State Fair loyalists indulge in latest food creations
In her eight months of pregnancy, Mallory Lytle has been craving one thing — Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
She’s bought and consumed bags upon bags of the spicy snack since she got pregnant, the Wauwatosa resident said. But nothing seemed to calm the flames within her.
That was until Lytle arrived at the Wisconsin State Fair on Friday, when she found a new variation of her guilty pleasure: Flamin’ Hot Corn on the Cob from Slim’s PBR Park.
“Now that I had this,” she said, rubbing her belly lovingly, “I’m satisfied. This hits the spot.”
Flamin’ Hot Corn on the Cob — corn on the cob that is deep-fried, slathered in mayo and then covered with crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — is one of more than 80 additions to the fair’s already-lengthy list of strange and unique foods this year.
Besides Cheetos-dusted corn on the cob, some of the fair’s new foods include Ants On-a-Stick, Ice Cream S’mores Quesadilla, Turducken On-aStick, tsunami nachos and much more.
For many who attend State Fair every year, what’s most exciting is trying new foods —usually those of the on-astick, deep-fried variety — brought to the fair every year.
Some fairgoers are so enthusiastic about investigating all the new foods that they research ahead of time.
Lytle said she was getting her nails done with some family members when someone started reading the list of new fair foods.
While many dishes, such as Ants On-a-Stick, seemed unappealing, they discovered one that seemed up Lytle’s alley.
“It was so perfect,” Lytle said, laughing. “We got here today, mama was hungry and we got in line right away. It was great.”
Whether a food experiment turns out well or doesn’t is part of the fun, said Brian Gilles of Plymouth, grinning ear to ear as he tried his first bite of Alligator Bites from Exotic Meat Grill.
While the dish is not among the list of new foods this year, it was new to Gilles, who attends the fair daily every year because his son shows dairy cattle.
Gilles said the trick is to “graze” — share everything and watch your portions so you can eat and try as much as possible.
But Gilles is usually the only one from his family who is adventurous in his eating. That is, unless he assures them the food is worth the risk.
“I’m the research,” Gilles said, pausing from his attempts to persuade his wife, Haley, to try an Alligator Bite.
“I can’t do it,” she responded, shaking her head. “No.”
Five minutes later, Haley caved, hesitantly taking a bite.
“Oh,” she said, pleasantly surprised while chewing, “this is good!”
While sipping on a cup of mint milk, new to the fair this year, Cindy Rausch said she heads to the fair multiple days each year to have a couple of drinks, enjoy food and have fun.
Part of that fun, she said, is trying whatever is new at the fair — this year, mint milk.
“It kind of tastes like toothpaste when you first try it,” Rausch said, chuckling. “But then you keep drinking it and it kind of tastes like spearmint gum or a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.”
“You’ve gotta try it all, you know?” said Greg Keifer of West Allis, agreeing with Rausch. “Why not?” For more information about this year’s new foods, visit wistatefair.com /fair/Food-Category/new-foods/.