Classics Countdown: Australian Battered Potatoes

THIS IS THE WEEK THE MN STATE FAIR BEGINS!

Seriously, the MN State Fair is one of the main reasons we even started this blog.

We cannot wait.

But we're still continuing with our Classics Countdown and today is:

Australian Battered Potatoes

Location: Australian Battered Potatoes stand North side of Judson Ave. between Liggett & Clough streets


Sarah: Oh man. OH MAN. Aussie Potatoes, you glorious bastards, you.

You get slices of potatoes, battered and fried, and served with ranch or cheese dipping sauce. Or both! And they are so, so good. Crispy and soft and pillowy.

And both the cheese and ranch are so good on the potatoes.

The only issue I’ve ever had with them is that they’re too much. You definitely get your money’s worth, but there’s not, like, a smaller option. So unless you’re sharing with, like, 5 people (not even an exaggeration) you’re either going to fill up on taters, or have to chuck some of them in the garbage.


Anne: God. I don’t know what kind of batter they use on these Australian Battered Potatoes, but it’s wonderful- those aussies must have stumbled across some sort of magical concoction to submerge their tubers in because these are just potatoes, battered and fried, but they are so, so good. You can get them with cheese, ranch, or go all out (you’re worth it) and get both cheese AND ranch.

Make sure you share these with a friend--not because you don’t want to eat every bit by yourself, but because if you do you’ll be done eating for at least a few hours--portions are large and you’ll be full up by the end! (I really wish I could just get like a single potato slice- I’ve got a lot of food to eat here, Australia!)

We usually leave this item for later in the week when we’re not trying all the new foods. It’s so filling I need to eat it on a day when I’m not committed to the task at hand (eating all the foods)


Patrick: I don’t know how they make these so damn good, to be honest. Thin sliced potatoes that are battered and deep fried, for a crispy potato with nacho cheese or ranch, this is a filling confection that requires a lot of friends to polish off.

They drizzle that ranch or cheese all over it because they derive pleasure in watching people fumble with eating and not slathering condiments all over their mugs. But, we just smile and eat it anyways, because we’re sheep. Sheep that want to shove those battered potatoes in our craws no matter how messy it is.

Can’t you get dipping cups instead of pouring it over the potatoes like gravy? Maybe. I think I asked once, and the vendor just glared at me and whispered “eat that shit with your fingers you disgusting mess.”

I did it too. You don’t stay classy at the Fair, you just spiral ever lower towards devolving into a morlock.

Classics Countdown: Spiral Potatoes

Day 2 of our MN State Fair Classics Countdown. Today we're talking about:

Spiral Potatoes

Location: Sonny's Fair Food in the Food Building on Dan Patch


Sarah: Even though Spiral Potatoes have been around for years, every time we get them, we are inevitably met by people’s exclamations of delight and questions of where we purchased such a wonderland of potatoey goodness.

And of course we tell them. Because this is the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

Spiral potatoes are made when an entire potato is drilled through a mandolin, creating one, continues thin spiral of potato that is then fried.

No seasonings. Just taters, precious.

My favorite bits are the parts that are just a touch undercooked, the inner spirals where the potato is still a little soft.

Even with multiple people munching, we rarely finish this beast of goodness.


Anne: Ok citizens! This is one of those foods that people ask us about every year- both online and in-person at the fair. And you should ask, because it is a treat.

An entire potato spiral cut wafer thin, and then deep fried to leave you a giant mass of pull-and-eat potato chips. They’re not even salted (though I think there are some flavored dust you can add, or even ranch dipping sauce, but it’s totes not necessary), just a little greasy but crispy and light and great.

It’s a snack to share- even with three of us we don’t finish it (apparently one potatoes makes a crap ton of chips).

And because it’s so light you don’t even feel full after partaking- just ready to go on to your next food


Patrick: A simple, fun, and satisfying snack, this single potato chip is carved from one whole potato and spiraled into a soccer ball sized mound of airy, salty greatness.

 You’d think it would be easy to polish off one of these spiral potatoes, but it is surprisingly filling even when tackled by three consumers.

 Who can say no to fresh made potato chips? Probably the same people who want to bore their taste buds with a Pronto Pup.

 This is always a must have, even if we can’t finish an entire pile.