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.
Another brand new vendor for 2019 is Funky Grits, located along the east wall of the perpetually packed Food Building. Their menu is one of the most basic in the history of the Fair, the ultimate boutique food vendor: the Shrimp & Grits Fritters, a bottle of locally-produced Cry Baby Craig’s Hot Sauce (sold with a carrying lanyard), and soft drinks. That’s it, nothing else beyond the one fresh food item. Whether or not this gets expanded upon in the future remains to be seen in the coming years; for now, we can accurately state we ate our way through their whole menu.
The lone food item in question is unfortunately a disappointment. Good southern cuisine is difficult to come by here in Minnesota, so the announcement of shrimp and grits in any form brought excitement for fans of the southern cooking staple. What fairgoers receive for a $5 price point is three uninspired breaded balls with warm, cheesy grits inside. The grits were thankfully well-prepared, though far from the best I’ve had, even locally (shout out to the fantastic shrimp and grits available at The Smack Shack). Shrimp fans will be severely disappointed, as the minced bits of the crustacean are difficult to find. The accompanying aioli dipping sauce brought some needed heat to these fritters, though some Midwestern palettes will find it to be too much to handle. Altogether, these were only just fine, but will not leave you clamoring to return for seconds, which is concerning for a brand new vendor that only offers one product.
Ratings (0-5):
Taste: 2
Appearance: 1
Novelty: 4
Value: 3
Overall Score: 10 out of 20 (Better Luck Next Year)
Welcome to the Fairly Unbalanced Fair News Round-Up!
This feature will run daily during the Minnesota State Fair and feature the best of news articles, blogs, social media posts and more about the Fair from across the internet. Have an interesting item we missed? Send it to us at fairlyunbalancedmn@gmail.com
What an absolutely perfect opening to the Minnesota State Fair yesterday! Day Two looks to be just as beautiful, just as exciting, and just as packed. Here’s what the web has to say about the Fair today:
The new North End of the Fairgrounds had it’s GRAND OPENING yesterday, unveiling a revamped entrance atop Machinery Hill, a new food vendor, a handful of artisan shops, and the massive North End Events Center, which will host traveling exhibits each year. This year’s attraction is the Angry Birds Experience, an interactive playground for kids centered around the massively popular mobile game.
Each year, the Minnesota State Fair commissions an official COMMEMORATIVE ARTWORK from a local artist to highlight and sell on various merch items. This year’s artist is photographer R.J. Kern, who photographed each of last year’s supreme champion farm animals for a one-of-a-kind lineup.
Have a spare couple hundred bucks lying around, and a whole lot of unused attic space? You can bid on the GIANT RECYCLED PAUL BUNYAN statue that has made the Fair’s Eco Experience his home for the last few years. The 17 foot tall statue is being auctioned off after his final appearance at this year’s Fair.
The Fair brings out the best in food and the best in beer and wine, but how to properly pair the two together? The Star Tribune has some suggestions for GREAT COMBINATIONS to try as you make your way across the Fairgrounds.
Streets.mn explores SEVEN LESSONS we can learn from the State Fair about urbanism and city living. Thinking about the Fair as an allegory for “real life” city planning is something I’ve explored myself, so I was excited to see someone else talking about this concept as well.
KMSP tweeted out a FUN GAME to play: you get a hypothetical $15 to spend on a handful of Fair foods and experiences priced from $1 to $5, how do you spend your $15? Personally, I’d go with a Gizmo sandwich, Mini-Donut Beer, a ride on the Space Tower, corn on the cob, and three Apple Cider Freezes.
After a wild opening to the Minnesota State Fair that saw very large crowds out enjoying perfect Fair weather on Day One, it’s time to shift our focus to Day Two and what’s on tap for the Fair’s first Friday! Friday, August 24th is Governor’s Fire Prevention Day, which frankly is one of the worst theme days of the Fair, but don’t let that detract you from what should be another gorgeous and fun-filled day at the Fair! Below is a selection of what we think is most worthy of checking out on Day Two; for a full daily schedule, visit the Minnesota State Fair official site at http://www.mnstatefair.org:
9:00am-9:00pm: African Violet Society (Agriculture-Horticulture) — the flower shows in two of the exhibition halls inside the Agriculture-Horticulture Building rotate classes of flowers every two days of the Fair. The first two days of the Fair feature one of my favorites, the African Violet. Come see the stunning creations of Minnesotan horticulturalists arranging these flowers in accordance with judging criteria and check out who took home the coveted Blue Ribbons!
10:30am and 11:45am: Dawson Hollow (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Indie-folk music from the Ozark Mountains, played by five siblings that cover their bluegrass roots.
11:00am-12:00pm: Twin Cities PBS Almanac with Hosts Cathy Wurzer and Erik Eskola (MPR Booth) — Almanac is the state’s pre-eminent public affairs program, airing on public television across the state since the mid-1980s. Their annual Fair broadcast may not weigh as heavily on the current events the show is known for covering, but this live taping is a lot of fun to watch, and they’ve been known to hand out prizes to attentive and smart audience members.
11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm: Raptor Displays and Flying Demonstrations (DNR Building Garden Stage) — Make your way to the DNR Garden Stage for Last Chance Forever Conservancy’s raptor show, which they have presented at the Fair for many years running. Owls, falcons and hawks swoop over the crowd and the intelligent conservationists dazzle with facts about these majestic creatures.
11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm: Sarah Morris (West End Market) — Twin Cities singer-songwriter who brings a Nashville sound to Minnesota with her authentic and heart-wrenching songs.
12:00pm and 3:30pm: Mock Car Crash Scene Demonstration (Dan Patch Park) — public safety officials will show off the tools used to save lives in critical car crash situations in what promises to be an educational and suspenseful demonstration.
12:30pm and 5:00pm: Sean Emery (Family Fair Stage) — this one is great for the kids, though usually the biggest laughs come from the adults in the audience. Sean Emery is a State Fair legend, performing his juggling act at the Family Fair Stage for decades. I can personally attest, after watching dozens of performances and doing a whole lot of growing up in the meantime, Emery’s act has never lost its luster.
2:30pm: Agrilympics: Celebrity Milking Contest (Moo Booth at the Cattle Barn) — local celebrities compete to find out who can hand milk the most from their cow in a bizarre but fun competition.
3:00pm, 4:00pm and 5:00pm: Joyann Parker (West End Market) — Minneapolis-based blues singer, pianist, and guitarist Joyann Parker will showcase her many talents with a powerful and soulful performance.
3:15pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm: Intoxicats (International Bazaar) — With band members from both Hawaii and Minnesota, this band blends Hawaiian music and alt-rock to cover some favorite songs by familiar classic bands.
3:30pm and 4:45pm: Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — enjoy the sounds of the deep south as this band brings the sound of Louisiana up the Mississippi River to our backyards, with their blend of blues, rock and roll and classic zydeco music. 4:30pm: Nooky Jones (MPR Booth) — MPR’s The Current presents a live performance and interview with Twin Cities soul band Nooky Jones, ahead of their second night performing at the Schilling Amphitheater.
6:00pm: Minnesota State Fair Amateur Talent Contest (Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage) — watch as contestants in various age divisions compete for the opportunity to advance to the Talent Contest Finals, held Sunday, September 1st in the Grandstand.
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.
8:00pm: Nooky Jones (West End Market) — the Fair gets off to a funky start with this spectacular local band. Horns, bass, drums and keyboards combine for a modern take on classic soul music, led by the incomparable frontman Cameron Kinghorn. This band is tight, fun, and seriously talented. Arrive early as they are likely to draw a crowd bigger than what this amphitheater can hold, and get ready to dance along! 8:30pm: Belinda Carlisle (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — The Bandshell Stage is the Fair’s largest stage, and draws some of the biggest crowds for it’s free entertainment each night of the Fair, and they are sure to pack them in for this talented former member of the hit 80s group The Go-Gos. Her set is sure to include numerous hits, both from her time with the Go-Gos as well as from her illustrious solo career. 1980s outfits not required, but highly encouraged!
9:15pm: Laser Encore’s Laser Hitz Show (Eco Experience) — lasers and music combine for a visual spectacle each night of the Fair, outside the Eco Experience building.
It has to be hard entering the Fair as a brand new vendor. On one hand, making it through the difficult application process and being chosen as a vendor is quite a feat, but now the real work begins. Standing out in a crowded field of restaurateurs vying for fairgoers attention and dollars is cutthroat. New vendor Brim’s challenges are could fill a cup up to the, well, brim.
They are helped along by a prime location just inside the newly renovated North End gate of the Fair. What will also help them stand out is superlative menu items like this one. Both unique and yet familiar, this is a delicious sandwich for even the pickiest eaters to enjoy. This is basically one of the fanciest PB&J sandwiches you’ll ever have. The Irish soda bread is griddled, adding beautiful color and texture on a very soft bread that compliments the ingredients well. The blueberry marmalade is rich and plentiful, adding a warm blue hue to each bite. The cinnamon nut butter blends perfectly with the marmalade, subtle while still flavorful. This sandwich is a great light breakfast or lunch option for those just entering the Fair for the day. Unfortunately overpriced at $9, but gluten free and vegan is a plus.
2018’s smash hit new vendor was Nordic Waffles, whose lineup of sweet and savory waffle sandwiches and Scandinavian aesthetic seemed like such a natural fit for the Fair that it was hard to believe it was only their first year. Their booth, centrally located within the West End Market, sold thousands of their iconic waffle wraps in their debut year. As word began to spread across the Fair of the high-quality and delicious product being put forth from their stand, lengthy lines of customers emanated, wrapping for several hundred feet each day of the Fair, leaving many others deterred from trying their buzz-worthy concoctions.
One of three waffle makers, capable of creating seven waffles at once, brilliantly designed to flip and cook the waffles as the machine rotates
This year, the lines should be shorter as the vendor has made efforts to speed up service and optimize their production process, according to their business development manager, who I spoke with during the Fair’s opening day. One of their biggest sellers in 2018 was the All Day Breakfast Waffle. However, that popular item’s eggs and bacon left their small cooktop overloaded and struggling to keep up with demand. For their sophomore season, Nordic Waffles has doubled the size of their flattop grill to better accommodate the preparation of hot ingredients. In addition, three well-engineered waffle makers are in use, cleverly rigged to flip and cook the waffles expediently, capable of producing 160 waffles in an hour.
Nordic Waffles lineup of creations are balanced between sweet treats and savory sandwiches, all within the confines of their iconic heart-patterned waffles. For 2019, they added two new varieties, the savory Al Pastor and the sweet Pebbles & Bam Bam.
The Al Pastor is a brilliant blend of marinated pork shoulder, sourced from a farm in outstate Minnesota, pineapple, onions, cilantro and salsa verde. The pork is an absolute star, dripping in sauce and juicy, and prevalent throughout the waffle. The large hunks of pineapple are the next most apparent component, adding a wonderful citrus compliment to the pork and adding a touch of sweetness to the mix. The onions and cilantro blend round out this dish nicely, though cilantro haters will balk at how much of it is used. The salsa verde largely disappeared with the powerful flavors of each other ingredient, but the dish does not lack for its absence. The waffle is bright and vibrant in appearance, but does get soggy quickly as it soaks up the juices present in the pork and pineapple. A $10 price point may make some fairgoers balk, but it is in line with a wrap of this quality from a restaurant and is well worth the investment to experience the beautiful flavors created here.
On the other end of the spectrum, the sweet Pebbles & Bam Bam waffle is an entirely different experience from its savory sibling. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and fruity cereal combine for a melty and crunchy delight. The peanut butter cups, which the Nordic Waffles head chef informed me received the fastest ever trademark approval for use by Hershey’s, dominate most of the flavor here, especially as the chocolate melts into the crevices of the waffle and the peanut butter helps fuse the wrap together. As for the fruity cereal, it both brightens up the appearance and flavor profile, as well as contributing to a wonderful crunchy texture in each bite. Without the cereal, this combination would be too plain and one-note with only chocolate and peanut butter; the addition of the cereal was initially an accident when it was knocked over and spilled in the test kitchen, says the head chef. Fears of this waffle being too sugary were abated, although those who go light on candy may still want to avoid this or split it with a friend. As the stickier elements of this wrap fuse it shut, this one is much easier to eat on the go, which is always a plus.
Al Pastor Waffle
Ratings (0-5):
Taste: 5
Appearance: 4
Novelty: 4
Value: 4
Overall Score: 17 out of 20 (Blue Ribbon Best)
Pebbles & Bam Bam Waffle
Ratings (0-5):
Taste: 4
Appearance: 5
Novelty: 3
Value: 3
Overall Score: 15 out of 20 (Fairly Fresh)
A big thank you goes out to the great people at Nordic Waffles for inviting us into their kitchen and making their staff available to interview!
Editor’s note: a previous version of this article included inaccurate information regarding sales figures from last year. The article has been corrected.
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