Fairly Unbalanced

This is a first: a new food item that has a Blue Ribbon Bargain Book coupon for it. Invariably, any vendor that has a new food does not include their hot new promotional item as something that can be had at a discount, but then again, Mike’s Hamburgers has been bucking trends for years now. This stand, near the Giant Slide and across from the Arcade, has always been one of the Fair’s best recommendations for how to do the Fair affordably, offering up $2 hamburgers and $3 french fries that taste better than their budget price suggests. Their price-conscious ways make sense for why they would be the first to provide a coupon for their new food, which at full price tops their menu at $6; if you own a coupon book, you save $2, bringing the price to a much more modest $4 point.

As for the food item itself, these are basically souped-up tater tots, deep-fried hunks of potato and cheese, seasoned with finely diced jalapeno bits. They won’t set the world on fire, or your mouth for that matter, but they were a serviceable snack for our group to share to stave off late-night hunger. The jalapeno element reminded us of a spicy potato chip, especially when combined with the starchiness of the potato itself. Fortunately, these spent just the right amount of time in the fryer to be crispy but not overcooked, leading to a soft interior that yielded a strong potato taste. The cheese is largely missing from most bites we had, which would have helped these have less of a dry mouthfeel and balance out the jalapeno. Some type of included sauce would also go a long way to help these out, even if it were as simple and budget-friendly as a ranch dressing.

There is no appearance to speak of; these look like a number of other deep-fried bites at the Fair, indistinguishable from many of the other items that meet the cooking oils. They do get a plus for being poppable while on the go, and for being eminently shareable. While you get quite a few of these to an order, at the full-price $6, they become a little too bland after your first few pieces to be a truly great value. Coupon book holders may want to consider these though, as the 33% savings is one of the better deals made available.

Ratings (0-5):

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

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

Blue Moon has been serving up some wild ideas over the years from their spacious location in the shadow of the Grandstand. Cookie dough platters, Monkey Bread, sweet corn ice cream and more have left their kitchen, each to varying degrees of success. At last, they have a bona fide hit on their hands, one that should never leave their menu board. They have offered pizzas for years, originating from their wood-fired oven, but never have they made one this unique or this delicious.

Everything here is fresh, vibrant and flavorful, a delight to eat from beginning to end. The best of all is the minced beef, slightly on the spicy side but not obscenely so, with a heavy cumin flavor. To balance out the heat, the pizza is loaded with veggies, all of which are remarkably crisp and delightful. Onion, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, parsley and cilantro all join forces to lift this pizza up into something even a health food enthusiast could get behind. Even the flatbread this pizza is served on is a joy to have, thin enough to not be bulky, but strong enough to support some hefty slices with all the toppings piled on it. Indeed, not a single ingredient feels out of place or detracts from the others; for a taste rating, this is the most surefire perfect score we’ve experienced in quite some time.

Luckily, taste is not the only place this pizza excels. $9 is all they ask for this wonderful dish, an incredible value given it is one of the larger items we’ve received at the Fair this year. The pizza is large enough to completely fill a large dinner plate, and is easily split with two people — if you’re willing to share it. With so many veggies and a warm amber hue to the beef, it’s almost too pleasant-looking to dig into. The loosely applied nature of the ingredients did mean it was a little messy to eat, especially if taken as a traditional pizza slice; when approached with a fork, it becomes easier to eat almost as if it were a salad, but either way this is probably a case where you want to find a place to sit down and really enjoy it. We really cannot recommend this higher, make absolutely sure you stop and get one of this year’s best new foods!

Ratings (0-5):

• Taste: 5
• Appearance: 4
• Novelty: 3
• Value: 5

Overall Score: 17 out of 20 (Blue Ribbon Best)

This just tastes like a State Fair beer should. Equal parts novel and drinkable, the brewers at Bad Weather have concocted a brilliant Fair beverage that sips easily as you stroll the grounds. Though it appears on the darker side, this ale should appeal to those who appreciate lighter beers, with mild caramel and vanilla tastes. The beer’s description also mentions notes of lightly toasted bread, but we struggled to find this component involved. Perhaps that is because the cinnamon sugar rim that Mancini’s places on the cup overpowers much of anything else; while this adds a great deal of novelty and helps sell the concept of a fun Fair beer, it may not have been doing the actual liquid inside the cup any favors, as some sips were dominated by a strong cinnamon taste. We think this beer would have stood up as a fine beverage on its own, without trying to draw a connection to funnel cakes, but it does make it stand out among the dozens of new beer offerings at this year’s Fair. $5.25 nets you a small, $8.75 for a tall, and our one regret with this beer was not opting for the bigger glass.

Ratings (0-5):

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

Overall Score: 13 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)