The Minnesota State Fair, Part 1

It was a beautiful day for the Minnesota State Fair -- clear and sunny, with a projected high of 80 degrees at most. I put on my silly hat and sunscreen, and headed out around 10 a.m.

Food

I had plans to cover more food territory than I could manage, what with only one person to help with the sampling. Next year, I must go to the Fair with at least three other people who want to share food and try lots of things!

Here's what I tried from my list before I got too full:


Not the greatest photo, but the Salmon on a Stick from Giggles Campfire Grill was definitely great. It was named the best food at the Fair by James Norton of heavytable.com, and I'd have to agree.


The Sunnies in a Boat (sunfish), also from Giggles, were a close second, though!




Just outside the Eco-Experience building is the Renewing the Countryside store, which sells a few local fruits as well as these two Minne-sodas, in choke cherry and maple. Both are good (one tart, the other subtly sweet). Wish they came in half the size though! It was too much for just two people.

Then (after taking in the Fine Arts building and the Crop Art, which will appear in a separate post), we made our way to the Bazaar where we shared some Island Noodles and Summit on a Stick. I forgot to take their photos, however, so you will have to take my word for it.


We ended with the krumkake from Ole and Lena's. I thought it was pretty tasty, and less messy than my usual creampuff finale.

Miscellaneous Sightings

It wasn't all food at the Fair, of course.


There was a very informative permaculture display outside the Eco-Experience building, created by the Permaculture Research Institute - Cold Climate: raised beds made with coffee sacks (and coffeegrounds), with edible groundcovers growing thickly to crowd out weeds.


The best scarecrow in the Ag building. Love that hair!


Thanks for sharing.


The Minnesota State Fair is large enough that it needs its own grocery store -- Steichen's, which has been in business since 1933.


A rainbow of antique tractors up at the north end of the Fair.


Where have all the phones gone? Long time passing? Gone to plants, every one. (Seen in the Fine Arts building.)


I find goats very appealing.


I think this was a used car lot, though I'm not sure. But hey, this SUV had five TVs in it! What does it say about our culture that we make vehicles that have five televisions in them?