Cotton candy, corn dogs, and candy apples once ruled the midway at the local fair, but visitors now want food that's exotic—as long as it's on a stick or, more importantly, fried. From health-defying anomalies like fried dough injected with Pepsi to squirm-inducing, chocolate-dipped scorpions, the new sideshow is food.
CREDIT: Photograph of python kabobs by Dan Scott of the Sac Rag.
North Carolina: Kool-Aid Pickles
Raleigh, Oct. 13-23
Also known as Koolickles, pickles soaked in the sugary kids' beverage are a Southern tradition—and a sweet-and-sour snack at North Carolina's annual state fair.
CREDIT: Photograph from deepfriedkudzu.com.
Indiana: Hot Beef Sundae
Indianapolis, Aug. 5-21
When state fairgoers tired of the iconic rib-eye steak sandwich, Indiana's Beef Cattle Association invented the hot beef sundae, layered with mashed potatoes, marinated beef, gravy, cheese, corn "sprinkles," and a cherry (tomato).
CREDIT: Photograph by Tom Coates via Flickr.
Arizona: Mealworm-Covered Caramel Apples
Phoenix, Oct. 14-Nov. 6
Along with deep-fried crickets, the Arizona Exposition and State Fair's Chef du' Jour booth sells caramel apples dipped in mealworms.
CREDIT: Photograph courtesy Chef John of Chef du' Jour.
Florida: Cheeseburger With Fried Ice Cream
Tampa, Feb. 9-20
One Florida state fairgoer rationalized the appeal of a cheeseburger topped with deep-fried ice cream by describing the salty-sweet hybrid as a "milk-shake burger."
CREDIT: Photograph courtesy Dennis and Cheryl Reas.
Texas: Fried Beer
Dallas, Sept. 30-Oct. 23
Even alcohol can be fried when it's pocketed in pretzel dough. The food innovation won the 2010 Big Tex Choice Awards at the Texas State Fair.
CREDIT: Photograph by Amanda SG via Flickr.
Montana: Fried Butter Balls
Great Falls, July 29-Aug. 6
While the Montana State Fair is famous for its Big Sky ProRodeo Roundup, Paula Deen wannabes and other fried-food enthusiasts head for the deep-fried butter balls.
CREDIT: Photograph by Heather Leah Kennedy.
California: Deep-Fried White Castle Burgers
Costa Mesa, July 15-Aug. 14
The Orange County Fair is so dedicated to frying that a vendor called Heart Attack Cafe chose Deep Fried Butter Stand as its new name after being pressured with legal action by Arizona's Heart Attack Grill. Even more stupendous: Chicken Charlie's fried White Castle cheeseburgers (bun and all).
CREDIT: Photograph by JoAnn Maxwell Stougaard.
Kansas: Pickle Pop
Hutchinson, Sept. 9-18
The Kansas State Fair's answer to a freezer pop—filled with briny pickle juice—is a chilling, supersour pairing for the region's famousbarbecue.
CREDIT: Photograph by Harper Reed.
Massachusetts: Fried Jelly Beans
West Springfield, Sept. 16-Oct. 2
The Big E (a nickname for the Massachusetts State Fair) doesn't force a choice between candy and funnel cake. These jelly beans are dipped in batter before being deep-fried.
