2024 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 3- Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin through Raging Ball

Let's see some food items that made the top and bottom of our lists!

 Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin by Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken

Three fried potato skins filled with a blend of sour cream, cream cheese chopped pickles and ham. Topped with potato chip crumbles. (Gluten-Friendly)

Sarah

So we’re trying to recreate those pickle roll ups you get at any MN gathering I see.

And maybe this might get me in trouble but I don’t like those.

I know we’ve talked about the cream cheese before and this is more of the bad category, which is why I don’t like the rolls.

Now this is served on a potato skin, something I traditionally DO like a lot. Also, this has potato chips on top of it? That sounds fantastic!

I think the potato skin will be robust enough to level out what I don’t like about the roll, so I’m tentatively optimistic about this one. 

I don’t know that we’ve ever had anything from Route 66 Roadhouse chicken (Roadhouse. Anne, put in a roadhouse gif here or so help me…) but I’m always excited to try places we haven’t before.

Patrick Swayze Roadhouse GIFfrom Patrick Swayze GIFs

Packie

This basically looks like a gussied-up potato skin appetizer, and another vendor who’s glomming on to the last vestiges of pickle excitement. Don’t get me wrong, I love a perfect potato skin with the crispy potato, and the right amount of bacon and cheese. This seems like quite a lot, and I’m a bit taken aback by the amount of cream cheese and sour cream that seems ladled onto this potato.  Maybe the one saving grace for this will be the potato chip crumbles, which would make for a nice, salty, crispy note with each bite. We’ll see, could be good, but could be too much. They better have scooped out enough potato from that skin, or it isn’t really a skin, it’s just half a potato.  And now I’ve used the word potato so much it has lost all meaning.

Anne

Another new vendor maybe? (nope) Wonder what their chicken offerings are (kind of disappointed that it’s not a chicken food tbh).

Well there’s 3 of them so that’s good for us.

I have to be honest- I am one of those rare minnesotans who just does not want a pickle rollup. I’m sorry y’all, it’s just not for me.

So I am underwhelmed by this offering even though they did a smart quintessential MN food.

Lady’s Slipper Marble Sundae by Bridgeman’s Ice Cream

Bridgeman's strawberry ice cream, lemon marshmallow cream and ladyfinger cookies layered in a cup and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

Sarah

As soon as I saw it said marble sundae, I knew it would be Bridgeman’s. They love shaking up a marble sundae and they usually do a great job at it, too.

Let’s see what we got this time. Strawberry ice cream. Sure. Lemon marshmallow cream? Oh! That’s something surprising. Packing would sell his soul for marshmallow cream but I don’t know how he’ll feel about the lemon flavoring.

Ladyfinger cookies? Okay! It’s not Biscoff so that’s a plus. Whipped cream and then DIBS!!!! DIBS ON THE CHERRY! I CALLED IT THIS YEAR!

I think this will be good! Bridgeman’s never fucks up and sometimes they really blow it out of the park so we’ll see which way this goes when we get there.

Packie

Ooooh, Bridgeman's is back, baby.  Here again with another tasty ice cream confection.  This looks like some kind of amazing parfait, and I am all here for it.  I wanna try that strawberry ice cream, I’m losing my mind thinking about the lemon marshmallow cream, and add in some ladyfinger cookies and this sounds just right on a hot fair day.  Oh, and what’s that at the top?  Why, it’s the cherry…DIBS!  I call DIBS.  It’s me this year!  MEEEE!  I’m gonna be first and by law that makes that cherry mine.  DIBS GODDAMMIT!

(editor's note- Packie turned in his food thoughts first, so by Ahiers-Law he gets the dibs)

Stillesque GIFfrom Stillesque GIFs

Anne

God, I love a Bridgeman’s offering. Though tbh i’m not IN LOVE with the look of this right off the bat. Let’s see what we got.

LEMON MARSHMALLOW CREAM? What in the world is that? I mean besides exactly what it sounds like. Ok but wait there’s more layers in the pic than what is described? What’s the white layer? Not strawberry ice cream, not the lemonmallow (™), not the ladyfingers. It says it’s just topped with whipped cream but maybe that’s a layer too?

This sundae is going to be defined by whether or not those ladyfingers are dry or not. Bridgeman’s hasn’t let us down so i’m hopeful.

Marco’s Garden by Jammy Sammis by BRIM

Local rhubarb jam, thyme-marinated locally sourced tomatoes, farmer cheese, jalapeno and honey served with a side of grilled gluten-free flatbread. (Gluten-Free, Vegan option uses thyme tofu dip and maple syrup instead of cheese and honey.)

Sarah

I haven’t even read this one and I’m already sighing. It’s got garden in the title. I don’t go to the MN State Fair to eat a fucking salad.

Okay wait, rhubarb jam. I might have judged too soon.

Oh fuck me. Tomatoes. OOOH, they’re marinated in THYME. Now they’re SPECIAL. Get out of here with all this shit. You just grew too many tomatoes and this is the only way you can think of to get rid of them because your neighbors don’t want them.

What the fuck is farmer cheese? Looking at the picture I would guess ricotta but who the fuck knows cuz you’re just making up words now!

And right at this moment is when I realized that I bet this is at the farmer’s union.

Oh fuck! I’m wrong! It’s Brim.

What the fuck. My worldview is shifting a bit. I need to re-ground myself by continuing to read the description.

Fucking jalapenos. God dammit.

Flatbread. Fine. Brim is great in that it offers so many gluten free options, though I notice a lot more places do now, too, so that’s good for people who need that.

I don’t know.

Brim is usually decent or good. But I just don’t see anything about this I’m excited for. Like, get rid of the tomatoes and jalapenos and maybe we’d have something. But otherwise how is this just not a sort of Baba’s knock off?

I don’t think any of us are going to eat those tomatoes.

Packie

I still have a hard time understanding if BRIM and Jammy Sammies are two separate entities or one.  Looking at this ‘Marco’s Garden’ I can’t quite tell if this is supposed to be savory, sweet, or all of the above?  I mean hell, I love having a piece of bread and dipping it into stuff, and aside from the whole tomatoes, this looks like it could be a fun little appetizer to start the day off.  Again, I gotta appreciate a vendor that sources their ingredients locally, and one that offers some gluten-free and vegan options for their new foods so everyone can give it a try.  Usually BRIM does good by us, so I hope this new food is a hit.

Anne

What am I looking at? I assumed it was going to be a sammich (bc Jammy Sammies), but this looks like a piece of bread with spread/dip?

Oh- looks like that’s what it is. Huh.

Rhubarb jam would normally get me excited but I've been testing rhubarb pies and I'm over it for the summer. Ok WTF is Farmer Cheese?? Oh- apparently it’s a fresh, semi-soft unripened cheese made from pressed cheese curds. How have I never heard of this cheese? Well now I'm excited to try that cheese. But honestly- that’s about all I'm excited to try here. Bread and spread- pretty basic.

Mocha Madness Shave Ice by Minnesnowii Shave Ice

Fluffy shave ice with caffeine-free coffee flavoring and an overflowing caramel macchiato cold foam center. Drizzled with chocolate syrup and garnished with dark chocolate espresso beans. (Gluten-Free)

Sarah

What the fuck? I thought for sure this was ice cream but no! It’s shaved ice! From Minnesnowii no less! They’re the best shaved ice ever. 

How are they doing the cold foam center? Like, structurally how does that work? 

What flavor is the shaved ice, too?

I don’t know. On one hand this sounds exciting. But shaved ice is made out of water so on the other hand I worry this will be like crappy hot cocoa that’s made with water instead of milk.

Also, what’s the point of the caffeine free coffee “flavoring” (like, it’s just a flavor, we can guess it’s caffeine free since it’s not actual coffee) when you then have macchiato cold foam in it?

If this was any place other than Minnesnowiii I’d be more worried. But as it is, I’m mostly just a little confused.

Packie

Damn, Minnesnowii is really hitting a ball out into left field with this one.  Best shave ice stand at the fair, but I’m really not sure about this one.  If it was ice cream, I’d be falling face first into this beauty, but I’m struggling to decide if chocolate and coffee flavors will work with shave ice?  I mean…you’ve got ice coffee drinks galore out there, so is this really all that different from that?  Maybe?  I’ll try to keep an open mind, because the entire flavor profile of this sounds amazing!  I’m especially curious how you get a cold foam center into a pile of shaved ice.  Either way, this should be fun to try.

Anne

Ok y’all- I thought this was some sort of brownie/chocolate cake concoction and I was EXCITED. But then I found out it was shaved ice and I was less excited. Still, Minesnowii does have the best Shave Ice at the fair, and we get them at least once a year, so let’s give them a shot.

Ok so it’s coffee flavoring. And Caramel Macchiato cold foam (caramel coffee is the worst option imo).

I hope this is really good- we’ve been slowly getting into coffee drinks, so I would like to like this. I like a cold coffee drink, and I like coffee ice cream, but something about coffee ice has me squinting at it a little bit…

Probably Dole Whip will just spoof this 6 years from now

Man I’m at the Ms and I still haven’t been like completely blown away yet. Getting a little concerned…

Nixtamal & Wild Rice Bowl with Wozapi & Bison Meatballs or Sweet Potato Dumplings by Midtown Global Market's Indigenous Food Lab

Choice of bison meatballs or sweet potato dumplings, topped with mixed berry wozapi sauce, and served on a bed of nixtamal (white corn, blue corn and yellow corn) mixed with wild rice and seasoned with maple and spice. Cricket & seed mix topping optional. (Gluten-Free, Vegan option) (Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 only) (New Vendor)

Sarah

Oh!! Is this an indigenous food??

It IS! How excellent! Is the Indigenous Food Lab a permanent place now? It doesn’t look like it’s part of the rotating stand so maybe!

Okay, what do we have here? 

Dammit. What if I want BOTH the bison meatball and the sweet potato dumpling?? They both sound good! But otherwise we’ve got corn and wild rice, two things I love.

Do you think the cricket topping is actual crickets? Or is that something else? Either way, I’m sure we’ll get it. 

Oh wait. Fuck, there’s the notice that it’s the rotating vendor. FUCK and it’s the later one. Oftentimes we miss that one so this makes me sad. 

Well, maybe we’ll really have to try this year to get it.

Packie

Here we go again with this split-vendor bullshit. I’d have so much less issue with this if they didn’t both always make the new foods list every year. That said…excited to see some indigenous cuisine at the fair and boy does this dish have a lot going on. Definitely think I’ll be opting for the bison meatballs, and hell yeah I’m gonna spring for that cricket and seed mix topping? Are we talking real crickets? I hope so, cuz I’m all for normalizing commonly used ingredients from other cultures that we seem to avoid here in the States. Love me some wild rice and that corn mix looks great, so I hope this packs some good flavor.

Anne

Ok the more I read this the more excited I got, and then I saw it was Midtown Global Market and all the wind in my sails deflated, because NOTHING from MGM is ever good.

OH FUCK this is also the 2nd half of the fair offering, so by the time this comes around no one is going to be excited for it anymore.

Well, what are we working with here?

Wozapi is basically a stewed fruit sauce that has a sort of pudding consistency? So that sounds excellent.

Aww there’s a cricket and seed mix optional topping too? Also I want both the bison balls and the potato dumplings.

Ugh this sounds SO COOL and I’m mad at MGM for doing them dirty with a split week. This is definitely towards the top of my list.

Patata Frita Focacciawich by West End Creamery

"Patata Frita" kettle chip-flavored ice cream created by Minnesota Dairy Lab, sandwiched between focaccia bread from Wrecktangle Pizza. Topped with a blend of Honey butter, kettle chips and herbs.

Sarah

What’s going on in this picture? Is that ice cream? But the title would not suggest that we’re dealing with a dessert.

Ohhhh it’s potato chip flavored ice cream. Okay. I’m down for that. Oh fuck, it’s got focaccia bread from Wrecktangle pizza! Wrecktangle is GREEEEEAT. I am excited to try their focaccia. Oh, it’s topped with honey butter. I love me some honey butter, and then potato chips.

I am very much excited about this mixture of salty and sweet. I hope it turns out the way I think it will. I actually am more excited about the bread and everything else than I am about the ice cream, tbh.

West End Creamery? I’m not familiar with that place. I feel like we have a lot of vendors this time around that aren’t “new” but are not usually new foods vendors.

OOH! Maybe that’s the theme! New but not new!

Packie
Doesn’t say this is a new vendor, but I’ll be damned if I’ve ever seen this place in the West End Market.  Um, what the hell is this Frankenstein’s monster of a sandwich?  Is it sweet or savory?  Kettle chip-flavored ice cream?  So, it’s salty ice cream?  Do you eat this like a sandwich?  There’s honey butter on the top, so your hands would get messy picking this up.  I just have reeeeeal reservations about eating an ice cream sandwich that has actual bread instead of some kind of cookie or at least dessert bread.  Maybe it’ll all work somehow, but this is the first thing I’ve seen so far that really has me doubting.

Anne

I can make up words too, you know. If I feel like it. Not right now obviously, because I'm busy.

Is Patata just potato chips? Oh- patata frita is Spanish for like potato chip or french fry. So chip ice cream on focaccia (from Wrecktangle). Oh how refreshing- honey that ISN’T hot.

I like Wrecktangle Pizzas- I wonder how their focaccia is? I feel like maybe we’ve had it and it’s just fine?

How are we actually supposed to eat this though? Because that scoop of ice cream doesn’t seem to want to be held like a sammich, but I doubt focaccia is a bread we can like cut through easily with a fork…. (ugh- i don’t even want to think about eating ice cream with a fork. Gross).

I mean don’t get me wrong- potato chip ice cream? Like yes please- immediately in my mouth

Am I the most excited for this? Man…like I don’t think it has done ENOUGH to get my top spot, but I guess we’ll see how the rest of the list works out.

PB Bacon Cakes by The Blue Barn

Thick-cut bacon dipped in pancake batter, griddled and topped with peanut butter whipped cream, grape jelly and banana chips.

Sarah

So I assume these will be peanut butter and bacon pancakes.

Yes. Though, I do give them props because it’s PB whipped cream and that’s exciting! But mostly this is a PB & J and Bacon sandwich just sort of reconstructed.

I’m not against it. Not sure how I feel about the banana chips, though. Feel like it would be better with actual bananas but tevs. 

Oh, this is from Blue Barn. Huh. I don’t know how that changes my opinion. It’ll probably be fine but not blow our minds.

You can’t always tell with the BB though. Sometimes they are amazing and sometimes they really shank things. And you can never guess which one you’re going to get.

Packie

I’ll give Blue Barn one thing, I am always impressed with their creativity and willingness to shoot for the moon with their new food items.  That said…this won’t be good.  I’m calling it.  That bacon dipped in pancake will be soft bacon.  The worst kind of bacon there is.  I almost feel like this would have been fine on its own without the bacon, even with the banana chips, but nope.  Not gonna work.

Anne

I looked at this picture and a smile slowly spread across my face and I thought “...is this it? Is this the one? Like I think it's just bacon pancakes but still…”

And then Blue Barn splashed a bucket of ice water on me

Though, tbf, Blue Barn sometimes knocks it out of the park. You just gotta wade through a lot of shit usually to get there (like years and years of shit).

Yikes- 2 banana things for Packie this year. God is he extra mad because it’s Blue Barn Bananas?

Ok so this is basically what I thought it was- bacon pancakes. Peanut Butter whipped cream sounds like a fun way to add the PB.

Blue Barn has a couple (well maybe just 1) really good breakfast offerings, so maybe this will be added to that list.

Because it’s Blue Barn though, I really need to get excited for this with reservations

Raging Ball by Herbivorous Butcher

Deep-fried sesame mochi dough ball with vegan cheeseburger filling. Made with house-made vegan burger mix, vegan cheddar cheese, grilled onions and pickles. Topped with bacon-flavored powdered sugar. (Gluten-Friendly, Vegan)

Sarah

This looks a bit like a sesame ball I’d get at Chinese restaurants but I bet it disappointingly isn’t.

Wtf. Okay, we have a mochi dough ball, which why? Can vegans not eat regular bread dough? Pretty sure they can. It’s filled with vegan cheeseburger filling. Not a meat that I’m overly excited about, even if it were meat. Then vegan cheddar.

Okay, so it’s like a little compact cheeseburger in a ball. I actually like this idea a lot. Things that ruin it for me: topping it with powdered sugar. Even if that sugar is bacon flavored, why have the sugar at all?  That’s not anything I want on something that’s mostly burger flavored.

Also, this is Herbivorous Butcher and while we so so SO want to like their foods, we don’t. And it’s not an “eh, this isn’t for us” sort of dislike. It’s more of a “I need to spit this out” dislike. 

So I guess we’ll see what’s what with this one.

I wonder how big that ball is? I hope it’s smaller. And not like a million dollars.

Packie

Oh sweet Jesus that awful hits keep coming.  Herbivorous Butcher can’t make a good tasting vegan meat.  I’ve tried plant-based meat that tasted great, but HB does not have the right formula, because it always tastes sus’.  But holy shit, even if it was real hamburger in this ball of rage, this sounds horrendous.  Nothing about this sounds appetizing.  A chewy mochi ball dough?  With a fucking burger inside?  Including grilled onions and pickles?!  Oh.  OH!  And also lets add bacon flavored powdered sugar as a topping.  Of course!  Because let’s have it be a little sweet on our savory burger.  God damn, give me the Blue Barn soft bacon over this. I’m legit scared.  I had to take a minute, get up and walk around after writing this. What are you doing with your life Patrick?  Righting critiques for…for this?!  I hope Hideaway Speakeasy is on this list just so I can feel some familiar disgust again.  I misspelled ‘wrighting’ a couple of sentences back.  Didn’t even fix it.  Did you catch it?  Did you see I did it again?

Anne

Is this some sort of fancy Sesame Ball? I love me a good sesame ball.

Oh shit it’s Herbivorous Butcher. Then it has to be some sort of “meat” ball, right?

Oh it’s a sesame ball vegan cheeseburger! Huh. 

Here’s the thing- we have never once enjoyed Herbivorous Butcher, despite really, really wanting to like them. It always seems like we get the “wrong” option. But this year- they have only 1 offering to try, and for some reason a meat substitute cheeseburger seems very doable? Will this be the year we like Herbivorous Butcher? It seems promising. God, normally I’d be really excited about this because it feels really fun and unique, but I just can’t risk my heart like that.

Read part 4 tomorrow and watch Anne not be able to tell two churches apart.

2024 State Fair New Foods Preview Part 2- Cookie Butter Crunch Mini Donuts through Grilled Purple Sticky Rice

Part 2! Let's see what absolute delights await us 

Cookie Butter Crunch Mini Donuts by Mini Donuts & Cheese Curds

Vanilla-flavored mini donuts coated with vanilla sugar, topped with Biscoff cookie butter drizzle and cookie crumbles, and served in a bucket rimmed with cookie butter and cookie crumbles.

Sarah

I sighed audibly when I saw this.

Listen. I don’t want any more fancy or different mini-donuts, okay? Just stop. They’re never as good as the real deal. Also you always force us to get a whole fucking bucket of them when I just want 1. 

Also, the bucket is rimmed with cookie butter and cookie crumbles. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? This isn’t a margarita where I’d get a little taste every time I take a sip. Let’s take the mechanism that you’re supposed to use to hold your donuts and make it sticky. Yeah, that sounds like a fucking awesome idea. Thank god they’re right by a bathroom so I can wash my hands.

I’m willing to bet that that cookie drizzle will make those donuts soggy quicker than you’d think they would.

This just feels like a sugar overload. I doubt there’s going to be any balance to it at all. I definitely predict we will each try the one we have to, and then throw the rest away. 

Jesus, these put me in a bad mood.

Packie

Haah.  Aaah hahhahahaha!  This is just hilarious.  Last year this place put out a mini donuts drizzled in frosting and sprinkles with birthday cake mini donuts and we were all like “Pffft, look at this mess, it looks like it is for children needing a sugar rush.  I bet it is awful”.  And holy shit, they were great, a solid B at least.  So here we are again this year with a similar situation, only THIS time I am not so jaded and bitter. Not here at least. I love Biscoff cookies and though I think this is going to be a sweet sugar high, I am absolutely looking forward to punishing my sweet tooth with this one.  And they fucking coated the bucket rim like it is some giant cocktail?  Are…are you going to lick the rim?  I’m doing it. I’m gonna do it.

Anne

Ok so remember last year when we (and I quote) said:

“I don’t know- I looked at this and was already annoyed”- Sarah. “This just sounds kind of dumb”- Packie. “Calling it- this is going to fail and be a D”- Anne, about fancy mini donuts and then promptly ate our words (and all those dang mini donuts) because the birthday cake donuts were the bomb?

Well once again I'm like I don't need fancy mini donuts. Crap I barely need mini donuts at all, and Peachey’s is right around the corner with the best regular donuts.

Anyway. 

Ooooh Biscoff- those cookies are so damn good omg hahahahahahahah they rimmed the bucket!!! Pinkies up everyone, this is some fancy shit. Are we… are we supposed to lick the rim of the bucket? Or like take a donut out of the bucket with our mouth? What is the intention here except for a goddamn mess?

I’m sure these will be fine.

Cotton Candy Iced Tea by Loon Lake Iced Tea

Brewed butterfly pea flower tea sweetened with natural flavor and cane sugar. Garnished with a swirl of edible glitter and a rock candy swizzle stick to stir for a color-changing effect. (Gluten-Free, Caffeine-Free, Vegan) (New Vendor)

Sarah

Oooh what do we have here?? I LOVE a sweetened iced tea! Oh this is pea flower tea. So, is it actually tea then? Or just pea flower blossoms? Sometimes pea flowers make my tummy hurt so now I’m a little worried. 

Okay so it’s sweetened with sugar, and then edible glitter is added to make it pretty.

What about this is cotton candy?

Cotton candy isn’t glittery. Nor does it change color. Are they just using the name cotton candy to make it sound more fun? That’s dumb.

I am happy about the rock candy stick, though. Why didn’t they just name this like Glitter Crystal Iced Tea? Truth in advertising and all that.

Loon Lake Iced Tea? Wait, is this a new place? Or has there always been an iced tea vendor at the fair that I never knew about?

I have so many questions.

But, as drinks go, I’m tentatively excited about this. I’m sure Packie is a bit bummed, though. He does not like the tea (though if there’s no actual tea and it’s really an iced tisane, he’ll be much happier.)

Packie

Ooh, new vendor baby.  I’m always pro new food items being drinks, because honestly it gives us a bit of a break and saves some stomach space.  When it comes to iced tea drinks, I kind of straddle the fence. Not a big fan of just regular iced tea, but I have enjoyed some that are combined with other flavors. This particular concoction looks fun and sweet, and I love that you get a rock candy swizzle stir stick with it. Pretty excited to give this one a try.

Anne

WOAH WOAH WOAH. I LOVE BOTH OF THESE THINGS.

Also- who is Loon Lake Iced Tea? Is this a new vendor?? It better be because if there’s been an Iced Tea vendor at the fair that I didn’t know about well what the actual fuck.

Ok wait

…where is the cotton candy in this?

What kind of false advertising is this shit?? Pea flower, cane sugar, rock candy, edible glitter. NONE OF THIS IS COTTON CANDY

Yes they are all sugar and that’s all that cotton candy is, BUT IT’S NOT THE SAME.

I am both disappointed and still wanting to drink this.

Crab Boil Wings by Soul Bowl

Chicken wings marinated in hot sauce, grilled and then fried with corn, chicken apple sausage and potatoes. Tossed in a "crab boil" butter and finished with a lemon wedge and parsley. (Gluten-Free)

Sarah

Whoa whoa whoa. What we got going on here?

I love me some wings. And I’m a fan of a crab boil. But crab boils, by nature, are wet. And that’s not how I like my wings.

Okay let me take a closer look here and see what’s what.

God fucking dammit. The wings are marinated in hot sauce. Fuck my life. 

I DON’T WANT HOT SAUCE! Why can’t we just have good wings that have good flavors other than “spicy.” Also they’re cooked twice? Fried and then grilled? That’s…weird.

I mean, I’m not knocking it. Maybe it’s a genius idea, IDK. But I’ve never eaten anything that was fried and then grilled on top of that.

Okay so after all of that, too, then it’s tossed in melted butter. So it is “wet” wings.

Wtf. It doesn’t look like there’s any sort of breading or anything so at least they won’t get soggy but now with the double cooking I’m actually starting to worry they’ll be super dry and that’s why they’re adding the butter.

Like, here’s the other thing, too. I don’t need all that other stuff. I know you’re trying to make this a crab boil or whatever, but I don’t buy wings so then I can also eat corn on the cob and chicken apple sausage (the WORST sausage, not counting chorizo.) I’m not coming to your stand, Soul Bowl, in order to eat an entire meal, okay?

Ugh, Soul Bowl. Two years ago they had a thing that people apparently loved. But when we got it on the first day it was objectively terrible. It had clearly been sitting under a heat lamp for like an hour, and was old and gross. So now I don’t trust them, even though I want them to succeed. 

I suspect that at best this will just be fine. Though I don’t necessarily think it’ll be terrible either. Just blah.

What a bummer because these were one of the pictures I saw in my quick glance through I was pretty excited to learn more about.

Packie

Hmm, this is a peculiar one.  Soul Bowl has an odd track record for us (see the soulsicle their first year in 2022), but I’m willing to let that go as this is only their third year.  My first thought on this was “no way I want to eat boiled wings”, but then I learned that the only part of this that is a ‘crab boil’ is the butter they toss it in?  Mmkay… Ok, to be fair it has all the components of a crab boil (save for the crab, I guess), and wings marinated in hot sauce, grilled, and then fried sounds like it could be pretty tasty. I worry this could end up being a bit bland, but maybe I just need to hit up some better crab boils to reassess my opinion.  Hoping Soul Bowl can win us back with this one, but I know what rooting for them has gotten me in the past.

Anne

“Oh shit” is the words that came out of my mouth when I saw this. Looks hella good. But then I saw it was Soul Bowl and I feel like we did not like them last year (last 2 years? Idk I gotta look them up).

Ok I looked them up and they got an A for the Lemonade and a D for their Soulcicle in 2022 and a C for their Miami Mango Pickles last year.

Welp, these wings are marinated in hot sauce so boo. Grilled and THEN fried? Oooh. Crab Boil Butter? I’m listening. Though I bet this is greasy and messy to eat. Also this feels like a lot of food- practically a whole dang meal. I have to try 33 new things Soul Bowl! Calm Down.

Deep-Fried Halloumi Cheese by Holy Land Deli

Halloumi cheese, crafted from a blend of sheep and goat milk, wrapped in a pastry dough and deep-fried. Served with a side of sweet chili sauce. (Vegetarian)

Sarah

I knew right away this was going to be Holy Land. Generally Holy land does good food, but I don’t know. I’m just kind of over the whole “deep fry cheese” thing. Like, are we still trying to live up to the glory of the mozzarella stick? Haven’t we proven by now that nothing holds a candle to it, no matter how many cheeses you try?

I suspect I’ll take a bite of this and think it’s fine and then probably not want to eat anymore because I need to save my space for everything else but especially things I really like.

I also think there’s a decent chance that we could burn our mouths on these and I don’t want that.

I don’t really have much else to say about this, I guess.

TIME TO PRESS BACK

Packie

Ok, Holy Land has a pretty steady track record as a solid C student.  Ok, not great.  The comments are pretty similar across the board, with them falling a little short for some reason or another.  This year they’re offering something similar to a cream cheese wonton, though using a different cheese blend and offering a sweet chili sauce for dipping.  I think it sounds fine, and I predict this will go down about as well as much of their other offerings.  I’m like the parent who has come to expect C’s on the report card, but will get excited if they score a rare B.

Anne

This looks like a sort of cheese wonton? Is that ketchup? Looks like ketchup but that can’t be what it is.

Oh it’s a sweet chili sauce- durr.

This looks perfectly pleasant- I hope it’s tasty. But it doesn’t have a wow factor. NEXT!

Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing by LuLu’s Public House

Ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder. Served with a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig's hot sauce. (Vegetarian)

Sarah

LOLOL what the fuck??

Oh fucking shut up LuLu. I love you so much and this is so fucking amazing. This is EXACTLY the kind of food that should be in the MN State Fair. Texas would NEVER because they don’t have those Midwest vibes. MN is more “north” vibes than Midwest, but we definitely dabble.

Even just looking at this picture and I’m excited to try it. I think it’s the panko breading that does it for me. That’s 100% the right choice here. I’m not gonna dip it in the hot sauce unless someone (Anne and not Packie because sometimes his palate can’t be trusted when it comes to things like this) tell me it’s not too spicy. I’m excited about the hot honey with it, though. Seems like a good counter to the ranch.

I do think this might be a take a bite and think it’s good but not eat the rest of it, but we shall see. I’m really hoping it’s take a bite and then eat the rest really fast so you can snag another one before the other two do (unless there’s enough to have two each) but that’s all going to come down to the texture, I think.

I’m a mouthfeel person. If the mouthfeel is on point, I’m not gonna stop.

But thank you, LuLu, for being awesome as usual. We love you. You’re our favorite.

Packie

HAH!  I just love how my morning started with “I heard one of the new foods was deep-fried ranch”, and I was like “bullshit, you can’t deep-fry a liquid”.  Well, the State Fair responded with “Hold my beer”. I mean oh my god, I heard in the Texas state fair you could get deep fried butter, and here in the great state of Minnesota we were just like “Uh, that’s not what the average fat white person wants.  They throw a gallon of ranch on everything, so this is obviously where we are headed as a society”. If all of that wasn’t rich enough, the fact that this is brought to you by LuLu’s is just telling you to shut your mouth, this will be delicious. Anywhere else, I’d say this was the swan song of some mad scientist who was carted off to an asylum shortly after completing his magnum opus. But effing LuLu’s?  This will be delicious, and may possibly be what destroys America, or finally brings us all together.

Anne

Wellll daaaaaamn gurl. Lulu you crazy. Here is the item that everyone has been talking about. IDK why I didn’t think it would be coming out of Lulu’s but makes perfect sense now that I know.

Ok so also sort of cheese wonton adjacent since it’s a cream cheese filling (but panko breading rather than a wonton wrapper). And a hot honey dip! Iiiinteresting (though the hot sauce is from CRY BABY? Do you know we’re Minnesotan?)

This looks like a bananas concoction that is perfect for MN and our love of ranch. I am excited to try this one

Dill Pickle Tots by Tot Boss

Fried tater tots tossed in dill seasoning with a hint of vinegar flavor- like a dill pickle potato chip. (Vegan)

Sarah

I already think those tots are waaaaay undercooked. 

Wait, it’s Tot Boss. Okay, they know how to cook their tots so now I’m not worried about that.

Okay yeah, this sounds good. Nothing blow your mind clever, but I like me some dill and I like me some tots and I’m sure this will be great. Though I often wish things were dill flavored and not dill pickle flavored. Like, the herb is excellent, people. It can stand on its own.

IDK, there’s nothing more to say about this. Though I guess this will be our first time buying Tot Boss at the fair. This is another vendor that we supported years ago via their food truck before they graduated to the big show.

Packie

I don’t think I’ve ever visited Tot Boss at the fair, solely because I’d eaten at the food truck for years prior to them earning a spot on the fairgrounds. That’s not to say they aren’t great, and they are. Real solid tots with fun varieties that are all pretty slammin’. This new menu item seems pretty simple, but I also think it is a safe bet and is definitely trying to cash in on that last bit of pickle fever from the previous two years. I bet this is perfectly fine and I am sure I’ll like it.

Anne

Heh well welcome to the new food list Tot Boss. Really moving up in the world.

I can’t decide if it’s a good thing you skipped the dill pickle craze of 2023, or if you’re just late to the party.

I like Tot Boss, and we’ve already tried all their offerings (pre-MNSF), so it is exciting to see something new coming out of them. I’m sure this will be damn tasty too. But again- missing that wow or excitement factor. Granted- not sure how creative you can be when you just do one thing really well. But that’s for them to figure out (and then for us to enjoy or lambaste as necessary)

Fried Bee-Nana Pie by Sabino’s Pizza Pies

Handmade pie filled with Minnesota honey, fresh banana and Biscoff cookie butter; battered and deep-fried. (Vegetarian)

Sarah

Ohhh what do we have here now?

Right away I know Packie is gonna cry because while he likes banana flavor, he can’t stand the banana texture. 

Wait. I thought we were doing like banana and peanut butter. Or banana and bacon. But instead this is banana, honey, and Biscoff cookies (again??)

That’s…That’s a lot of sweet. At least with peanut butter you get the saltiness. Same with the bacon. This is just all sugar.

Where is the balance? Why don’t people understand this? This is why, when eating a deep fried candy bar, you go for the Snickers one because it has the salty peanuts to counteract the heavy sweet.

Also, does that crust look like a pancake to anyone else? Is this a stuffed pancake?

Hmm, has there always been a Sabino’s in the coliseum? I have no idea. I have no memory of it, but it seems weird that Sabino’s of all places would be new.

Well, I kinda like going in the coliseum so now we have a reason to.

I suspect we’re gonna need some water after eating this, though.

Packie

Is this a new vendor?  Doesn’t say it is, but then I wouldn’t be surprised if there are several vendors in the Coliseum I’ve never been to.  Oh wait, this is the place that had that dumb charcuterie board last year.  The one with a cracker for a board that was impossible to eat and the most basic bitch of cheese.  That’s the place.  Packie don’t do bananas!  Is this made with pie dough or pizza dough?  Who can say?  If I was a banana loving man, which I am not, this would probably be a good flavor combo with the biscoff cookie butter and some honey.  I do like that they seem to support local businesses with their meats and cheese last year and now their MN honey, but it still has to taste good, honey.  I’m gonna call this one, that it will disappoint even those of us who enjoy partaking in the mush fruit.

Anne

What the whaaaaat? What is this place? A new vendor? I saw pie and assumed Sara’s Tipsy Pies even though this didn’t look like her normal fare. This almost looks like an uncrustable sammich?

Ok honey, banana, and biscoff- sounds tasty (that’s two biscoff offerings this year so far). Sucks to be Packie probably bc he no like nana. I keep staring at that crust- what is going on there? Oh! It’s BATTERED. Hmmmmmm… does that count as a pie then? Like isn’t the hallmark of a pie is that it has pie crust? Battered feels like a pastry maybe instead? I guess I'm not sure- I can't think of any other “pies” that are battered.

Love that it’s a pizza place but instead they offered a “pie”. IS this a new vendor? Or is this a little pizza place in the coliseum that finally got itself on the list? I’ll have to do some research.

(Update here when researched- they are not a new vendor so idk)

(Update again- they were the ones that had that TERRIBLE charcuterie board last year.  It got a D)

Drilled Purple Sticky Rice by Union Hmong Kitchen

Purple sticky rice grilled over an open flame until crunchy, then topped with choice of shredded Hmong beef jerky or pickled mushrooms. Garnished with fresh herbs and finished with Union Hmong Kitchen's Krunchy Chili Aioli. (Gluten-Free, Vegetarian option)

Sarah

OOH! I LOVE purple sticky rice! It’s such a great staple any time you order Hmong food. Which means this is likely from…Yep! Union Hmong Kitchen!

Ugh, they’re so fucking great, and I’m so happy for their awesome success. And this sounds fantastic.

First off, delish purple sticky rice. Honestly, I would have been happy just with that. But now it’s grilled until it’s crunchy?? Ho ho ho! OHH and it’s topped with shredded jerky or mushrooms?? But how are we gonna decide?!

AND an aioli? The king of drizzle sauces?

This is gonna be a winner, I can just tell. I am very excited for this.

Am I the MOST excited for it? Maybe… But we’ll have to see what else is in store for us.

Packie

Oh dang, they are back! UHK had one of our favorite new foods of the year in 2023, and has been a pretty solid new addition to the International Bazaar. I know Sarah lurves her purple sticky rice, but what will she say when we grill it over hot fire for a crunchy brick with some added flavors thrown on top. Damn, how do I choose between beef jerky or pickled mushrooms?! Is the Krunchy Chili Aioli like a chili crisp made into an aioli drizzle?  Who can say, but what I can say is I am pretty chipper to give this a try.  Could be really great, so long as that rice block doesn’t get so crunchy that it is hard to eat.

Anne

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH YESSSSSSSSSSS! UHK you continue to knock it out of the park by taking already regular amazing Hmong food and just turning it up a notch to make it fair-worthy. GRILLED RICE ON A STICK? Get out of here

Oh god HMONG BEEF JERKY TOPPING?  I want that more than the pickled mushrooms, ok guys?? OK??!

Get in my mouth

Tune in tomorrow for part 3 where we'll see Anne's reluctant top pic, and Packie's indescribable rage.