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.
  • Daily Schedule Highlights – Friday, September 2nd, 2022

    Daily Schedule Highlights – Friday, September 2nd, 2022

    The Fair enters the holiday weekend with a huge schedule of events going on! Today is MPR Day at the Fair, with lots of performances happening at Dan Patch Park near the Grandstand, but there’s lots going on all over the Fairgrounds too.

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

    • 10:00am: MPR News with Minnesota music trivia and The Family Stone interview (Dan Patch Park) — Play along with Minnesota music trivia and see an interview with tonight’s Leinie Lodge Bandshell headliners, The Family Stone.
    • 10:30am and 11:45am: Thomasina Petrus & The King’s Quartet (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Thomasina Petrus is a jazz singer, theater professional and entrepreneur. She is best known for her signature role of jazz icon Billie Holiday.” Listen: “Strange Fruit”
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band (International Bazaar) — “The Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band plays a variety of musical styles with a tropical flair created by Trinidadian steel drums. The bright, sunny sound is sure to have crowds up on their feet and dancing.”
    • 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-2:45pm: Minnesota Americana-Roots Music Contests (Schilling Amphitheater) — Performers in the old-timey genre of bluegrass and roots music compete on stage for cash prizes and notoriety, providing spectators with an entertaining show of talented musicians.
    • 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: Trivia Mafia (Star Tribune Booth) — Compete with your fellow Fairgoers in pub-style trivia related to stories pulled from the Star Tribune archives to win fabulous prizes.
    • 1:00pm and 2:30pm: Kelly Willis (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “American country music singer-songwriter Kelly Willis creates music with rockabilly roots and vocals that range from sunny clarity to passionate grit. This gifted musician’s songs effortlessly combine the country music elements of storytelling and string instruments with the driving force of rock.” Listen: “Wrapped”
    • 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.
    • 2:00pm: Mostly Trees (KARE 11 Barn) — Minneapolis-based indie rock will fill the KARE 11 Barn for a live-streamed performance. Listen: “22nd and 2”
    • 2:30pm: Miloe (Dan Patch Park) — Part of MPR Day, see buzzworthy local musician Miloe perform his unique indie pop in a special concert from the Dan Patch Park stage. Listen: “elastic”
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm: Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers (International Bazaar) — “Accomplished Nashville musicians Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers play a rollicking mix of piratical sing-alongs, rousing historical rave-ups, Afro-Cuban-tinged ballads and bluesy Irish jigs. The showmanship and rowdy, evocative songs of this wild band of musicians make for a memorable performance.” Listen: “Out of the Blue”
    • 3:30pm: FFA Safe Tractor Operator’s Contest (Compeer Arena) — Watch the action as tractor drivers pull off difficult maneuvers in their rigs and compete to become the best in their business.
    • 3:30pm and 4:45pm: Screaming Orphans (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Rooted in traditional Irish music, Celtic pop rock band Screaming Orphans draws from a diverse set of influences to focus on melody-driven songs with pop and rock strains and to explore new and exciting songwriting and performance concepts.” Listen: “Happy Together”
    • 4:00pm: The Cactus Blossoms (Dan Patch Park) — Part of MPR Day, catch Americana duo The Cactus Blossoms, who have toured nationally, perform live in the shadow of the Grandstand. Listen: “Hey Baby”
    • 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: Corey Medina & Brothers (Schilling Amphitheater) — “This blues-rock power trio seeks to spread light in the dark with raw, soulful, intimate music and stage presence.” Listen: “So Into You”
    • 6:00pm: MSF Amateur Talent Contest (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Watch as contestants in various age divisions compete for the opportunity to advance to the Talent Contest Finals, held Sunday, September 4th in the Grandstand.
    • 7:00pm: Zac Brown Band with special guest Robert Randolph Band (Grandstand, $75+) — Noted for their great live performances, Grammy award-winning country band Zac Brown Band will rock the Grandstand with some of their biggest hits. Legendary pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph is not to be missed as the opener! Listen: Zac Brown Band, “Free/Into The Mystic”
    • 7:45pm: All Tomorrow’s Petty (Giggles’ Campfire Grill) — Loosely comprised of various members of several Twin Cities area bands, this band is dedicated to the music of Tom Petty, while avoiding the pratfalls of being purely a tribute act. Their shows are fun and vibrant, as these talented musicians step out of their comfort zone to tackle this classic material. A fantastic band to check out while having a few beers with friends, which makes them perfect for the Giggles’ Campfire Grill beer garden. Listen: “Breakdown”
    • 8:00pm: First Avenue Goes To The Fair (Schilling Amphitheater) — Now in its third year, the Fair has turned over programming of the Schell’s Stage over to the legendary music venue First Avenue for two separate nights of great Minnesota music, highlighting some of the best in the state. Band leader Al Church presides over appearances by The Alarmists, Colin Bracewell, Meghan Kreidler of Kiss The Tiger, Ness Nite, and Obi Original for night one. Listen:  Kiss The Tiger, “Grown Ass Woman”; The Alarmists, “Car Crashing”
    • 8:00pm: Funktion Junction (International Bazaar) — “Funktion Junction specializes in a mix of Motown, disco, funk, rock, R&B and soul, performing covers from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. This entertaining dance band presents a fun, energetic, family-friendly show that’s sure to get you dancing!” Listen: “Get Ready”
    • 8:30pm: The Family Stone (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “This groundbreaking band reflected and influenced the counterculture of the 1960s and musically laid the foundation for much of the street funk, soul and disco music of the 1970s … [they continue] the musical legacy keeping true to the original sound and raw funk groove as the band tours the world.” Listen: “Thank You”

    All quoted entries courtesy official Minnesota State Fair daily schedule.

  • Review: Concha Bacon Burger from Aldo’s Burgers

    Review: Concha Bacon Burger from Aldo’s Burgers

    It’s not impossible for good food to come from the four vendors located roughly equidistant around the perimeter of the Warner Coliseum, but the hits are far rarer than the misses — only the surprising Deep-Fried Dilly Dog comes to mind as something we’ve enjoyed, while there’s been so many disappointments, including this year’s Deep-Fried Ice Cream from neighboring vendor Snack House. It often seems the more ambitious these vendors are, the more skeptical we become of the concept and its execution, a worry that is more often than not warranted. Thus, we were unsure about the Concha Bacon Burger from the outset, and sadly we learned that we should always trust our instinct.

    Let’s start with the most obvious element to what is otherwise a rather normal burger: the concha sweet bread roll that replaces your standard burger bun. It’s big, it’s bright pink (though we saw some served in blue, we weren’t given an option of color and it’s unclear if they are different in taste), and it makes a huge mess. The sugar crumbles away with even the lightest touch, and given that it’s a burger with loads of toppings, you must grab onto it somewhere. Our hands quickly became a sticky sweet mess, and most of the concha sugar landed in the serving basket rather than remaining on the bun or into our mouth. What we did taste of the concha was underwhelming anyway, all too sweet to be included with a burger, much less a “spicy” burger. We call it spicy loosely, as the pepper jack cheese was ineffective, and the jalapenos were the boring, weak type you commonly find on the cheapest of stadium nachos, adding a little crunch but nothing else of note. The rest was all lettuce, bacon, and burger; the bacon and burger itself were acceptable though nothing that exceeded anything we’ve had elsewhere, serviceable at best. Our burger was also could have used a little more time on the cooktop and was a little more pink than it probably should have been, though perhaps that was just excess concha sugar instead. The promised raspberry aioli was on the top bun’s underside, but in such a small dollop that we never tasted it with all the other disparate elements at play; they either should be going way bigger with it and spreading it evenly across the bun, or omitting it completely.

    $12 is the price you pay for the experience of eating a messy, sub-par burger; truthfully, we’d rather have four plain burgers from Mike’s Hamburgers near the Grandstand for the same price and roughly equal quality. All of the interesting accoutrements either failed in execution or were too untidy to be worth it. Once again we were lured in by a concept too outlandish to avoid emanating from the Coliseum, and once again we regret answering its call.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 1
    • Appearance: 1
    • Novelty: 2
    • Value: 0

    Overall Score: 4 out of 20 (Fried-Out Flop)

  • Review: Deep-Fried Ice Cream from Snack House

    Review: Deep-Fried Ice Cream from Snack House

    To mangle a line from Jurassic Park, the people behind Snack House inside the Warner Coliseum were so preoccupied with whether or not they could deep-fry ice cream, they didn’t stop to think if they should. Yes, perhaps this is where deep-frying everything under the sun and putting it on a stick has finally gone too far, a new low point for the most classic of Fair food genres. Fried-Out Flop is the moniker given to our lowest scoring new foods, a dishonor rarely achieved, but that title has never been quite as literal as it is here.

    The concept was beset quickly by a fundamental flaw in the batter that surrounds the ice cream bar, which had no sweetness whatsoever. Instead, the breading was eerily similar to what you might find surrounding low quality frozen chicken nuggets — off-putting to be sure. This could have maybe been overlooked if the ice cream within was worthwhile, but instead we received an over-frozen yellow artificial vanilla brick, the kind that wouldn’t even entice a child. They tried to dress it up, or perhaps cover up their mistakes, with a raspberry sauce and colorful sprinkles; the raspberry sauce was the only positive here, and the advertised description made mention of blueberry sauce as well which was absent. The total package was ultimately not cohesive at all, and it fell apart entirely about halfway through eating. It seemed as though this ice cream melted quicker than others we’ve had on the Fairgrounds as well, leaving the serving boat with a large puddle of sadness, though perhaps it did us a favor by melting in our boat rather than our mouth.

    $8 is not a horrible price for an ice cream novelty at the Fair, but this is a miss at any price. Fairgoers have no shortage of ice cream options, and virtually all of them are a better choice, and even if you wanted to try this just because it was interesting — trust us, it’s not worthy of your curiosity. Or in other words, to once again borrow from Jurassic Park, “that is one big pile of s**t!”

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 0
    • Appearance: 1
    • Novelty: 2
    • Value: 0

    Overall Score: 3 out of 20 (Fried-Out Flop)

  • Review: BLT Mini Hand Pie from Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop

    Review: BLT Mini Hand Pie from Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop

    Even in a crowded Minnesota State Fair landscape where what’s new gets all the attention and novelty rules the day, it’s important to know when you have a classic on your hands and not to mess with it. There are truly very few elite food items on the Fairgrounds worthy of returning to year after year, and some vendors go decades chasing down such a food and never achieving it. That makes the disappearance of Minnesota Farmers Union’s standout BLT sandwich truly puzzling, after receiving nearly universal acclaim upon its debut in 2018. In its place is its diminutive cousin, the new BLT Mini Hand Pie, perhaps a better fit thematically within their concept of small baked goods, and allowing their new sandwich — the phenomenal Pork Schnitzel Sandwich — to shine as the only meal-sized menu item.

    If they were able to replicate their BLT sandwich but in pie form, we would have been impressed, not to mention pleased with a lower price to enjoy the flavorful experience. Unfortunately, the hand pie misses the mark in all ways. First and foremost, the heirloom tomato and lettuce have all but vanished completely; in sandwich form, the tomato dominated and was among the best we’ve ever eaten on or off the Fairgrounds, but the tomato provided here was reduced down to near nothingness and contributed little to the taste buds. We also found the bacon to be meager in amount, though its smoky flavor took over where the vegetables fell through. The pastry encasing it all was flaky and delicious, as we’ve come to expect from most of the vendor’s bakery items, though it was surprisingly greasy to the touch — we had to make heavy use of napkins after handling each bite.

    At least the price was okay — just $7, making it one of the cheaper food items at this year’s Fair, though certainly not one that will fill you up. We consumed ours in just about four bites, and were ready to quickly move on to try something else. Unfortunately, it didn’t even hint at the sandwich that came before it, it just replaced it with essentially no nod to the past — a strange and sad turn of events. We can only hope that the calls of the masses leads to a return for the sandwich version in future years, otherwise it will simply join the echelon of great Fair foods that have sadly gone away.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 2
    • Appearance: 2
    • Novelty: 3
    • Value: 1

    Overall Score: 8 out of 20 (Better Luck Next Year)

  • Daily Schedule Highlights – Thursday, September 1st, 2022

    Daily Schedule Highlights – Thursday, September 1st, 2022

    One last mid-week day to enjoy traditionally smaller crowds at the Fair, and then it’s on to the home stretch for the big holiday weekend. Thursday is Seniors Day at the Fair, but there are also discounts on Midway and Kidway rides to thrill Fairgoers of all ages.

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

    • 10:30am and 11:45am: Becky Schlegel & The High 48s (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Award-winning bluegrass band The High 48s teams up with Becky Schlegel, combining high-energy modern bluegrass sound with Schlegel’s soulful singing and sophisticated take on songwriting.” Listen: “Laramie”
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: Dalmar Yare (International Bazaar) — “Somali-born, Minnesota-based artist Dalmar Yare describes his music as ‘a blend of traditional Somali styles with a lot of western influences.’ … A collage of Afrobeat rhythms and American indie pop.” Listen: “Bal Soo Orad”
    • 11:00am: Twin Cities Labor Chorus (Labor Pavilion) — An a cappella chorus of laborers will sing traditional labor anthems to help Fairgoers kick off their Labor Day weekend.
    • 11:00am: Rooster Crowing Contest Finals (Sheep & Poultry Barn) — Owners will do everything they can to elicit a crow out of their rooster partner, including dancing, silly faces and more, in what should be a highly entertaining spectacle.
    • 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: Minnesota Opera (MPR Booth) — Come hear a special performance by members of the Minnesota Opera as they perform selections that preview their upcoming season.
    • 12:00pm, 1:00pm, and 2:00pm: Blue Ribbon Baroque (Schilling Amphitheater) — “The Bach Society of Minnesota celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach with the show Blue Ribbon Baroque. Founded in 1932, the Bach Society of Minnesota strives to build a diverse community of music lovers who perform, promote and appreciate the music of J.S. Bach and those he inspired.”
    • 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!
    • 12:20pm: Agrilympics: Celebrity Butter Carving Contest (Moo Booth) — Local celebrities have 20 minutes to turn their block of butter into the most artistic creation they can manage in the latest edition of this annual competition.
    • 1:00pm and 2:30pm: The Jimmys (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “An award-winning festival favorite from Madison, Wis., this seven-piece band combines jump blues, shuffles, boogies, R&B and New Orleans traditional jazz.” Listen: “Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”
    • 1:00pm: Trivia Mafia (Star Tribune Booth) — Compete with your fellow Fairgoers in pub-style trivia related to stories pulled from the Star Tribune archives to win fabulous prizes.
    • 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.
    • 2:00pm: Whispered The Rabbit (KARE 11 Barn) — A unique mix of progressive folk, rock and punk music will fill the barn as this musical performance is webcast live. Listen: Performance at SolSta Records
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm: Irie Sol (International Bazaar) — “Midwest-based world music band Irie Sol blends reggae, rock, funk, jazz and hip-hop to create genre-bending music that bridges cultures. With a musical blend that reflects the diversity of its members, the band delivers authentic Jamaican chat/DJing and soaring, soulful melodies backed by blazing bebop horns, wailing guitar and tight drum and bass.” Listen: Live at Baystock
    • 3:30pm and 4:45pm: We Banjo 3 (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Award-winning Irish quartet We Banjo 3 seamlessly converges the shared and varied traditions of Americana, bluegrass and Celtic music with pop-sensible songcraft to create a truly unique and gratifying signature sound with catchy choruses and pitch-perfect harmonies.” Listen: “Dawn Breaks”
    • 4:00pm: Low Cut Connie (MPR Booth) — See tonight’s Leinie Lodge Bandshell Tonight! headliners be interviewed and perform a few songs live on the air.
    • 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: Wild Goose Chase Cloggers (Schilling Amphitheater) — “The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers bring Appalachian folk dance to life by showcasing traditional clogging steps danced to old-time music. This Sage Award-winning performance group consists of energetic dancers accompanied by the lively music of Chicken Sedan.”
    • 5:00pm: Llama-Alpaca Obstacle Course (Compeer Arena) — Watch the action while handlers lead notoriously stubborn llamas and alpacas through a complicated obstacle course in one of the Fair’s marquee events. Yes, seriously.
    • 6:00pm: MSF Amateur Talent Contest (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Watch as contestants in various age divisions compete for the opportunity to advance to the Talent Contest Finals, held Sunday, September 4th in the Grandstand.
    • 7:00pm: REO Speedwagon and Styx with special guest Levon (Grandstand, $41+) — Classic rock will emanate from the Grandstand stage as these two rock legends roll through town. Listen: REO Speedwagon, “Can’t Fight This Feeling”
    • 8:00pm: Bad Girlfriends (International Bazaar) — “Crowd favorite Bad Girlfriends offers a high-energy mix of classic and current rock, country and pop. Featuring excellent vocalists, beautiful harmonies and a dynamic fiddle player, all members of the band are top-notch seasoned musicians.” Listen: “Don’t Stop Believing”
    • 8:00pm: Turn Turn Turn (Schilling Amphitheater) — Fans of an older, 1960s- and 1970s-influenced sound will appreciate the songs from this local trio headed up by local legend Adam Levy of The Honeydogs fame. Their Americana originals sound like they’ve been plucked from a different era, but still resonate with modern audiences all the same. Listen: “Can’t Go Back”
    • 8:30pm: Low Cut Connie (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Perhaps the biggest act hitting the free stages at this year’s Fair, this powerhouse band from Philadelphia promises to put on one of this year’s most memorable performances. Evocative of classic rock and R&B, their eminently danceable tunes and impassioned vocals will get the crowd moving. Well worthy of a mid-week Fair visit just to catch their live show that previously was part of the huge Rock The Garden festival, and they always seem to have a great appreciation for their Twin Cities fans. Listen: “Dirty Water”

    All quoted entries courtesy official Minnesota State Fair daily schedule.