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!

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.

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!