and moving into being angry. This year will probably tip it over the edge.

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh here we effing go. This is going to taste like a caramel apple burped across the surface of water. I haven’t even read the description yet and I know in my heart that this will be true.

Ok so it’s like they saw the success of the green apple sucker ice cream last year (one of the best of the year) and they were like we could do that!

But NO YOU CAN’T, LOON LAKE! YOU DON’T GOT NO FLAVOR!

GAAAWWWWWWDDDD

This freaking place.

Every dang time it’s a disappointment.

I’m already angry.

Maybe, MAYBE the cold foam on top will do SOMETHING to help, but I really doubt it.

This would normally be my least anticipated but I don't even want to spare the emotion and attention that would bring. I don’t want to think about them AT ALL.

Prove me wrong, Loon Lake. Prove me wrong. I dare you

In FACT!

If I'm wrong, and this rates a B or an A, I will go back to the counter and pay for the next person’s order!

Gonna put my money where my mouth is (but not really bc this will be trash)

Packie’s Thoughts

This isn’t what I meant when I said we needed more drinks on the list.  Loon Lake has some real watered-down crap for iced tea.  Honestly, the lack of flavor for something that looks so vibrant is astonishing.  I have little doubt this will be any different.  Pour out the drink, keep the lollipop, I say.

Strawberries & Blueberry Creme Parfait by Strawberries ‘N Creme

Fresh whole strawberries layered with blueberry non-dairy whipped topping and garnished with gluten-free waffle chips (Gluten-friendly, Vegan)

Sarah’s Thoughts

Ope, another parfait. It’s just gonna be from the Strawberries and Cream place because it’s so obvious. We pretty much are just taking their usual boring parfait and, what, throwing in some chips and changing the flavor of the cream?

What are we even doing here?

They just change the flavor of their cream and it’s a magical new food?

I call bullshit on that.

I’m sure this will be fine, though honestly, in the past, we’ve been completely underwhelmed by their strawberries and cream, which is funny because it’s literally all they do so you’d think they’d knock it out of the park.

Bet this is like $20 or something.

Anne’s Thoughts

What- is there only like 1 blueberry? Why is strawberries plural but not blueberry?

At least they know how to use an apostrophe.

Ope- it’s because it’s Blueberry Cream. Sorry everyone- I'm still worked up from Loon Lake.

Ok, so here we have an issue that I feel like this vendor has had before: How tf are we supposed to eat this? Clearly the waffle chips are supposed to be the serving accoutrement, but then they gave us whole-ass strawberries. Are we supposed to fit a whole-ass strawberry on the waffle-chip, and then cram that into our mouth in one bite? Like I know you don’t want to cut up strawberries but give us a break- chopped strawberries would’ve worked so much better here.

I assume this will be served with a fork (god I will laugh so hard if they don’t), and then you take a bite of the strawberry and cream (sorry “crreme”) and then followed by a chaser bite of waffle chips

You know what? Could’ve put this on a stick in the cup. Would’ve been much easier to bite

Ok, also what’s going on with our strawberry vendors here?

Apparently there’s the Strawberry Patch which is the OG bc we have foods from them back in 2016 and 2018.
But then we have Strawberries ‘N Creme which was a new vendor in 2019 and got a D for their namesake.

But in 2025 there was a new vendor with chocolate strawberries in a cup, which I just assumed was from SNC, but apparently not if they were a new vendor. But ofc the pic on the blog that year doesn’t actually list the vendor’s name…

OK after extensive digging turns out that vendor is Chocolate Strawberry Cup.

Just…just calm down everyone. None of you are special or niche

Packie’s Thoughts

Um…this looks exactly like what they already offer, which is a cup with whipped topping and whole strawberries.  Oh, sorry, they added blueberry flavor and I guess some waffle chips.  Seems like they barely put any effort into making something new.  How this made the list, I don’t know.  Not sure if we’ve actually tried this vendor before.  We might have when it was first new, which was a few years back now.  Oh wait, it was seven years ago, in the distant time of 2019.  And yup, the item was strawberries and cream, and we gave it a D.  This is probably what kicked off the pandemic.

Dockside Poppers by Summer Lakes Boat House

Seasoned cream cheese, bacon, artichoke hearts and jalapeno peppers combined, breaded and lightly fried. Served with a side of homemade tomato chili jam (New Vendor)

Sarah’s Thoughts

Wait wait wait. Is this a food vendor from Summer Lakes Beverages? Omg I hope it is! WE LOVE THEIR DRINKS!

Seriously! You should all go buy their drinks and their mixes. They are so good and they’re a wonderful local company and they are genuinely so appreciative. And, seriously, their drinks are bomb.

So, I hope this a branch off for them.

We’ve got some jalapeno poppers here, looks like. I mean, I like poppers, but jalapeno poppers don’t do anything for me. I always want to like them, though, so hopefully these will be the ones that change my mind.

I hope they are. I always want new vendors to blow my mind.

Anne’s Thoughts

Woah woah woah. Did Summer Lakes Beverages move into the food realm? Like this is them right? The beverage place? 

Hmm the location on the map seems a little off, but maybe they moved? Or maybe their food stand is separate? But it’s not listed as a new vendor…

What’s happening here?

Ok so they ARE a new vendor, just with a new official food so busted out of the new vendor list

Well it’s a shame that this is just jalapeno poppers that I don’t want. Right? Like am I missing something? I don’t eat jalapeno poppers so maybe i don’t understand what is making these unique or special? Is it the tomato chili jam?

Oh- is the theme chilis/chili sauces?

Idk. Pretty disappointed from the inaugural food offering from our favorite beverage vendor.

Packie’s Thoughts

For half a second I was shocked to find out that Summer Lakes Beverages made a food item, but then my excitement was crushed when I realized I misread the name.  This has to be a new vendor, right?  It is.  Hmm, I’m not sure about this.  Honestly, doesn’t sound like my cup of tea.  Maybe it is some kind of jalapeno popper?  Not quite the same thing, but similar maybe?  Tomato chili jam?  Sounds weird.  Well, this is probably at least a little spicy, so chuck it up on the heat board for number 12.  I wonder what else they serve at this vendor?  Guess I’ll find out below.

Mango Sticky Rice Refresher by Chan’s Eatery

Coconut milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, mango flavoring and half and half poured over ice and topped with fresh and dried mango. Finished with a dried mango sugar rim. Inspired by the flavors of mango sticky rice (Gluten-Friendly, Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

I immediately like that it’s called a refresher because I know I will want to be refreshed.

Ironically, even though we eat a ton of various Asian foods, I actually don’t think I’ve ever had mango sticky rice before. I’ve just usually gotten something else. So I’m excited I’ll finally get to try it. Or, well, a drink version of it.

Again, usually pretty excited about a drink and this looks really good. I love mango so a mango drink? Yeah, sign me up.

I don’t think there’s anything in this I don’t want. Honestly, I’m pretty excited about this. I hope this drink blows me away and I want to get it every time.

I don’t know that we’ve ever gotten anything from Chan’s Eatery before. I’m not even sure I can picture it. Well, it’s good when we try new places so yay on that, too!

Anne’s Thoughts

Helloooo what’s going on here?

Chan’s Eatery- I feel like they’re a newish vendor? Yes- new in 2024 with Korean Corndogs. We haven’t tried them, so it’s nice to get them on the official new list to give them a go

And this looks fun and unique.

Oh wait- so there’s no actual rice in this?

Awww

Well that’s sort of disappointing. I was looking forward to this like dessert rice concoction but I guess it’s just a drink.

I mean it looks really tasty and I hope it is. I just wish I hadn't assumed there would be rice in it based on the fact that they put rice in the title.

Womp womp

Is the theme disappointment this year?

Packie’s Thoughts

Is this a new vendor too?  No?  I don’t see it from previous years either.  Hmm.  Anywho, holy shit, this looks like, uh, something!  Is it a drink, a dessert?  I’m not entirely sure.  It looks pretty interesting and exciting, though.  I do love mango flavors, and a sweet milk drink/dessert sounds like a nice break from all the damn HEAT!  Really excited to give this one a try.

Strawberry Crunch Mini Donuts by Solem’s Mini Donuts

Strawberry donuts dusted with vanilla sugar, drizzled with vanilla icing and topped with homemade strawberry streusel crunch. Served in a bucket rimmed with vanilla icing and more streusel crunch (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Of course there’s a giant bucket of mini-donuts on here because there always is. I don’t know why we have to get a whole fucking bucket from Solem’s. Why can’t they give us a cup option? I don’t want a whole bucket.

So we’ll each take a donut, eat it, and then find some people hanging around and offer the rest of the bucket to them, RIP our money.

On the plus side, usually the donuts are pretty good. I think there was one year where they weren’t but that was the outlier. Maybe. I could be wrong.

We’ve got strawberry donuts here, with a streusel (excellent) and that’s kind of it I guess. And then of course the bucket that they decided “let’s coat it with more sticky food because people love to hold a bucket that’s covered in sauce and shit. Obviously they’ll just lick that bucket later.”

This will be fine. It will take them hours before they’re ready to serve any, though.

Anne’s Thoughts

Well here’s another messy bucket of mini donuts from Solem that we don’t need but will probably actually be excellent but also there will be 100 of them and we really just need like 3-6.

Strawberry streusel crunch- that’s gotta be like the stuff from the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream bars, right? That stuff slaps.

This will be good. I don’t know what else to say about it

Packie’s Thoughts

HAH!  They’re back again and with their same old antics.  First, real talk, stop fucking rimming your damn buckets with icing and whatever!  It makes it a mess to eat and come on; it is not a fucking cocktail.  I don’t want to lick the rim of the damn bucket.  Ok, that said, Solem’s greatest strength is that they make damn fine mini donuts.  So even if you go nuts with…whatever the hell this is, you know at least those donuts are going to hit right where you want ‘em.  In your donut hole.  That’s your mouth, don’t be gross.  Is all the extra fluff, flavor, and mess necessary, probably not, but it’ll probably be pretty good regardless.  Plus, strawberry streusel?  Hell yes, put that on my mini donuts.  This will be a messy, ooey gooey goodness that I’m happy to try, I just wish it wasn’t a whole fucking bucket!  Gonna have to eat a few of these and then hope someone will take the rest off of us so we don’t have to waste food.  It is ok, stranger, you can trust us!  Now open wide and shove this in your donut hole.  Seriously, don’t be gross.

Pumpkin Bar Funnel Cake by Taulelle’s Jurassic Corn Dogs

Real pumpkin, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla blended with original funnel cake batter, then deep-fried. Lightly brushed with melted butter and topped with homemade cinnamon cream cheese frosting (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

God I love a funnel cake. I’m surprised we actually don’t get more funnel cakes on the new foods lists. It seems like such an easy fair staple you could add twists too. Like, where are the savory funnel cakes? Where are the funnel cakes made into a hand cone and served with ice cream? Funnel cake tacos? Come on, people! Give me what I want!

So this is a pumpkin funnel cake. I’m not angry at that, though sometimes I feel flavored funnel cake effs up the batter and they end up having weird texture. 

Cinnamon cheese cream frosting, though, is a great choice for this.

Okay, I’m excited for. It may be the dessert I’m most excited for. I think it will be unless something else comes up and blows my mind away.

Oh…this is from a corn dog place? And not a funnel cake place? Now I’m a bit more worried. I don’t know that we’ve ever had anything from here. We may also need to try a corn dog to judge that as well. I was pretty sure we had tried all the corn dogs at the fair.

Anne’s Thoughts

Is this a new vendor? I just assumed this was going to be at Funnel Cakes but apparently not? I feel like we’ve tried many/most of the corndogs at the fair but this one is not ringing a bell?

Well daaaaaaamn this sounds good. I am very excited that they used real pumpkin in their batter and not just pumpkin spice. Like fancy funnel cakes always seem fun and good but I never branch out so this will be fun to try! But the funnel cakes at Funnel Cakes are excellent, so they’ve got that to compete with.

That frosting also sounds excellent and a perfect pairing with pumpkin funnel cakes.

Don’t let me down, Taulelle (whomever you are)

Packie’s Thoughts

At first glance, I thought someone just put a funnel cake on the New Foods list, and I was like, the absolute gall!  But ok, it is a special funnel cake, and come on Packie, you should have known better.  It’s special.  So we got a pumpkin bar turned into a funnel cake.  I approve that they did the cream cheese frosting for this, because that’s what you need on a pumpkin bar.  Also, I’m generally a funnel cake purist.  I don’t think you really need to, or should mess with that recipe.  That said, as long as this isn’t like soggy, too heavy, or just doesn’t eat like a funnel cake, then yeah…maybe this could be good.  I mean, it ain’t spicy, so there is that!