Rachel tried Alligator-on-a-Stick, a classic at the Minnesota State Fair, last year.  She didn’t like it, but I commend her for trying!

doniree

Doniree Walker is the Nomadic Foodie. She loves the exploration and community of food, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves the region's focus on local and seasonal food, daily farmers' markets and food carts at seemingly every turn. She's on twitter as @doniree and @nomadicfoodie, and blogs her adventures and life in general at doniree.com.

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My favorite part of the Minnesota State Fair (second to the ridiculous people watching) isn’t the cheese curds (blasphemy, I know!), isn’t the tractors, and isn’t the Leinie Lodge Bandshell.  My favorite part of the State Fair is the International Bazaar – jewelry, clothes, and food from all over the world?  LOVE.

Last year, I tried this Greek staple – the dolma – for the first time.  This particular dolma that I’m noshing on is veggies and such wrapped in a grape leaf, and I grab one just for fun now every time I hit up the salad bar at Whole Foods.

Goofy facial expression, brought to you by my own excitement because I absolutely adore and look forward annually to the Great Minnesota Get Together.

doniree

Doniree Walker is the Nomadic Foodie. She loves the exploration and community of food, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves the region's focus on local and seasonal food, daily farmers' markets and food carts at seemingly every turn. She's on twitter as @doniree and @nomadicfoodie, and blogs her adventures and life in general at doniree.com.

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I know, I know.

EVERYBODY’S doing it.

You can’t be a TWINCY blogger, resident, passer-through, man, woman, or pet rock without having been exposed to  somebody’s own personal recap of their Great Minnesota Get Together experience.

For those of you unfamiliar and/or not from this great state, this event is also more formally known as the one and only Minnesota State Fair.

Ten days of deep fried EVERYTHING-on-a-stick, I believe Minnesota boasts the second-largest state fair in the country, just behind Texas.

I did my duty as a good Minnesotan and made my appearance on State Fair Day 2, Friday, August 28.

My counterparts?

Minnesota born-and-raised, long time state fair veteran and my oldest friend, Steve (pictured above, nomming some gator).

Alissa, a Florida native marking her second ever year at the State Fair.  Last year was her first, being the year she moved here and all.

And virgin fair-goer, my blog-friend-turned-lovely-girlfriend Rachel.  Rachel hails from South Jersey and until a week or two ago HAD NEVER HEARD OF CHEESE CURDS (pictured – reluctantly – eating gator above).

Don’t worry, we fixed that whole cheese curds thing.

I’m pictured above too, but I’m the one happily eating her grape-leaves-on-a-stick from The Holy Land in the International Bazaar (one of my personal favorite parts of the fair!), leaving the gator sausage (ew?  but yes, of course I tried it) to the others.

Anyway, we went on Friday during the late afternoon and into the evening hours and managed to try and share the following:

We ate:

• beer
• corn fritters
• CHEESE CURDS
• grape leaves on a stick
• baklava
• deep-fried alligator on a stick
• DEEP-FRIED CANDY BARS (specifically the Reese’s PB Cups and the Oreos)
• Wine flight from local Minnesota vineyards
• Australian battered  potatoes
• Sweet Martha’s Cookies

What we missed that I wanted:

• Deep-fried Belgian waffle
• Summit on a Stick
• Corn on the Cob (a food fest STAPLE in the midwest)

The verdicts?

Cheese curds are a must, and get the ones in the food building (according to Steve).  If the line is any indication, he’s absolutely right on (but they’re a well-oiled machine and it moves quickly).

Trying different fruit wines from all over Minnesota was fun; I tried a Rhubarb wine that was unique and fruity.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups deep fried in some beignet-type batter and sprinkled with powdered sugar is pretty much the orgasmic fried dessert I have EVER had.

Also?  The crowds on Friday night seemed a little thinner than going during the day, and the lines were relatively manageable (Sweet Martha’s cookies being the longest, as per usual).

Until next year, my fairgoing friends!

doniree

Doniree Walker is the Nomadic Foodie. She loves the exploration and community of food, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves the region's focus on local and seasonal food, daily farmers' markets and food carts at seemingly every turn. She's on twitter as @doniree and @nomadicfoodie, and blogs her adventures and life in general at doniree.com.

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