NEW FAIR FOODS
Hot Mess cheeseburgers, fried apple pie on menu
What’s the first thing you think of when we say deep-fried apple pie wonton or beer-battered pretzel-coated cheese curds?
The Wisconsin State Fair, obviously.
Those two fried fantasies are among 101 new foods that will be introduced at the 2015 fair, which runs Aug. 6 through 16 at State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis.
Eighteen of the new offerings follow last year’s bacon-makes-everything-better theory from the simple bacon-flavored cheese corn from Laura’s Gourmet Popcorn to the complex Hot Mess cheeseburger with peanut butter, honey and bacon on a pretzel bun from Tavern at the Park.
Many fair food vendors appear to be subscribing to the more-is-better premise. For instance, Alligator Bites on a Stick aren’t simply alligator meats threaded on a skewer; it’s deep-fried alligator on a stick from the Exotic Meat Grill. Or try the kangaroo burger, served regular or with peanut butter and bacon, from the same stand.
Some State Fair vendors call it like they make it. The Fried Fruit On-a-Stick stand serves deep-fried Olives On-a-Stick, and the Drink a Fruit From a Fruit stand features fruit beverages served in the fruit such as coconut water served in a coconut.
It’s no surprise that more than a few items defy Weight Watchers guidelines, such as the Schweinefleisch Frites — battered pork belly fries with a Franziskaner hefeweissbier sauce. Same for the Root Beer Float Popcorn Cookie, which is a root beer-infused brown sugar cookie coated in root beer float popcorn from the Root Beer Everything & Sprecher Landing.
The fair is safe for your sophisticated eat-with-an-extended-pinky friends, too. This year, they’re serving Parmesan Truffle Tater Tots (with parsley) at Knuckleheads.
Save room for over-the-top desserts such as Pirates Bounty Ice Cream with caramel ice cream, crushed sandwich cookies and M&M’s at the Cedar Crest Ice Cream stand; the Chocolate Covered Banana Milk Shake from Flavorburst Ice Cream; or Deep Fried Pretzel Crusted Brownies on-a-Stick, at Saz’s Ribs.
Not feeling the calories? Under the banner foods-that-mom-might-approve-of is the Cucumber Breeze Smoothie, made with cucumber, mango and pineapple at Caribbean Smoothees. Eat your vegetables at Santa Lucia Mediterranean Grill, which serves a Vegetarian Pita.
All new fair foods are subject to change. See the State Fair website ( wistatefair.com) for a complete list of new foods and vendors selling them.