Fairly Unbalanced

Minnesota State Fair food reviews, news and more

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I am a lifelong Minnesota State Fair enthusiast from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’ve attended over 30 years of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, trying nearly every food on offer and wearing down numerous pairs of shoes. I draw on my years of Fair experience to guide you through the hits and misses of my favorite event of the year.
  • Review: Sweet Potato Poutine from The Blue Barn

    Review: Sweet Potato Poutine from The Blue Barn

    The Blue Barn has far exceeded most other vendors in 2022 by offering up not one, not two, but three new entrees on their menu. We’ve reviewed the other two already, the enjoyable Breakfast Gnocchi and the bizarre Sweet-Corn Elote, and now it’s time to tackle the Sweet Potato Poutine, their most substantial (and most expensive) new dish.

    Large, waffle-cut sweet potato fries are loaded up with cheese curds, meatless Beyond chorizo sausage, turmeric gravy, and pico de gallo, all served in a dense paper boat that at times felt not thick enough to withstand all the ingredients. At the core, we thought the sweet potato fries made for a nice vessel for the myriad of ingredients but were outdone by those ingredients as well — the fries could have used more both more sweetness and more salt to stand out, some of the blandest sweet potato fries we’ve been served anywhere. The fries most buried under the turmeric gravy became too soggy to our liking as well. As for that gravy, it was loaded on with a heaping helping, but we enjoyed it for the strong turmeric flavor despite it’s less than appealing appearance — a mustard yellow glob unceremoniously dumped on top of everything. The cheese curds were rare, perhaps because they seemed to have melted down entirely, though we did find one intact late into the dish. Our biggest surprise was with the Beyond chorizo, which we would not have believed to be meatless if we didn’t know otherwise; it was well-applied throughout the dish and had both the flavor and crumble of real sausage, and served to make this a much more filling and enjoyable experience.

    We thought this to be a very strange meal on the whole, with so many disparate elements and it not really resembling anything we’ve seen before, including its nominal relation to poutine. We’re not sure we’d ever shell out another $13.75 to have this again either, but we were impressed with the portion size for this price. With the individualized waffle fries as its base, these could be easily shared, though not so easily eaten on the go with worries about gravy spilling off and staining your clothes with a color that might resemble an unpleasant spin on the Tilt-A-Whirl. In total, we’re not really certain the direction Blue Barn was heading with all three of their curious new foods, and while we love to see the most outlandish ideas pop-up at the Fair, their food lab may want to pull it back a degree or two.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 3
    • Appearance: 1
    • Novelty: 4
    • Value: 3

    Overall Score: 11 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)

  • Review: Vanilla Dream Nordic Waffle from Nordic Waffles

    Review: Vanilla Dream Nordic Waffle from Nordic Waffles

    Still relatively fresh to the Minnesota State Fair, Nordic Waffles has quickly become one of the Fair’s most talked about vendors with their smart blend of both savory and sweet stuffed waffle choices. While most of their waffle sandwich varieties have received near-universal acclaim, we were somewhat underwhelmed with this year’s new savory option, the puzzling Belly Full Nordic Waffle. When it came time to try their latest sweet offering, we thought it improved upon its fellow 2022 food, but still missed the mark compared to the other sugary waffles we’ve had in years past.

    Its issue might be that it’s just a little too basic, as the warm waffle is dusted with cinnamon and sugar and filled with a Norwegian vanilla custard cream. Whereas other waffles come with a bevy of ingredients including fresh berries, graham crackers, and marshmallows, the vanilla custard was simultaneously executed well but also boring. Rather than the ingredients making the waffle, in this case the waffle outshines the ingredients — Nordic Waffles’ namesake has always been more than a worthy vessel for what they fill them with, and here the cinnamon and sugar dusted on the outside of the waffle make it even better. It reminded us of their Cinna-Sugar Butter waffle, another basic entry though we thought the addition of butter there fondly reminded us of a traditional lefse dish.

    Prices are up at Nordic Waffles as they are at many Fair vendors, and this dessert waffle will set you back $10 — not the worst price, but not the biggest treat either, and with it being devoid of very many ingredients we felt that other waffle choices from their stand are a better value. It’s probably best to pause and eat this one from a bench rather than on the go and risk spill-over from the custard landing on your clothing. We’re hoping next year Nordic Waffles can have a return to form and come up with two new innovative options that impress us more than these did.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 3
    • Appearance: 2
    • Novelty: 2
    • Value: 2

    Overall Score: 9 out of 20 (Better Luck Next Year)

  • Daily Schedule Highlights – Sunday, September 4th, 2022

    Daily Schedule Highlights – Sunday, September 4th, 2022

    Just two days left for the Minnesota State Fair this year! It’s now or never if you haven’t gone yet, and you’re bound to be joined by a couple hundred thousand fellow Minnesotans getting their final fix of the Fair. Make the most of the waning hours of the Fair out there!

    Below is a selection of what we think is most worthy of checking out on Day Eleven; for a full daily schedule, visit the Minnesota State Fair official site at http://www.mnstatefair.org:

    • 9:00am, 1:00pm, and 6:00pm: Minnesota State Fair Horse Show Speed Events (Warner Coliseum) — Dazzling horses and riders will amaze the crowds at the Coliseum while competing in several agility events like barrel racing and pole weaving.
    • 10:00am-1:00pm: The Current Activity: Rock the Cradle Pop Up (MPR Booth) — Children of all ages can get hands-on with musical instruments at this educational and fun event presented by Minnesota Public Radio.
    • 10:30am and 11:45am: Alpensterne (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Alpensterne performs some of Germany’s most-loved folk songs, as well as standards, Latin songs and songs from all of your favorite musical genres. Their authentic German singing and yodeling are true crowd pleasers.” Listen: “Kufsteinlied”
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: BATO BATO! Breck School Marimba (International Bazaar) — “BATO BATO! consists of enthusiastic Breck High School students, nine wooden marimbas of various sizes and a plethora of percussion. Although their style is deeply rooted in traditional Latin rhythms and the Shona music of Zimbabwe, they also love to play ‘marimba-fied’ renditions of their favorite pop, alternative, rock, rap and soul songs.”
    • 11:00am, 2:00pm, and 4:30pm: All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash (The North Woods Stage) — Watch all the fun tricks and athletic feats these various breeds of trained dogs can achieve in this showcase of canines!
    • 12:00pm, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm: Kinda Fonda Wanda (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Kinda Fonda Wanda is a high-octane, rock ‘n’ roll, honky-tonk experience inspired by the queen of rockabilly – Wanda Jackson. Featuring the dynamic vocals of Amanda White, they perform a full repertoire of Wanda Jackson hits, songs by Patsy Cline, Barbara Mandrell and Loretta Lynn, plus original compositions.” Listen: “Aces”
    • 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:30pm, and 7:00pm: Timberworks Lumberjack Show (The North Woods Stage) — Take in all the excitement of this highly-competitive lumberjack competition, including events like the obstacle pole, speed climb, and the wet and wild logroll. Pick your side and cheer your team on to victory!
    • 1:00pm and 2:30pm: B2wins (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Led by charismatic twin brothers from Rio de Janeiro, the band combines a plethora of genres into a live show that is equal parts rock concert, jam session, dance party and house party.” Listen: “House of the Rising Sun (Dub Rock Violin Remix)”
    • 2:00pm: JoJo Green (KARE 11 Barn) — Pop fusion quintet JoJo Green will combine woodwinds, guitars, bass and drums to perform their unique blend of sounds in a livestreamed performance under the KARE 11 Barn. Listen: “Miles Apart”
    • 2:00pm: Minnesota State Fair Parade — The daily parade, with a route that runs from the Dairy Building north past the Leinie Lodge Bandshell and Baldwin Stage to the Eco Experience and then back south, features marching bands from across the state and vibrant floats.
    • 2:30pm: 24th Annual Great Minnesota Moo-Off Contest (Moo Booth) — Contestants in three age divisions perform their best cow impressions in a competition that will be a-MOO-sing.
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm: Native Pride Dancers (International Bazaar) — “Native Pride Dancers is an internationally known high-energy dance troupe featuring an innovative blend of modern and traditional Native American dance styles. The ensemble’s rich cultural heritage is reflected in its movement and authentic regalia.”
    • 3:30pm and 4:45pm: Deke Dickerson (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Singer-songwriter-guitarist Deke Dickerson has established himself as one of America’s musical treasures. He melds top-notch chops with an encyclopedic knowledge of vintage country, rockabilly, surf, blues and garage rock styles, all informed by his trademark sense of humor.” Listen: “Wild Wild Thing”
    • 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: Becky Kapell (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Acclaimed singer-songwriter Becky Kapell teams up with some of the finest musicians in the Twin Cities to perform her original classic country music. Her gritty, no-nonsense songs feature heartbreaking vocals, first-rate guitar, a wistful croon and a wry smile, never shying away from life’s truths.” Listen: “Is Your Love Gone”
    • 7:30pm: Amateur Talent Contest Finals (Grandstand) — Now in it’s 49th year, the Amateur Talent Contest seeks the state’s best performers in three different age divisions. The finals, held inside the Grandstand, are the culmination of the previous ten days of qualifying rounds held nightly at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell. Free to attend, this showcase of singers, musicians, dancers, and a variety of other acts is always inspiring to watch. Be sure to stick around after the champions are crowned for the fireworks show!
    • 7:30pm: The Jayhawks (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Jangly, crisp instrumentation is accompanied by the twangy voice of founding member Gary Louris. Their performances are often stunningly beautiful and should be the perfect way to unwind after an exhausting 12 days of the Fair! Listen: “Blue”
    • 8:00pm: NUNNABOVE (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Twin Cities-based sibling band NUNNABOVE weaves in and out of a wide variety of fresh styles with astonishingly rich musical imagination. Described by some as positive alternative pop, the group delivers on a distinctive sound that leaves the listener wanting to hear more.” Listen: “Connection”
    • 8:00pm: Salsa del Soul (International Bazaar) — “Featuring some of the finest talents in the Twin Cities Latin music scene, this nine-piece orchestra has been making superb dance music in the Midwest for more than a decade. Get ready to move to the hottest Latin dance music – bolero, plena, cha-cha-cha, bachata and, of course, salsa!” Listen: Performance in St. Louis Park, August 2022

    All quoted entries courtesy official Minnesota State Fair daily schedule.

  • Review: Tandoor-Fired Jerk Chicken Mini’zza from West Indies Soul Food

    Review: Tandoor-Fired Jerk Chicken Mini’zza from West Indies Soul Food

    We’re not sure why everyone has decided to take pizza but make it smaller, but that seems to be the trend at this year’s Minnesota State Fair. In addition to Green Mill’s scaled-down version of deep dish pepperoni pizza, West Indies Soul Food is offering up a snack-size jerk chicken pizza that we found to be far more compelling than their competitors to the north.

    A venerable naan crust serves as the base for a heaping helping of jerk chicken, tomato, and green peppers, plus a bubbly cheese that surrounds all the ingredients evenly. We thought the jerk chicken and the sauce it stews in exuded flavor, a brilliant blend of spices that stood out around all the other ingredients and was addictively good. The naan held up well under the weight of all the other ingredients while remaining soft and foldable. Bites that included tomato or peppers added to the experience, but did not fill in a few empty bites that consisted of just cheese and bread, disappointing given just how few bites are available on this diminutive snack.

    We’re not sure this was enough food for $7, more of a quick hit as you pass through to or from other more substantial food experiences on the Fairgrounds. When the same price can get you a full slice of pizza elsewhere (albeit with worse toppings), this can’t score too highly for value. With that said, it far outshines the Mini Deep Dish Pizzas at Green Mill for the same price, and we considered this to be a far more enjoyable experience. Check it out if you’re looking for an explosion of flavor in a short period of time.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 4
    • Appearance: 4
    • Novelty: 3
    • Value: 2

    Overall Score: 13 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)

  • Review: Buzz’n … Hot Honey Chicken Sausage Kebob from Sausage Sister & Me

    Review: Buzz’n … Hot Honey Chicken Sausage Kebob from Sausage Sister & Me

    Sausage Sister & Me has been slinging new variations of sausage products from their long-time Food Building stand with bizarre names that grab your attention, like the Puff Daddy or the Twisted Sister. What should draw Fairgoers in even more than the names is their reputation for serving up unique, high-quality food items with consistency.

    Their latest creation for the 2022 Fair is a chicken sausage and cornmeal biscuit kebob, drizzled by one of today’s most trendy condiments, hot honey. We thought the hot honey made a great pairing with the sausage on offer and especially with the biscuits, taking away from their dry cornmeal and making each fluffy bite a delight. It had the perfect mixture of spicy and sweet, with just a little lingering heat but a flavor that made it worth it. The sausage itself was as good as we’ve come to expect from the booth that specializes in tubular meats, though we’ve had more compelling sausages with some of their other products — the hot honey was doing a lot of the lifting to elevate this meal. The bed of coleslaw that the kebob skewer rests atop of was minimal and contained too much mayonnaise; we tossed it after just a couple bites, certainly not worthy of the rest of the dish.

    To be blunt, most of this kebob consisted of biscuit with only limited sausage, which made the $11 price seem like something of a rip-off. As good as we thought this item was, it was an eat and move on type of snack, and that price point doesn’t reflect its place within the Fair cuisine. If you’re a big fan of hot honey, we think this is the finest found at the Fair (nearby bottled options from the Agriculture-Horticulture Building not withstanding) and make this worth a try, but otherwise it’s probably not worth your time.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 4
    • Appearance: 3
    • Novelty: 3
    • Value: 1

    Overall Score: 11 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)