2026 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 3- Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries through Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser

 Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries by MGM Irie Jamaican Express

Battered french fries topped with Jamaican jerk chicken, melted cheese and green onions. Drizzled with ranch jerk sauce.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Ugh, okay. This is one of the split offerings. We will never not be annoyed by this because the thing is, we pretty much never get the new food that’s offered the second half of the fair. And we’re completionists and that sucks but sometimes we just don’t even make it back to the fair for the second half (we tend to hit it more in the early days.) And if we do, we don’t always want to go back into the Bazaar cuz it’s packed. 

Looks like this is the one we will be getting, though. I mean, 9 times out of 10, no matter who is in the shared space and no matter what they make, it’s subpar. The place has, like, a curse or something

This is just loaded fries. Loaded fries are great, generally and depending on what they’re loaded with, but they’re not special. I honestly feel like we had loaded jerk something from this place last year, too. If I wasn’t busy (and, tbh honest, too lazy to be bothered) I’d go look it up. But there’s a decent chance Anne did or Packie remembers so I’ll just wait until they tell me.

So, yeah. Not excited, really. Could be great but even if they are, would that even really matter since we could probably get something similar at a restaurant?

IDK. Maybe I’m just in a bad mood or something. I’m gonna take a break and go eat something.

Anne’s Thoughts

*insert obligatory bitching about MGM’s stupid split-vendor booth*

Ok I guess I better read about it.

Did we try Irie Jamaican Express last year? Was it another fry offering?

Ok! Yes we DID try them last year, but it was because they offered oxtail and we really wanted to try it. Looks like they nabbed a C for the oxtail but a B for the accompanying Festival Bread.

But also it was expensive AND they added on taxes ($16.34 total wtf).

I mean honestly, I’m sort of maybe be looking forward to this? I am a little worried about how spicy the jerk chicken and sauce is.

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh boy, here we go again.  MGM with their split venue times, keeping us from trying every new food on the first day.  Well…this one is running at the start of the fair, so maybe we’ll luck out and the later vendor won’t be on the new food list.  Not typically the case, but one can hope.  I’m not a big fan of jerk chicken, though battered French fries are probably my numero uno choice when it comes to fried potatoes.  This not being super creative for a new food item, paired with the fact that I believe MGM usually puts out sub-par new foods, makes me think I’ll find this year’s entry to likewise be disappointing.

When Pig’s Fly by Sausage Sister & Me

Flight of pork sausages wrapped in puff pastry and served on-a-stick. Varieties include: Chorizo Sausage with chimichurri, Texas Two-Step Sausage with sweet pepper coleslaw; Oktoberfest Sausage with melted cheddar and chili crunch; and Porketta Italian Sausage with pickle aioli

Sarah’s Thoughts

I mean, who doesn’t love a flight? I don’t even care what it’s a flight of, I want it and will order it. Flight of beer? Sure! Do I even like or drink beer? Nope! Salsa flight? Jah. Sake? Sure thing. 

So you BETTER BELIEVE I’m excited about a sausage flight. But let’s actually look at it closer here.

Oh. They’re served on a stick. I don’t…that feels less like a flight to me? IDK. Just sort of rubs me the wrong way. Maybe just because I know we’ll have to pull them off the stick for us to taste them all so then what’s the point? 

And we’re starting with chorizo again, a crap sausage imop cuz it’s dry and I’m not big on the flavor. Don’t know what a two-step sausage is but I’m intrigued. And the rest look good. It’s fun that they all have their own little sauce or accoutrement to go with them. Though I wonder if those will fall off easily because of the stick handling.

Sausage Sister & Me can be hit or miss, but their sausage is usually good and when they miss it’s often just nbd as opposed to actually bad, so I think this will be fine. When you’ve got 4 options though, even if one of them knocks it out of the park, the other 3 could still tank the rating. (This is just how it goes. Top Chef rules and all that.)

But they’re wrapped in puff pastry so that’s good. I think any of these have a chance of being great (lol probably not the chorizo) or could be a dud. So we’ll see where it all lands in the end.

Anne’s Thoughts

Aww, I love trying new foods from Sausage Sisters. They’re not always successful for us, but I'm still always looking forward to them for some reason.

HAHAHAHA Flight of Sausages! And on a stick no less!

More sauces.

Aww- chorizo. boo.

What’s Texas Two-Step Sausage? Ok looks like it’s usually a beef sausage paired with coleslaw (OR it’s a new food at the MN State Fair lol).

Well, honestly I can't say I'm super excited about any of these sausages- each of them has something that brings it down for me. But I think the idea is really fun and at least we get multiple tries to find a successful one

Packie’s Thoughts

Heheh, I read the name of the food and my first thought was “is this Sausage Sisters?”  Yes indeed it is!  Flights are a wonderful thing, because who doesn’t want a little sampling of variety of something?  In this case, we have a flight of pork sausages.  Why hasn’t this been a thing before now?  Oh my god, they’re like little pigs in a blanket, only with different variety sausages and toppings.  I hope each sample is big enough for us each to take a bite, and honestly it’ll be nice not to have an overabundance of food in a day where I’m already eating 36 different foods.  Each of these sounds delightful, I can’t wait to try them all, and Sausage Sister’s makes some mean sausage, so I’m sure they’ll be great.  Adorable idea.  All hail the flight!

The Fried and the Furious: Cubano Drift by Herbivorous Butcher

Deep-fried Cubano-style sandwich made with a crunchy tortilla filled with vegan Cuban pork, vegan Swiss cheese, dill pickle relish, vegan garlic mayo and mustard. Served with a side of jalapeno citrus sauce (vegan).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Okay so this has a movie title which means it’s from Herbivorous Butcher. So, yeah. 

Last year they had a really great entry. But in pretty much every other year their entry has been very bad. I know some people love HB, and I’m happy for them, but we often find the texture and flavor of their “meat” is really off putting.

I love a Cubano. Pretty much ever since Anne and I went to go see Chef in theaters and then that night went out to buy a pressure cooker so we could make Cubanos when we got home (pressure cooker would speed up the time.)

This…does not look like a Cubano to me. 

The meat looks not good. I can tell just by looking at it that the texture is going to really bother me. And since they have to add seasonings to try and make it taste like pork, I suspect we won’t have much Cubano flavor at all. And for something supposedly deep-fried, that crunchy tortilla doesn’t look it. 

Listen. I hope I’m wrong. I WANT to eat a deep-fried Cubano and love it, whether it’s vegan or not. I just doubt this will be that.

I am dreading trying this, just because I’m pretty sure that meat is going to taste like much of the meat we’ve had from them before (and at least once we had to spit things out.)

I do love the color of that sauce, though!

Anne’s Thoughts

Well here we go with the “schmeat” again that is 90% bad and 10% good for us.

Here’s the thing. I love Cubano. And everything on this sammich sounds good. It just all comes down to the texture and flavor of the “meat”. Their fake bacon last year was excellent, so maybe because this is pork it will also be good?

IDK- I do not have my hopes up at all, but maybe, JUST MAYBE, we’ll get lucky 2 years in a row here

Packie’s Thoughts

Well, for better or worse, they’re back.  Alright, last year was the first time this vendor made something that wasn’t worth spitting out.  For the record, I never spit out food, it’s just undignified and rude, but we’ve all got regrets.  I’m gonna say it.  They got lucky last year.  Something worked out for them and their deep-fried faux bacon hit nicely, but I think it was a fluke.  I still think their brand of vegan meat just isn’t up to snuff.  It tastes funny and has a weird texture.  Given how ‘pork’ forward this Cubano looks, I think it is going to make me sad I had Cubanos ruined for me.  Besides, Cubanos don’t have mayo on them, so why go to the effort of adding vegan mayo?  But hey, let’s throw another hot element in with some jalapeno citrus sauce to make the twins happy, amiright?

Strawberry Ube Sundae Tart by Sara’s Tipsy Pies

Swirled strawberry and ube marshmallow cream mixed with chocolate chips, chilled and scooped into a fudge-filled gluten-friendly shortbread crust. Topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce and edible glitter sprinkles (Gluten-friendly)

Sarah’s Thoughts

I really do love how many places now have GF options for people.

Sara’s Tipsy pies are generally good. Sometimes they’re nbd, but they have also knocked it out of the park more than once, so I look forward to them now (vs in the past when I gave them a lot of crap for a lot of reasons.)

I like ube. Strawberry is fine. Haven’t had them together so we’ll see how that goes. Oh a marshmallow cream! Okay! Packie is excited I’m sure. The pie is a fudge pie. I hope the GF crust has the shortbread texture I want from an SB crust. 

I think this will be fun! At the very least it LOOKS fun and that’s good. But I know this is probably going to come down to the texture of that crust. If it’s good, this could be a winner for sure.

Also it’s chilled, so that will be nice because it’ll for sure be frickin hot, judging how this summer is going. Or storming.

Anne’s Thoughts

YUSSSSS SARA!

BRINGING NEW PIES TO THE FAIR!

Ube does not get enough love around here so I’m all for this.

HOLY CRAP

The more I read about this the more excited I got.

IT’S UBE MARSHMALLOW CREAM (mallow, baby. Marshmallow) (iykyk)

Also chocolate chips for some cronch texture. Shortbread crust? FUDGE FILLED?!

THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT I JUST KNOW IT!!!!

(Also- because this isn’t alphabetical I have NO IDEA how far I am on this list! Am I half way? More?? LESS?? WHERE AM I???)

(I checked- this was #20- I'm more than half way, BABY!)

Packie’s Thoughts

You had me at marshmallow cream.  I like Sara’s Tipsy Pies, and this looks like a fun pie sundae they’ve whipped up here.  You got the fudge-filled pie, the marshmallow cream, and some whipped cream to top it all off, sounds perfect.  All it’s missing is a cherry on top.

Peri-Peri Bowl by Afro Deli & Grill

Fried peri-peri hot chicken, seasoned with African Bird’s Eye chili peppers, garlic, lemon and herbs. Combined with mini beef sambusas and fried sweet plantains, all topped with peri-peri sauce and choice of: basbaas (spicy Somali green chili pepper sauce) or spicy red chili sauce.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Uuuugh. We so so so want to love Afro Deli. And they always let us down. But every time I’m hopeful because I want them to be amazing and successful. 

We’ve got peri-peri chicken, which I don’t know what that is so I’m already tentatively excited, though worried about the “hot” description, since it’s seasoned with chili peppers and Sarah has a baby mouth. I’m not bonkers about sambusas. They’re fine, but just generally don’t do much for me. Honestly of all the sort of dumplings out there, I mostly just like Asian ones. Other dumps just leave me feeling meh.

I DO love fried sweet plantains! Especially if they’re actually sweet (I have been tricked before). Oh. Both sauces are spicy though. That’s kind of a bummer. So eat a spicy thing and here are two choices to make them even spicier.

Well. I suspect I will probably not like this at all which is a bummer. Packie might so I’m sure he’ll be the deciding vote on if it’s good or not.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok what do we have here? Looking like some sort of maybe fried sambusa or something? Holy shit my mouth is on FIRE just reading this. Is every element spicy??

Ok apparently peri-peri sauce is a famous zesty sauce. I DO like the idea of trying a famous zesty sauce. But again- how zest??

I feel like in this picture I'm only seeing the sambusas? Looks like maybe the plantains are on the bottom? Where’s the chicken- is it in meatball form right in the middle?

2 sauces, each as spicy as the other (I’m guessing- I don’t actually know). Are both sauces in this picture?

Afro Deli is a vendor that is so nice and helpful, but for whatever reason their food has just not been for us, despite wanting to really like it. I’m expecting similar this year- and probably just way too spicy for us.

Packie’s Thoughts

I want to like Afro Deli, but I feel like I haven’t really liked much of anything they’ve put out.  Last year they had those dry as hell bean balls served on a bed of greens, which pictured two pieces of lettuce, and the final result had no greens at all.  And here this year we have a heaping bowl of HEAT!  Seriously, the chicken is spicy, and then it’s topped with a spicy sauce.  Hell at this point, I’m worried MY palette is going to be blown out after all these spicy foods.  I don’t think even the sweet plantains are going to save this one.  I’ll try it, because I have to, but I’m not happy about it.  This makes like, what, 10 spicy foods?  We’re approaching a third of the food items this year having some HEAT!

Sligo Slider Bites On-A-Stick by O’Gara’s at the Fair

Handmade dumplings stuffed with a cheeseburger blend made of beef, cheddar, pickle and onion. Skewered on-a-stick and deep-fried. Served with homemade Thousand Island dressing

Sarah’s Thoughts

What the hell is a Sligo? Am I supposed to know what that is? Usually I’d just let Anne look it up and tell me but I really want to know right now. 

Oh. It’s just a town name I guess. Not sure how many people will know that but I guess it works cuz O’Gara’s. But it feels like they were like, let’s just pick a name that sort of goes with Slider.

Anyway, O’Gara’s is almost always mediocre at best. I think there was one time where they made something that we actually finished eating and I can’t even really remember what it was so that’s saying something.

We’ve got another dump, but their dump offering last year was not good at all (ours were for sure undercooked. They also always serve things that don’t really match the photo, which is sus.)

So more or less we’ve got a deep-fried slider on a stick.

I’m trying to think if anyone has done something like this before. It seems like an obvious thing to make but I can’t recall any.

On the surface I like this idea, but even in the photo they look underwhelming and maybe undercooked and I’m pretty sure O’Gara’s will just be something mediocre at best, once again.

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok what’s a Sligo Slider?

Ok Sligo is a town in Ireland, so I guess a local dumpling from there? Or did they just need to “make it Irish” and tagged on a random town name?

I will give it to O’Gara’s- they know how to serve up a fair food. Also I like the look of how many they’ve crammed onto this stick. 2nd year in a row with dumplings for them. Thousand Island dressing as a dip feels a little uninspired, but idk- maybe they pair beautifully.

Honestly these look pretty good. I hope they pay off- O’Gara’s can sometimes pull it off on occasion.

Packie’s Thoughts

Sometimes I think that maybe O’Gara’s will just take a year off and think about what they’ve done.  But no, instead they keep putting out the grade C food items they’re well known for at this point.  Honestly, at first glance, I thought this was the same damn food they put out last year, only on a stick.  But no, instead of potatoes stuffed in a dry-ass dumping, it’s hamburgers, or something?  Look at those and tell me they look appetizing?  If you didn’t know what was in them, would you think they looked good?  No, they don’t.  Plus, thousand island dressing for the dip?  Gross.  F.

Brandy Old Fashioned Cookie Dough by Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough

Edible cookie dough infused with nonalcoholic brandy flavor and combined with orange zest, cinnamon, dark chocolate chips and tart dried cherries. Served on-a-stick, hand dipped in brandy-flavored bittersweet chocolate, and rolled in Biscoff ® cookie crumbs (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

I was excited at first cuz I thought this was ice cream, but no. It’s cookie dough. Boo.

Packie might be excited for it. I’m just not a huge cookie dough fan. It doesn’t really do anything for me, and I DEFINITELY don’t like big portions of it. 

I like how they start by making sure we know the cookie dough is edible. So that’s good. And we have a brandy flavor which could be good or could just taste artificial. I love dark chocolate, especially combined with orange. Don’t really care about tart chraisins (lol is that even a word??) Biscoff is fine, good but maybe overdone.

IDK. This seems like a LOT. There are like 8 different flavors/elements on this thing which feels like probably too much. I worry that all the different flavors are meant to try to compensate for something. Also I worry that this will be huge. Or that it will be an okay, normal size but still hella expensive.

This cookie dough place, Kora & Mila’s was new recently, I think. Maybe. I can’t remember if we’ve had something from them before but maybe? And we didn’t like it? IDK. There’s a dog chasing a squirrel outside my window and that’s more interesting than going to look it up right now.

OMG I just scrolled down the list and there are still SO MANY left!

Anne’s Thoughts

Well isn’t this a pretty looking confection! Girl, you gorg.

Is this from that cookie dough place? Honestly it looks too pretty for them?

Ope- it is from them. Apologies ladies- you’ve done nice visual work here.

Ok let’s see what we’re dealing with here.

I mean, I'm not usually a fan of the cookie dough, but this sounds pretty great for the cookie dough?  I like all the elements in there- chocolate chips and cherries sound like some nice texture and pops of different flavors. Obviously biscoff always slaps.

We might get tripped up on the “Brandy Flavor”. Because what does that taste like? Is it going to be too fake/chemically?

Visually this just looks so appealing so I am looking forward to this one! I hope it pans out.

Packie’s Thoughts

You know, I love raw cookie dough, but I’ve never been a fan of it at the fair.  First off, it is rich as fuuuuuck, so who the hell can eat that much in one sitting.  Doesn’t matter what flavor or fillings you include, it is just a lot to commit to.  Would I be excited for this outside the fair, knowing I didn’t have a feast worth of other foods to consume?  Meh.  Honestly, I think it is too much.  It needs a couple less elements.  None of them on their own are bad or offensive, but I don’t want aaaaaall that on such a rich ass dessert.  Pass.

Apple Donut Ham Grinder by MN Farmers Union Coffee Shop

First Kiss ® apples from Pleasant Valley Orchard, sliced into rings, battered, deep-fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Stacked sliced with uncured ham from Hidden Stream Farm, dressed arugula and drizzled with Crybaby Craig’s Hot Honey, made with honey from Boltin Bees. Served with herb-whipped ricotta spread on a toasted hoagie roll from Emma Krumbee’s bakery

Sarah’s Thoughts

I could tell right away this was Farmer’s Union. It just has their sort of vibe. Looking at the pic, though, I hope that’s some sort of cutlet in this sammich because they did a great job with their pork cutlet two years ago. 

Ooh! I very much enjoy a First Kiss apple! I know everyone loves a Honeycrisp, but man, there are so many excellent apples at there. 

Ohhhh though. I just realized that cutlet is actually a deep-fried apple slice. I don’t…I don’t know about that. I really wanted it to be meat.

I mean, there IS meat on the sammy, but deli ham is my least fav of the deli sliced meats, though apples and pork obvs work together. Do love arugula and ricotta, though.

Okay. I am tentatively excited for this. The apple could be weird. And this could also just end up being an expensive sammich. But maybe it will be interesting and good. I hope it is. 

Also I hope it’s not huge but I bet it will be.

Also also, what are the chances that we get there pretty much right at open on Day 1 and they tell us they’re sold out? Because they’ve definitely done that to us before.

Anne’s Thoughts

I knew who this was from just by appearance alone.

This is our 2nd grinder option this year.

Looks like we got some ham, some sort of sauce, arugula…

Is…Is the apple the fried patty in the middle?

Oh shit I didn’t read the title close enough- apple DONUT??

Ok but that still doesn’t look like a donut?

Ok that’s because it isn’t a donut- it’s just a battered and fried apple ring. That’s a preeeettty loosey goosey interpretation of what makes a donut.

BOOM- another Hot Honey.

I don’t need hot honey on this- because outside of that I'm actually pretty excited for this? It seems unique. I love ricotta. I like some sweet with my ham.

My biggest concern here is will it be sold out before we even get to try it? 

Because that was a problem last year MNFUCS- you sold out of Apple Glaze Patisserie Sweets by 10AM on Day 1, and we never got to try it.

I don’t know if your lines are so ridiculous because you’re the closest coffee to the main entrance, or what. But we need you to have better control of your inventory this year (at least PROBABLY a sammich isn’t gonna sell out during brekkie like a pastry would. Probably…)

Anyway

No thanks on the hot honey but otherwise I bet this is good. And costs $20

Packie’s Thoughts

God dammit, and here I was hoping that maybe they wouldn’t make the list this year.  Well, eff me I guess.  Of course they threw hot honey in this.  It seems like such an afterthought, like they feel obligated to latch onto the hype that was already getting old last year, just for hype sake.  God, you know, if this was made by anyone else, I’d say it was very creative and interesting, but I’ve fallen for it enough times with MN Farmer’s Union to not trust this will be good.  Hey, sometimes they pull out a surprise and it works, but I’m a real pessimist when it comes to them at this point.  I think all these elements actually look and sound like they’d play well together, but I’m just too jaded to give them credit.

Banana Butterscotch Barnraiser by MN Farmers Union Coffee Shop

Vanilla poundcake layered with roasted bananas, butterscotch sauce and caramelized croissant croutons made by Patisserie 46. Topped with whipped cream from Stony Creek Dairy and garnished with nut-free cereal mix made with Corn Chex ®, Biscoff ® cookie butter, chocolate chips, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt (Vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

We really don’t have a ton of desserts on this list so far. I want some more ice cream, please.

So this feels a lot like things that are done pretty much every year. A pound cake. A fruit. Some sort of sweetener and something to zazz it up and make it feel special.

This just feels like another version of that. We’ve got Biscoff, which, whatever. I absolutely love a roasted banana and butterscotch, though. Interested in those crouts. 

I think this will be fine. I suspect it will taste good, maybe even great, but it won’t feel special because it’s a bit same ‘ol same ‘ol.

Oh it’s Farmer’s Union again. That explains the Dairy branding. Well, at least we can get this and the sammy at the same time, so that’s good.

Anne’s Thoughts

OOOOOOOOOHHHH HELLOOOOOOOOO

Guuuuuuuuurl, whachoo bringing to the table??

Oh- a 2nd offering from MNFUCS. IDK why I’m always surprised by that- they almost always have more than 1 new official food (and if there’s only 1 then they usually have some unofficial new offerings as well)

OMG

Is this list alphabetical by VENDOR??

Ok no. never mind.

Back to the food.

What’s that crunchy bed we’re sitting on here? And is that whipped cream or some other delicious treat? Obvs we’ve got some puppy chow here (how has puppy chow not done more at the fair considering its midwest heritage?)

Oh these puppy chows are biscoff puppy chows. Neat!

Ok so the cronchy bits are croissant crouts. I wish I could see more of the inside, like the roasted bananas and pound cake that are apparently under there. Looks like there’s not enough space to fit all of that?

Packie crying into his beard right now about the roasted bananas. What a banana baby.

This is also going to be $20

And maybe sold out (this feels more brekkie-aligned so we might actually be in trouble here. GAAAWWWDDD do we need to make a bee-line straight to the main entrance right at open?? INCONVENIENT).

ANYWAY

Get In My Mouth.

Packie’s Thoughts

OH GOD DAMMIT!  Two?!  Again?!  They can’t keep getting away with this!!  Seriously, each vendor should be limited to one new food, hard stop.  It is made only worse when that vendor sucks and they get two.  Uggggh, after my angry rant I am particularly pissed that I have to admit this looks great.  Again, it is MN Farmer’s Union, so it might just shit the bed no matter how great it sounds, but…all that just sounds great.  I don’t really even like bananas, but sometimes I do I guess, and this...man, it all just sounds wonderful.  Throw that apple donut sub in the trash and just do this.  Whatever.

2026 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 2- Butter Brew Mustache Pretzel through Tacos de Mole

 Butter Brew Mustache Pretzel by Blue Moon Dine-in Theater

Handmade soft pretzel dough rolled in the shape of a mustache and baked. Coated in melted butter and tossed in a butter brew sugar mixture flavored with caramel, vanilla and butterscotch. Served with a side of vanilla soft-serve dip.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Oh it’s a pretzel! Oh shit, it’s a sweet pretzel! Okay! I don’t see anything wrong with this. Nice that it’s served with ice cream to dip. I mean, I guess there’s nothing much special about this other than the shape, but I—

JESUS FUCK!!! Holy shit a squirrel just jumped onto my window screen. Scared the bejeesus out of me. Fuck.

God dammit. Everything outside my office just needs to calm the fuck down so I can do this.

So, the shape. That’s what makes this special and it IS special! I assume they want people to take selfies with mustaches and I am ABSOLUTELY going to oblige them on this. We gotta.

Hey! It’s from Blue Moon Diner! I expect it’ll be good then! I would say it’s hard to eff up a pretzel but I’ve had some crappy ones in the past, so I know that’s not true, but I think they’ll handle it well.

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh damn these selfies are gonna be POPPIN’, Someone understands their social media game and creating viral traffic. I mean we’re for sure going to do it.

Oh! It’s a Sweet Pretzel! Unexpected though I guess it makes sense for BMDIT.

Is baked the way we like our pretzels? Is that the default? Seems like no but I can’t really think of how they make them otherwise- fried doesn’t seem right? Do they go in a water bath like bagels?

IDK man

What is a butter brew?

Also I don’t know that I need caramel AND butterscotch? But I get why they serve it with the vanilla. This looks like a fun and funky little bite. I bet it’ll be good.

Packie’s Thoughts

Ahahaha, leave it to Blue Moon to at least offer something whimsical.  Is the shape and presentation of this pretzel necessary?  No, but I appreciate it, nonetheless.  Personally, I prefer my soft pretzels salted and dipped in nacho cheese, but I love them enough to try other varieties, and this sweet version looks and sounds like a nice treat.  Not sure I need the soft-serve for dipping, but it’s a nice addition.  Plus, I love the idea that it is tossed in a “butter brew sugar mixture”.  Definitely has that New Foods list flair that I look for, and it is good to see some sweet items on top of all the savory I’ll have to try.

Bao Belly by RC’s BBQ

Smoked barbecue pork belly drizzled with RC’s hot sauce and yum yum sauce. Topped with pickled vegetables and cilantro and served on folded, steamed bao buns.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Okay we have another bao option but this time with real meat, so I’m more excited about this one. It’s also from RC’s BBQ and they do good meat so I’m sure this pork belly is going to frickin slap. Ugh. Hot sauce though again. This better not be an emerging theme…

Yum yum sauce is good, though! Overall, this doesn’t seem like anything special, imop. Like, a pork belly bao. Ok. I can get that at numerous places whenever I want. Don’t need to come to the fair to do so. And with the other bao option, this just seems like a nothingburger.

Like, how do the fair people decide which food gets picked? Who thought it would be a good idea to pretty much have 2 identical items except one has “meat” and the other has MEAT. Make that make sense, State Fair. You’re wasting my time, money, and stomach space.

Dammit. The more I think about these two items, the more I’m getting pissed off about the whole deal.

Anne’s Thoughts

Jebus another Bao bite. I mean don’t get me wrong. I like a little bao taco. I like pork belly too. I wish this wasn’t served with hot sauce and yum yum sauce (i’m not usually a yum yum on meat person. More on rice and veg). Like this feels like a teriyaki or a bourbon glaze would’ve been real nice. Also RC’s has definitely blown out our palates before with heat so I’m a little suss here. Giving you a hard side eye, little bao tacos. Honestly will probably be real tasty but again- does not feel creative or special.

Packie’s Thoughts

HAH!  This just feels like RC’s BBQ one upping Rooted & Wild’s bao bun, asking you “now which is better, the one with meat, or the one with “meat””?  And honestly, I think RC is going to win that head-to-head.  But also, WTF?  Who decided we needed two of pretty much the same new foods on the New Foods list?  Is there going to be a gluten-free mustache pretzel somewhere on the list?  Anyways, love RC’s BBQ and I’m crazy excited to try this pork belly.  The twins are gonna be doing a double take with there being hot sauce AND yum yum sauce on this one.  Will that delicious yum yum be able to cool the hot sauce so they can enjoy this?  We will see.  Definitely going to hear some complaints about all the heat this year.  Is that gonna be the new theme?  Haven’t seen any Dubai chocolate yet, and only one pickle, so maybe?  It better not be bao buns.  If there’s another bao bun on this list, I’mma be pissed.

Blue Moon Crunch by Minnesnowii Shave Ice

Fluffy shave ice infused with blue moon flavor, dusted with Fruity Pebbles (™) cereal and drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Inspired by the flavors of blue moon ice cream (GF and Vegan upon request).

Sarah’s Thoughts

My very first thought was “why is this not from the Blue Moon Diner?” but then I realized it is not ice cream but in fact minnesnowii so it makes more sense.

I wonder what blue moon flavor is? Doesn’t really matter, I’m sure it will be good. Love the fruity pebbles and sweetened condensed milk is a MUST on any minnesnowii to elevate it to the next level. 

This will be good I’m sure! The only time I haven’t liked minnesnowii was the mangonado one and that’s because those flavors are not my jam. Other people really loved it.

Hopefully it won’t be 1000 degrees on Day 1 so this won’t melt immediately. Also, it’s nice to eat something that’s essentially flavored water. Keep us hydrated without filling us up.

I wonder how they make it vegan upon request? Ope, durr. No milk. I’m smart.

Anne’s Thoughts

I mean, by default this makes me think of The Dine In theater, but obviously this has to be Minnesnowii, right?

Yup.

Ok what in the hell is blue moon flavor/blue moon ice cream? Is this a flavor I'm supposed to be familiar with? Am I lax on my ice cream “it” flavors??

OMG it’s a “mysterious midwestern flavor famous for it’s nostalgic flavor with citrus and almond notes, reminiscent of cotton candy or cereal milk”

WHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT???

I mean I want to try this

Like right now

How have I, a midwestern foodie who loves sweets, not heard of this before? Are they going to take my foodie card away??

Ok- can cereal be “dusted”? Like doesn’t something have to be a powder to be dusted? Probably they should’ve gone with “topped” instead.

I mean, this is gonna slap I just know it. Minnesnowii is the best shave ice at the fair, and other than their Mangonado Shave Ice (which wasn’t for us), everything they do is excellent.

Hard to get too excited over what amounts to just shave ice, but this will make me happy.

Packie’s Thoughts

I don’t know what “blue moon flavor” is, nor have I ever had this so-called blue moon ice cream.  I am additionally offended to learn that it is a popular flavor in the upper Midwest?  Really?  Supposedly it originated in Michigan or maybe Pennsylvania, and the most widespread variant was invented in Wisconsin, so I don’t know, whatever.  Rant over.  Holy crep, I love Minnesnowii, the BEST shave ice at the fair, FACT!  Visually, this looks incredible.  So fucking vibrant!  A feast for my eyes and my inner child.  They’ve got the sweetened condensed milk on there, which is a must, and adding in fruity pebbles sounds like a wonderful addition for some fruity crunch.  Super excited for this. The only thing holding me back is my complete ignorance to the blue moon flavor.

Walking Chopped Italian Grinder by Mancin’s al Fresco

Chopped Italian grinder sandwich-style blend of sliced salami, pepperoncini’s, green olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella pearls, tossed in Italian dressing. Layered over a bag of Dutch Crunch ® Parmesan & Garlic Kettle Chips and drizzled with Calabrian chili aioli.

Sarah’s Thoughts

Just from the name I know this is going to be from Mancini’s. And yep, I’m right. Okay what actually is this, because it looks like nachos.

Okay it pretty much is an Italian grinder nacho. Which, on one hand, FUN! But on the other hand, I don’t like pepperoncini’s, artichokes, or red peppers. So IDK. I mean, I’m often picky about nachos anyway so this is nothing new. I AM excited to try it. Just hoping I get a bite with, like, none of that and only the olives and mozzarella. But I’m not a baby. I’ll eat what I get because life is too short not to try everything once, even if you’re sure you’ll hate it. I’ve been surprised. 

I think the biggest risk here, and honestly I suspect it’s probably a guarantee, is that this will be soggy. I really don’t see how it won’t be because the chips are just kettle chips and it’s got Italian dressing on it. Can’t see myself digging this if it’s soggy.

But if it holds up, it might be good! (unless it’s too pepperoncini flavored. Then I’m out. Packie’s probably really excited for this though. He loves those yellow-green fuckers.)

Anne’s Thoughts

Ok this has to be from Mancini’s. Who else is Italian at the fair?

Nailed it.

Well first, an Italian Grinder is not really a sammich I would order for me. I like green olives, salami, and mozz pearls. I don’t like pepperoncinis, red peppers, and I'm neutral about artichokes.

I like the sound of those chips

How tf are we intended to eat this? Like nachos?

GAWD this thing has 2 sauces on it. 2! This is going to have the same damn issue that I have with restaurant nachos- all those chips are gonna get soggy AF and then the mouth feel is gonna be wrecked and it will be impossible to eat.

I mean- look at how WET that thing looks.

Yeah I don't really want this one either.

I’m starting to feel a little underwhelmed here. Let’s start to zazz it up.

Packie’s Thoughts

Ey, I’m walkin’ ere!  If that was offensive to our Italian or Italian-American readers, I do apologize.  Please forget I ever said it.  Forget about it!  Said that last part with a shitty accent as well, I don’t know if that was clear or not.  I just wanted to be clear because I was being very, very funny just now.  Wait, is that just a New York thing?  If it is just a NY thing, then I will not apologize.  You sound funny, and I wish to celebrate it.  Now let’s talk about this absolutely beautiful abomination.  This is…a lot!  Lot of meat, lot of cheese, I guess there are some veggies in there (pepperoncini and red peppers, there’s some more heat for the bland bitches).  You got some Italian dressing and I guess we also needed some chili aioli as well, apparently (hot?  Perhaps).  Those chips sound bomb, though.  Really, I think this is just too much.  Everything is going to be competing with each other in this friggin’ bag, and I’ll be surprised if those chips don’t get soggy in a hurry.  The whole thing feels dubious to me.  This is number 6 for food items with some kind of spicy element (I’m not gonna include the sweet chili dipping sauce from Lumpia City, I think that probably won’t be hot).  I’m sensing a…theme?

Shakshuka Lamb Meatballs by French Meadow Bakery & Cafe

Seasoned lamb and pork meatballs stuffed with whipped garlic herb goat cheese and flash-fried. Served atop shakshuka- a blend of tomatoes, chili peppers, onions and spices- garnished with parsley and served with a side of chimichurri-spiced sourdough crostini (GF upon request).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Looking only at the picture, I would immediately assume this came from Mancini’s. But then I actually read the title and realized I was wrong. Plus they already have one. Not that that always matters. 

Okay, like me a meatball stuffed with cheese. I wish I knew what they meant by flash-fried. Like, in a deep fryer? In a pan? One would be crispier than the other and that would be better imop. And then served atop Shakshuka. I’m not sure if I’ve ever had Shakshuka before. Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not into red sauces, though, so that’s not doing anything for me. And, again, this doesn’t feel all that special to me. I can get this or something very much like meatballs in red sauce with a crostini pretty much anywhere.

And it’s French Meadow so it’ll probably be pricey. On the plus side, we’ll be able to find a table to eat it at. I’m still mad at them from when we had to wait like 2 hours to get whatever we had to get at the time. #neverforget #butkindaforgetbecauseIcan’trememberwhatwewereevenwaitingforthattime

Anne’s Thoughts

Holy Land?

I mean these look real tasty but again- not special. I mean I guess lamb is special, but not really for Holy Land OH SHIT IT’S FROM FRENCH MEADOW.

Damn they got me good with that one.

Ok I guess Shakshuka is something different- it just looks like trad marinara but IT’S NOT, EVERYONE.

Damn- lamb, pork, goat cheese. We got most of the barnyard here

IDK

This might be real tasty but again. I’m just feeling a little underwhelmed still. I want FAIR FOOD. Where are the sticks?? Where’s the ridiculousness??

Packie’s Thoughts

Oh damn!  Those meatballs look incredible.  Stuffed with goat cheese?  Hell yeah!  Then you got them served on top of shakshuka, AKA eggs in hell!  Though…doesn’t appear to be any eggs in this one.  What the hell?  Sarah loves the shakshuka I make at home, but I’m pretty sure she’d spit in my face if I didn’t include the eggs.  That is one of those dishes where I’m like “are you sure you don’t like red sauce?  You sure about that?“ The shakshuka has some chili peppers in it, but I don’t typically think the dish is particularly spicy?  I’ll have to ask Sarah if she thinks it has a kick when I make it, though I think mine just has paprika.  Not gonna include this one on the heat theme hit list.  I think this looks pretty great for my tastes, and usually French Meadow can really kick it out, though I generally think they do better with their baked goods.  Hope this is tasty as it looks!

Dubai Whoopie Pie by Dino’s Gyros

Dubai chocolate-inspired whoopie pie made with pistachio cream sandwiched between two dark chocolate cakes. Rolled in Dino’s Dubai crunch topping of shredded filo, crushed pistachios, honey and brown sugar (vegetarian).

Sarah’s Thoughts

Oh here we go. Anne was pretty convinced that Dubai chocolate or hot honey were going to be prevalent at the fair because the fair is generally about a season or year behind just because they have to turn in what they want to make so far in advance that the trends just move on. So here we DO have a Dubai chocolate offering and it’s a whoopie pie.

I’m always underwhelmed by whoopie pies. They’re not really a cookie or a cake and don’t particularly like what it is so I’m not excited about this in general because of that. But I DO like Dubai chocolate. I hope the pistachio cream isn’t too sweet. Dino’s is a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes they have something great. Often they’re just NBD. This might be somewhere in between the two. I’m not, like, excited for this, but it’s not a vibe killer by any means.

Anne’s Thoughts

Whoop(ie)- here’s the Dubai Chocolate I predicted.

I’m not a big fan of Whoopie Pies

I know- it doesn’t make sense. It seems like a good recipe for fandom from me but meh- have just never really liked them? I mean I'd eat one if offered to me, but I wouldn't ever request them or buy them.

I do be liking dubai chocolate, so this does sound like a fun little twist. I hope it’s good enough to change my mind about whoopie pies

Packie’s Thoughts

There it is!  We found it.  The Dubai chocolate.  Finding it at Dino’s wasn’t on my bingo sheet, though, that’s for sure.  I like a nice whoopie pie, though they do tend to be messy.  But hey, what good dessert isn’t?  Holy damn, this looks amazing!  I mean, jokes aside, I love Dubai chocolate, and having this sandwiched between two dark chocolate cakes sounds delish.  Get all that crunch in there, and throw in some honey and brown sugar to boot, why not?  This will be great, I’m calling it.

Chorizo Manchego Croquettes by Paella Depot

Spanish-style potato croquettes filled with manchego cheese and Spanish chorizo. Lightly breaded, fried and garnished with chives. Drizzled with homemade lemon garlic aioli (GF)

Sarah’s Thoughts

God I love a croquette. God I hate chorizo. I am conflicted now. I really think this will come down to how much chorizo there is in this and how the cook comes out. Love an aioli. Okay, I think I am optimistically hopeful for this. Like, I just really really fucking love a croquette so my desire for that outweighs any possible worries I have.

If this didn’t have chorizo, and maybe had a different cheese this would hands-down be my thing I’m most excited for. It maaaaaay still end up that way, depending on how the rest of this list goes.

Paella depot was the new paella place from two years ago? One year ago? I don’t remember if we’ve ever had something from them, mostly because we get paella regularly in our house so it’s not special. So I don’t have any preconceived ideas about how the quality might turn out.

Anne’s Thoughts

Oh- another new vendor that we haven’t tried yet bc paella isn’t special for us and, again, *gestures vaguely at all the new foods and money and time*  *

So bonus- we will be forced to try them this year! Honestly that’s great. And this is something new and exciting.

Oh- chorizo.

Well this is something new and exciting

I wonder what the breading is if it’s gluten-free.

I mean, I like cheese and potatoes.

Sarah LOVES a croquette. But she HATES chorizo. She’s probably freaking out on some level here.

*UPDATE

JFC. Dear Reader, I just discovered that we did, in fact, try Paella Depot back in 2024. I have no memory of this. Thank god we have a blog and instagram account APPARENTLY

Packie’s Thoughts

Hey, the Paella place made the New Foods list.  Good for them.  Paella Depot was a new vendor two years ago, and they made a passably good paella that I’m glad I found time to try.  Now they’ve added something new to the menu, and who the hell doesn’t love a nice croquette.  I’m sure Sarah and Anne are stoked about that.  I know Sarah loves them; I guess I’m not a hundred percent sure on what Anne’s thoughts are.  I’m sure I’ll find out when I read what she writes.  It better be a lot of nice things about me.  I write nice things about them all the time.  I think they’re neat.  See, I did it just there!  Anywho, these croquettes have some Spanish chorizo, which I’m not sure how that compares to Mexican chorizo which the twins think is no me gusta!  I like it a’ight, and honestly these look pretty damn good.  I do love a nice garlic aioli and it sounds like a wonderful sauce for some big ole Spanish tater tots.  Let’s go!  Chorizo can be a little spicy, but I think I’m gonna also not include this one on the heat theme.  I think it either needs to be a serious heat, or like front and center with the heat.  It’s just something you feel, in your heart, I can’t explain it.

Honey Brisket Battered Potatoes by Australian Battered Potatoes

Deep-fried Australian Battered Potatoes topped with beef brisket, smothered in nacho cheese and drizzled with hot honey.

Sarah’s Thoughts

OMG!!! Australian battered potatoes has a new food?? And it’s official?? OMG I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS! I frickin love their potatoes but we don’t always get them because, ironically, they give you too much food and we just can’t eat it all unless we’re with a group of, like, 5.

Hey Anne! It’s hot honey!

Shit I want this right now. I want it so bad. Beef brisket? Good. ABP? Good, Hot honey? Good. Nacho cheese? Good. I don’t think there is any way this could possibly be not great. Literally ABP are already legendary, and now they’re just elevating it with some meat and honey.

OKAY. This is now my current most excited for food. I wonder if Anne or Packie will pick it too? I bet they’re going to be just as excited as me.

Anne’s Thoughts

WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH. Woah

Is this… is this the first new food from Aussie potatoes??

I can’t say for 100% certainty (because some B hasn’t updated the foods by vendor list on the blog in like… 2 years maybe?) BUT I THINK MAYBE???

I mean, I don’t want this, but good for them showing up?

Here’s the (first?) predicted hot honey. 

I don’t want nacho cheese and honey and BRISKET together, like wtf?

The potatoes are bomb already with the cheese/ranch option. I’m not sure I NEED new options from ABP unless it’s like something new and inventive, rather than just a new topping.

Oh god this is gonna be so expensive and we’ll just want one but we’ll have to get 5. The portion size at ABP is my biggest complaint with them. We would get them every year if we could get like 1 or 2, but since we have to get like 10 of them we only get them every couple of years. Guess we’ll be getting them this year.

God- is the problem me? Do I just not like food anymore or something?

Packie’s Thoughts

Ooh, now we have our first appearance of hot honey!  And another one added to the heat theme.  I love me some Australian battered potatoes, and it looks like this one has the classic hit with the nacho cheese.  Now they’ve added some beef brisket and a drizzle of hot honey.  I don’t see any reason why this shouldn’t be good.  Add a little meat to my potatoes and a little sweetness with the honey.  I think it’ll taste great, but now more than ever, I hope they give us a fork with this.  Already messy eating it as is with my hands, but throw in these new elements and that’s gonna leave me really sticky.

Hmong Corndog by Union Hmong Kitchen

Pork Hmong Sausage flavored with ginger, garlic, fish sauce, chili and lemongrass made in collaboration with Kramarczuk’s. Skewered, dipped in a cornmeal batter and fried. Served with a side of citrus Kua Txob sauce.

Sarah’s Thoughts

I’m assuming (and hoping) this is from Union Hmong Kitchen? Yep. Okay! They generally make good and great food. The one thing we had from them that was a let down was the fried purple rice on a stick and we wanted to love that. We just didn’t. I think the cook was sort of burned on ours. But, also, they are the home of the galabao which is the best bao ever, so they get pretty much a few years of leeway.

So we’ve got a Hmong sausage (already a great start) made with Kramarczuk’s to frickin elevate it to bigger heights, and then turned it into a corndog (and not a pronto pup, which is the correct decision.)

I think this will be good! Ironically, I’m never wowed by alternative corndog offerings because nothing compares to the original Poncho Dog, but I suspect this will be good.

There’s a chance the combo of the sausage and batter will clash, but I trust Union Hmong so I’m not overly worried about that. I wonder how spicy the sauce will be? Packie will have to try it first. Generally Hmong sauces are way too extreme for me in the heat level.

Anne’s Thoughts

Alright UHK, this is it. This will define your space going forward. Are you gonna be a Lulu’s, a Blue Barn, or an O’Gara’s?

OK! First- a stick.

Second- this has a lot of things going for it. Hmong Sausage. Partnership with Kramarczuk’s. Corn dog instead of Pronto Pup.

I have No Reason to believe this won’t be delicious. Their Year 1 Bao is still an every year treat. But we were so, so burned by that shrimp toast last year. Really broke our hearts.

I don’t actually need another corn dog in my repertoire, but let’s go UHK. Let’s go.

UPDATE 2:

Dear readers. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just re-read the Shrimp Toast review from last year and it got a B?? How did I misremember this so badly?

Apparently I'm mixing up the Skrimp Toast with the Grilled Purple Sticky Rice from 2 years ago?? WHAT EVEN IS TIME ANYMORE?

This is not like me and I apologize. Basically disregard everything i said about UHK that wasn’t about the new food this year

Packie’s Thoughts

Hell yeah, always exciting to see Union Hmong Kitchen on the list and serving up some delicious, authentic Hmong cuisine.  I love a corn dog and trying one with a Hmong sausage instead of a hot dog sounds like something worth trying.  Especially when it is a Kramazuk’s sausage!  Will this be revolutionary?  I don’t think so, but sometimes if it is just straight up good, none of that matters.  Oh and do love me some Hmong hot pepper sauces, and here with a more herbaceous variety.  This will, of course, add another mark onto the possible heat theme for this year, which I’m definitely seeing as the leading contender.  At least in these cases, Sarah and Anne can just not dip it in the spicy sauce.

Tacos de Mole by El Burrito Mercado

Flour tortillas filled with shredded chicken, cheese and house-made mole sauce. Deep-fried, drizzled with more mole sauce and garnished with queso fresco.

Sarah’s Thoughts

I mean, I’m sure I won’t like this because of the flavors. It is the curse I have to bear. Because otherwise everything about this sounds great. I am very excited for Anne and Packie because I’m sure they’ll be excited about this. And there’s a small, smaaaaalll chance I might like it, depending on the seasonings. 

I can’t remember what El Burrito Mercado put up last year and whether it was good or not. Probably it was and I can’t remember it just because it wasn’t for me. Anne and Packie would probably know.

Don’t really have much else to say about this. Wish I liked Mexican seasonings.

Anne’s Thoughts

I mean, right off the bat that filling looks dry. And that’s because they went with chicken. This just looks like a hand-pie shaped taquito, but the worst version of taquitos (chicken). The queso fresco also looks pretty dry so is not helping us here. I tend to like mole but also always want it to be better than it is.

Is the theme this year…sauces?

Packie’s Thoughts

Packie loves mole sauce and this looks right up his alley.  Got a deep-fried taco here, which is an excellent way to enjoy a taco.  Surely Sarah and Anne will appreciate a fried flour tortilla over having to eat it regular.  Who am I kidding, Sarah is gonna be pissed either way.  I worry a little bit that this could end up eating pretty dry, but hopefully adding in the drizzle of more mole sauce after frying it helps keep things juicy.  Nothing super revolutionary with this item, but it is unique enough to the fair that I’m happy to be trying it.