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: Minne Hot Hot from RC’s BBQ

August 29, 2022
One way to attract adventurous eaters looking for the next new thing at the Minnesota State Fair is to turn up the heat — the higher the Scoville, the more the spice-lovers will flock to your stand. It seems like every year’s new Fair foods list includes a vendor offering something that promises to be spicy, as RC’s BBQ has done with their cleverly named Minne Hot Hot rib tips. Their previous spicy offering, the Hot Hen chicken nachos dish, was a huge hit and one of 2019’s highest scoring reviews; unfortunately, these the Minne Hot Hot falls short of that accomplishment.

Three hunks of bone-in rib tips are laid out upon a single piece of Texas toast, tossed in a Nashville hot sauce more commonly used upon chicken. Three tiny pickle chips were haphazardly tossed atop the ribs, and a small cup of yet another sauce, a tangy “Comeback Sauce,” is provided in the serving boat. These were sufficiently spicy as advertised, though people that crave the hottest of the hot will likely be disappointed — they’re merely “Minnesota spicy.” Cutting down on the heat is the Comeback dipping sauce, which carried an addictive flavor profile and paired quite well with the hot sauce, and was plentiful enough for all bites we took. The rib tips were meaty and tender, coming off the small bone pieces easily and with only a few small pieces of gristle or fat. The other accoutrements, the pickle chips and Texas toast, were wholly unnecessary, only providing some color and staging; the pickle chips added some acidity and texture, but were tiny and too few in number to be truly considered part of the dish. The Texas toast was ordinary and stale, even after soaking up all the hot sauce, and wasn’t worth eating more than a tasting bite of.

The $12 price point was a disappointment after the bargain that the Hot Hen was at $8 when it debuted, though not out of line with other entrée-size portions such as this, especially those centered around this much protein. The amount of sauce and picking the meat off the bone means this one is impossible to walk around with, so you’ll need to locate a table or bench to consume this, followed by a bathroom to wash the sauce from your hands and face. In all, it felt like a step back from previous efforts from RC’s BBQ, but hardly a huge miss — we’ll continue to look for great new offerings from RC’s in years to come.

Ratings (0-5):
- Taste: 3
- Appearance: 2
- Novelty: 1
- Value: 3
Overall Score: 9 out of 20 (Better Luck Next Year)
Review: Cinnamon Sugar and Glazed Donut Holes from Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts

August 29, 2022
The 2021 Minnesota State Fair was an auspicious year for any new vendor to debut, with the pandemic still front-of-mind and causing staffing shortages and supply chain issues, plus uncertainty about Fair attendance making it more difficult than usual to know how much product to prepare. Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts introduced their gigantic trailer location last year, centered in the former Adventure Park area near the Grandstand, serving up ornately decorated donuts with a variety of toppings that were most notable for their sheer size, and quickly built a reputation among the limited visitors that attended last year’s Fair.

Fluffy’s is back for their sophomore season, and after successfully navigating their first year they’ve added on donut holes that back-up their notoriety for offering oversized baked goods to the masses. These tennis ball-sized spheres of dough are served eight to a bag, with your choice of either Cinnamon Sugar or Glazed, or a mix of four of each variety. The resulting sack of donuts is much bigger than the bag of mini donuts available just a block away, and you’re going to want some help eating these or else you risk being laid out on a bench within the hour with an upset stomach. We enjoyed the donut much more than the full-size product we received last year which was stale and too sugary; these donut holes were bakery-fresh soft and did avoid being overly greasy, though they still were heavy and dense. The cinnamon sugar style stole the show, with a pleasant blend of the two perfectly coating every square inch of the product. The same cannot be said for the glazed donut holes, which were nearly completely devoid of any sugary glaze whatsoever, arriving to us disappointingly plain.

The sack of eight donut holes sets you back $10, which is high compared to mini donuts and other similar treats around the Fairgrounds, but these are clearly intended to be shared — we wound up passing along half our bag to friends we came across throughout the morning as we walked the Fairgrounds. If you come as a group — think a family of four getting a couple each, or a larger group of friends all having one — the $10 price point doesn’t seem nearly as outrageous for something that will easily feed that many people and satisfy their hunger for some time. If only the glazed version had actual glaze, these would be an easier recommendation, and if you do opt to give them a try we’d suggest getting all cinnamon sugar.

Ratings (0-5):
- Taste: 2
- Appearance: 4
- Novelty: 1
- Value: 4
Overall Score: 11 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)
Daily Schedule Highlights – Monday, August 29th, 2022

August 28, 2022
The first weekend of the Fair has concluded, and the Great Minnesota Get-Together is in full swing! Weekdays at the Fair typically see smaller crowds but not lower excitement, as the Fair does a great job of making sure all 12 days are packed full of things to do. Day Five is Seniors Day and Mental Health Awareness Day at the Fair, with a variety of special events and special deals available to Fairgoers, including discounted admission for those age 65+.

Below is a selection of what we think is most worthy of checking out on Day Five; for a full daily schedule, visit the Minnesota State Fair official site at http://www.mnstatefair.org:
- 9:00am-1:00pm: Stock Dog Sheepherding Trials (Coliseum) — the exciting and varied action in the Coliseum continues with a unique event that tasks dogs with guiding sheep through an obstacle course, with competition in three different divisions.
- 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo (International Bazaar) — “Based in Minneapolis, Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo plays a wide variety of music from polkas, waltzes and schottisches to country and Cajun.” Listen: “Fiddlers Polka”
- 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, 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: Dawson Hollow (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Based in the Ozark Mountains, American indie-folk rock band Dawson Hollow transforms influences from its Missouri folk and bluegrass roots into its unique sound by infusing it with the raw, visceral heart and soul of rock ‘n’ roll.” Listen: “Lonesome Wolf”
- 1:30pm: 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.
- 3:15pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm: Chico Chavez Orchestra – The Kings of Cumbia (International Bazaar) — “Twin Cities-based 12-piece orchestra Chico Chavez Orchestra – The Kings of Cumbia plays tropical Afro-Indigenous beats from throughout Latin America.” Listen: “Sol & Luna”
- 3:30pm and 4:45pm: Six Appeal (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Award-winning vocal band Six Appeal combines musical prowess and sharp comedic timing with the energy and vitality of a rock band. This world-class ensemble’s adventurous song selection – spanning classic oldies, current chart-toppers and catchy original tunes – is guaranteed to captivate and entertain audiences of all ages.” Listen: “The One That Got Away”
- 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: Jake La Botz (Schilling Amphitheater) — “American blues singer and songwriter Jake La Botz writes beautifully crafted songs blending authentic blues, rock, country and gospel.” Listen: “Let It Fall”
- 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: The Beach Boys and The Temptations with special guest Tower of Power (Grandstand, $37+) — The sounds of the ’60s will be emanating from the Grandstand as these two classic bands team up to headline the Fair’s biggest stage. Listen: The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”
- 8:00pm: Annie Mack (Schilling Amphitheater) — A spirited songwriter that blends genres seamlessly between soul, blues, country, and gospel, the Rochester, MN-based Annie Mack will captivate the audience with her warm and powerful sound. Listen: “Closer”
- 8:00pm: Gypsy (International Bazaar) — “American progressive rock band Gypsy performs complex musical arrangements with beautifully executed vocals and spiritual lyrics.” Listen: “Dead and Gone”
- 8:30pm: Dire Straits Legacy (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Members of the legendary group Dire Straits will be performing the band’s classic guitar-focused hits in a performance that should have the always-packed house at the Bandshell stage singing and dancing along. Listen: “Sultans of Swing”
All quoted entries courtesy official Minnesota State Fair daily schedule.
Review: Key Lime Crumble Malt from Dairy Goodness

August 28, 2022
Most Minnesota State Fair vendors simply decide what gets added to their menu each year, but Dairy Goodness, operated by the Midwest Dairy Association, uniquely puts three new malt and sundae flavors up to a vote each spring to determine what one new option gets added to their roster for that year’s upcoming Fair. This year’s leading vote-getter is the Key Lime Crumble, providing vanilla ice cream with lime syrup and graham cracker bits sprinkled on top.

While the vanilla ice cream served in our malt was as delicious as ever (we challenge anyone to find a smoother and richer malt than what’s provided inside the Dairy Building), we were unable to find any traces of the lime syrup — it may simply have not been included in our cup while being prepared by the overworked staff behind the serving stand. What was plentiful was the graham cracker crumble, adding texture and some fun to the top of this dessert treat. There is some awkwardness in the best way to consume this item, as the straw burrowed deep into the malt and wasn’t thick enough to receive any of the graham cracker but was the best way to take a taste while staying mobile; the provided spoon allowed for a more complete bite, but was slower and messier.

All the myriad of flavors of malts and sundaes at Dairy Goodness have received a price bump up to $8 each, and while we adore their ice cream, without the promised key lime syrup it certainly wasn’t worth it. Chalk it up to some of the issues with what’s promised versus what’s actually served at the Fair, and your experience might vary, but we’ve been disappointed by the last handful of vote winners in recent years as well. We still love the novelty of getting to have some say in what comes to the Fairgrounds — we just hope future years bring us a winner worthy of plaudit. In the meantime, we recommend the Key Lime Pie Bar near the Food Building if you want a citrus fix instead, and the Kiwanis Malts stand on Machinery Hill has always served an apt ice cream competitor albeit without as many flavor choices.

Ratings (0-5):
- Taste: 1
- Appearance: 2
- Novelty: 1
- Value: 0
Overall Score: 4 out of 20 (Fried-Out Flop)
Review: Pickle Pizza from Rick’s Pizza

August 28, 2022
It’s been said that even the worst pizza is still pretty good — it’s pizza, it’s hard to screw it up. While pizza has been available previously at the Minnesota State Fair, it isn’t necessarily plentiful; the dietary staple is lost among a cavalcade of other, showier choices on the Fairgrounds. Perhaps that will change with the addition of new vendor Rick’s Pizza, located across from the Education Building along Cosgrove Street, a mobile trailer with large front-facing windows showcasing vibrant pies sliced into gigantic triangles evocative of New York-style foldable slices.

In addition to the pizza classics (cheese, pepperoni, and sausage — not exactly reinventing the wheel with these three), the slice that’s getting people talking is the Pickle Pizza. Exactly as it sounds, this is a dill ranch sauce pie that is dotted with pickle slices and sprinkled with dill weed seasoning. Your opinion on this pizza will hinge on just how much you enjoy pickles, the controversial veggie that everyone has an opinion on, but perhaps more importantly you must be a dill fan to get enjoyment out of this food item. Dill is in abundance at every turn here, in the sauce, the pickles, and the seasoning — it’s to the point that it’s slightly surprising they didn’t opt for a dill-infused cheese and go all out. Personally, as a big fan of the herb, we were overjoyed by its constant presence in every bite. We were also pleased with the pickle slices, not skimpy by any means and providing a satisfying crunch; they made for a good substitute for pepperonis. Not to be overlooked, the dough all these pizza toppings sit atop was exemplary, relentingly soft but also strong enough to hold up the weight of the hefty pickle slices, with a good chew and rich color. Obscure Fair Life Hack: if you’re carrying around leftover Baba’s Hummus, the pizza crust makes for a suitable replacement for their tremendous but too few in number pita puffs.

Our biggest complaint: $9 is a lot to ask for a single slice of pizza, even though it was sizeable enough to be filling for quite a while. Even at the Fair, where eye-popping price points are common, this may be enough of a deterrent to keep us from coming back regularly. However, price be damned, there perhaps is no more buzzed about new food on the Fairgrounds judging by just how many people we’ve heard talking about it — walking around with our slice, we heard several people remark to their crews about it and asking where to find it. We think Rick’s Pizza has a hit on their hands that has the potential to become a true Fair classic.

Ratings (0-5):
- Taste: 5
- Appearance: 5
- Novelty: 4
- Value: 2
Overall Score: 16 out of 20 (Blue Ribbon Best)