We ranked all the new NC State Fair foods, from the best to the, um, interesting
In fairness to fair food, we made you this way.
The culinary spectacle that is the North Carolina State Fair is sure to fulfill even the wildest deep-fried fantasies. Fatty and fried, salty and crisp, not to mention stuffed, all can be found in the corridors of vendors at the fair.
On Monday, fair organizers held the annual media tasting of new fair foods. For the News & Observer to assess this very specific category of eating, foods have been ranked on taste, texture and how they rate on the “Fair-ometer,” a just-now made-up metric that measures Fair-ocity, or the creative spirit of fair food.
Before we dive into the list, this year’s most adventurous creation, the Red Velvet Cheese Enchilada Funnel Cake was a disappointing no-show.
Here’s our rankings from Best to “No, thanks.”
1. The Chickenator by Chef’s D’Lites
Where to find it: Located on the north side of the waterfall, near the Sam Rand Grandstand.
Doughnuts as a bun? How quaint, says The Chickenator, a fried chicken sandwich, topped with pepper jack cheese, a spicy sauce and bacon, lovingly yet firmly caressed by two cinnamon rolls. In the sweet and savory dance of this sandwich, the heat of the pepper jack cheese is the note that keeps it from swinging too far one way or the other.
2. Roasted Pumpkin Spice Corn by Douglas Farms
Where to find it: Located on the north side of the waterfall, near the Sam Rand Grandstand, right next to The Chickenator.
This one’s for the pumpkin spice haters out there. Somehow corn on the cob, on a stick, rolled in sweet butter and sprinkled with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spices is not an abomination. One nameless reporter was compelled to dance.
3. Pineapple Dole Whip by Tropical Delights
Where to find it: Located right next to the Waterfall Music Stage.
This sweet phenomenon has finally made it to the fair and delivers a brightness that cuts through everything else like a ray of sunshine through a deep fried fog. This dessert was the winner of the Media Preview event.
4. Campfire on a Stick by Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken
Where to find it: Located on the north side of Kiddieland, heading toward Gate 11.
All the satisfaction of a S’mores, but your clothes won’t smell like smoke. This stack of mini pancakes and soft marshmallow is drizzled with chocolate sauce and graham cracker crumbs.
5. Pimento Cheese Crab Balls by Waypoint Oyster Bar
Where to find it: Located between the Expo Center and the Waterfall Music Stage.
Generous on the crab and oozing with full-on molten pimento cheese, these crab balls reach the very pinnacle of the fried arts.
6. Stuffed Cubano Baguette by La Farm Bakery
Since this comes from La Farm Bakery, maybe there should be a separate category for fancy fair food. But fancy or not, La Farm embraced the spirit of the fair and stuffed a solid Cuban sandwich inside a perfect baguette.
7. Loaded Lamb Nachos by Neomonde
Where to find it: Located near the tram ticket booth, near Kiddieland.
Using sturdy pita chips, this refreshing take on nachos won’t make you miss the guacamole.
8 Crack-n-Cheese Stuffed Turkey Leg by Hickory Tree BBQ
Where to find it: Located just outside the west end of the Education Building.
Smoked turkey legs are a dime a dozen at the State Fair, but one happens to be stuffed with mac and cheese, barbecue sauce and turkey cracklings. Think of this turkey leg as a bread bowl.
9. Korean BBQ Pork Belly Eggroll by Woody’s Wing Wagon
Where to find it: Located by the entrance to the Sam Rand Grandstand.
Tangy and sweet, this eggroll triumphs where other creative eggrolls have fallen short. (Looking at you Thanksgiving Dinner and Shrimp and Grits).
10. Candied Apple Hushpuppy by Ragin Cajun/Pumpkin Spice Hushpuppy by Old North State Kitchen
Where to find it: Ragin Cajun is by the grandstand for the demolition derby, Old North State Kitchen is by Gate 1.
Glazed with a Cheerwine or pumpkin spice icing, these hard fried fritters are light and sweet without being cloying.
11. Choco Choco Cafe ice cream by NC State’s Howling Cow
Where to find it: Located by the entrance to The Marketplace and the grandstand for the demolition derby.
Howling Cow makes some of the most beloved ice cream in Raleigh, all from milk from NC State cows. This year at the front of those long lines, look for Choco Choco Cafe, a coffee ice cream, with bits of chocolate, a stream of caramel and coconut.
.JPG "RAL_STATEFAIRFOOD23-FE-101419-JEL (1).JPG")
12. Garlic Cheese Curds by The Cheese Curd Shack
Where to find it: Located next to Circle C Racing Pigs, near Gate 9.
Deep fried balls of cheese aren’t any kind of breakthrough, but do you know what’s great? Deep fried balls of cheese.
13. Jerk Chicken Rice Bowl by Cool Runnings Jamaican
Where to find it: Located near the Waterfall Music Stage.
From last year’s media day winner, a rice bowl of warmly flavored jerk chicken with mango salsa.
14. Sloppy Mac Tater Skins by Chester’s Gator’s & Taters
Where to find it: Located by the Orville Terminus of the State Fair Flyer.
For something with the word “Sloppy” in the name, these are surprisingly well structured. The Fair-ometer appreciates anything that uses mac and cheese as a condiment.
15. Party Under the Sea by Party in a Pita
Where to find it: Located near the ticket office for the Sam Rand Grandstand.
This flavorful fried flounder on pita bread is a refreshing addition to the fair’s seafood offerings. It’s less of a party and more of a night in watching Netflix, but those are still good nights.
16. Deep -Fried Olives by Old Style Foods #1
Where to find it: Located by the guest relations booth, near the tram ticket booth.
Salt and crunch served on a stick, holding hands with their good friend Ranch.
17. Cookie Dough Milkshake by Old Style Foods #2
Where to find it: Located by the tram ticket booth.
Fans of cookie dough will find a familiar favorite. Fair-miliar?
18. Reeses Donut by F&W Concessions
Where to find it: Located by the antique farm machinery, near the Marketplace.
A fine doughnut in the spirit of something you might find at Krispy Kreme. At the fair they can be served with ice cream and hot fudge, which the Fair-ometer likes.
19. The JoCo HoHo by Fat Boys BBQ
Where to find it: Located at the northwest corner of Kiddieland.
This on-a-stick entry will appeal to lovers of the venerable jalapeno popper. The JoCo HoHo is well fried, but bites can be inconsistent, mostly filled with cheese and occasional brisket. But what a name!
20. Baketo Pizza Pie by Baguettaboutit
Where to find it: In the Baguettaboutit food truck parked outside the Graham Building.
For those on the Keto diet, this pizza has a crust made of meat, but the pepperoni is the star.
21. The Sloppy Pig by Bubba’s Bacon
Where to find it: Located in Kiddieland.
Big points on the Fair-ometer here, for stacking buttery Texas Toast and covering it with sloppy Joe meat, queso sauce and a whole lot of bacon. But this is a structural nightmare that brings together three beloved things, but doesn’t improve upon them.
22. Fried Rum Balls by Gobblin’ Gourmet
Where to find it: Located by the Field of Dreams, near Dorton Arena and Gate 1.
A nicely fried doughnut-like pastry gives way to a surprisingly dense filling of coconut, nuts and pastry and a potentially too-subtle flavor of rum.
This story was originally published October 14, 2019 at 7:25 PM with the headline "We ranked all the new NC State Fair foods, from the best to the, um, interesting."
