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 — Thursday, August 30th

    Daily Schedule Highlights — Thursday, August 30th

    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:

    • 10:00-11:00am: MPR News Interview: Sean Sherman “The Sioux Chef” with Host Tom Crann (MPR Booth) — an interview with rising culinary star Sherman, writer of a cookbook specializing in Native American cuisine.
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm and 1:15pm: Natania and Ticket to Brasil (International Bazaar) — go to the vibrant International Bazaar stage for bossa nova and Brazilian jazz led by vocalist Natania that is sure to kick your day off with energy.
    • 11:00am: Trivia Mafia (Star Tribune Stage) — play a game of team trivia with questions pulled from the Star Tribune’s archives for fantastic prizes.
    • 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.
    • 12:15pm: 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 17th annual edition of this competition.
    • 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.
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm: Annie Mack Band (International Bazaar) — locally-based blues singer Annie Mack and her band look to keep the strong string of great music at the International Bazaar going with her powerful voice.
    • 4:30pm: Llama Obstacle Course (Compeer Arena) — watch the action while handlers lead notoriously stubborn llamas through a complicated obstacle course in one of the Fair’s marquee events. Yes, seriously.
    • 5:00pm: Explosion Big Band (AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion) — a massive 20+ member old school big band play classic songs with a huge sound that evokes their name. Do not miss these guys, they put on a fantastic performance every year at the Fair.
    • 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 2nd in the Grandstand.
    • 6:00pm: Tim Harmston (West End Market) — laughs will fill the air surrounding the Schilling Amphitheater as Minneapolis-based stand-up comedian Tim Harmston brings his act to the Fair stage.
    • 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.
  • 2018 New Fair Foods and Beverages Ranked

    2018 New Fair Foods and Beverages Ranked

    Editor’s note: reviews of 2018 new Fair foods will return on Friday, August 31st and continue through the end of the Fair on Labor Day. Watch for a special feature-length article appearing Thursday, August 30th, in addition to the regularly-scheduled Fair News Round-Up and Daily Schedule Highlights posts.

    As we have hit the midpoint of the 2018 Minnesota State Fair and we’ve worked our way through a number of the new offerings from the vendors scattered across the Fairgrounds, now is a good time to collect our reviews in one place and in order of their overall score, best to worst. Consider this page your one-stop list for what to try (and what to avoid) if you’re planning on visiting the Fair over its remaining six days. This list will be updated through the end of the Fair as new items are tasted, reviewed and ranked.

    Blue Ribbon Best (16-20 points)

    Fairly Fresh (11-15 points)

    Better Luck Next Year (6-10 points)

    Fried-Out Flop (0-5 points)

  • Fair News Round-Up — August 29th, 2018 Edition

    Fair News Round-Up — August 29th, 2018 Edition

    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

    The Fair is past the halfway mark, and about to enter the home stretch for this year. Unfortunately, weather has been the overarching theme of the Fair this year, though the conditions haven’t scared away many Fairgoers. Through Monday’s attendance figures, the Fair remained ahead of last year’s record-setting pace, and a strong finish to the Fair could show the newly-set mark already surpassed. As of now, over three quarters of a million people have passed through the gates, a number that will grow drastically during the busier back half. Here’s what people have been discussing about the Fair online today:

    • Most of the links so far in these Round-Ups have been local press, but now here’s some MAJOR NATIONAL ATTENTION for our Fair, appearing in the Style section of the New York Times. Surprisingly for a national article, the write-up is pretty solid, and portrays us positively, though perhaps a little curiously.
    • Back to the local press: Twin Cities Business highlights the burgeoning Midtown Global Market stand inside the International Bazaar for its UNIQUE ARRANGEMENT of sharing the space among two vendors across each half of the Fair. The article is well-timed, as Taco Cat’s six day run comes to an end and Mama D’s takes over today, bringing with them their hotly-anticipated BBQ Split.
    • The Star Tribune decided to GPS track THREE FAMILIES’ ROUTES around the Fairgrounds, complete with Family Circus-style maps and descriptions of the route they took and why. I think if they tracked me, my route would zig-zag way more than these and make far less sense.
    • The Midway Men’s Club serves up some of the cheapest food and coldest beers at the Fair, and as the St. Paul Pioneer Press points out, they serve them WITH A PURPOSE as well. This often passed by stand is definitely worthy of a closer look on your next visit to the Fair.
    • The Star Tribune has a somewhat self-serving, somewhat meta article about how their food critic RICK NELSON CREATES his annual new Fair food review article by eating his way through the Fair on Opening Day. I prefer a more ambling pace and a realization that I won’t possibly hit all the new foods in one day, but that I will return; still, I can’t help but admire Nelson’s dedication.
    • Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream offers up a review of Monday’s SOLD-OUT GRANDSTAND SHOW from The Beach Boys (albeit minus Brian Wilson). Incredible that after 50+ years of existence, they can still fill the Grandstand on a Monday night.
  • Daily Schedule Highlights — Wednesday, August 29th

    Daily Schedule Highlights — Wednesday, August 29th

    The Fair is half over! It’s hard to believe we’ve already had six full days of the Fair and we’re now entering the back half of the 12 best days of summer. If you haven’t made it out to the Fair yet, you’re running out of time. And if you’re running out of time, that means that’s all the more reason to use our helpful schedule highlight tips to make the most of your Fair experience!

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

    • 10:45am, 12:00pm and 1:15pm: Natania and Ticket to Brasil (International Bazaar) — go to the vibrant International Bazaar stage for bossa nova and Brazilian jazz led by vocalist Natania that is sure to kick your day off with energy.
    • 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.
    • 1:00pm: Trivia Mafia (Star Tribune Stage) — play a game of team trivia with questions pulled from the Star Tribune’s archives for fantastic prizes.
    • 1:00pm: Bee Beard Demonstration (Agriculture-Horticulture Building) — watch as two brave volunteers are given a beard of over 10,000 honeybees, with a presentation by University of Minnesota apiary scientist Gary Reuter. Get those cameras ready!
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm: Annie Mack Band (International Bazaar) — locally-based blues singer Annie Mack and her band look to keep the strong string of great music at the International Bazaar going with her powerful voice.
    • 6:00pm: Llama Costume Competition (Compeer Arena) — this just might be the single best event that the Fair puts on each year, as llamas and their handlers dress up in themed costumes for a competition that seems to get crazier and more outlandish each and every year. Trust us when we say you do not want to miss this one.
    • 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 2nd in the Grandstand.
    • 6:00pm: Tim Harmston (West End Market) — laughs will fill the air surrounding the Schilling Amphitheater as Minneapolis-based stand-up comedian Tim Harmston brings his act to the Fair stage.
    • 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.
  • Review: Firecracker Shrimp Stuffed Avocado from The Hideaway Speakeasy

    Review: Firecracker Shrimp Stuffed Avocado from The Hideaway Speakeasy

    For whatever reason, this year’s batch of new Fair foods brought a wave of seafood options, including the already reviewed Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl. Seafood does not come to mind when I think of classic Fair food, nor does it seem like a great idea on the hot and humid days the Fair is known for. However, like the wonderful poke bowl that Cafe Caribe offered up, when the execution is this good, preconceived notions of seafood at the Great Minnesota Get-Together can be subverted. In its sophomore year at the Fair, the Hideaway Speakeasy is quickly making a name for itself among the luminaries with more established presences. Creating must-have destination items is essential with their location in a corner of the often-forgotten second level of the Grandstand building, requiring a trek up an impossibly long ramp or climbing numerous stairs on already Fair-weary legs (or take the elevator, but that’s cheating unless medically necessary). Everything on display with this appetizer-sized portion is fresh and flavorful, starting with the large shrimp, devoid of any unpleasant fishy taste. The avocados were perfectly ripe and fans of the green stuff will love this dish just to get their fix of the superfood. Between the shrimp and the avocado sits a mix of black beans, corn and diced tomato, and while they add some depth to the dish, they are merely playing supporting roles to the two named stars of the show. While a fork to dig in would have been just fine, Hideaway smartly provides crisp crackers as well, allowing you to scoop it all up for a delicious bite. What isn’t so delicious is the perhaps expected high price point at $14, unsurprising with both shrimp and avocado on the menu. Whether that is worth it to you is up to your love for the two ingredients, or better yet, share this appetizer with a friend (who is willing to go dutch, of course).

    Ratings (0-4):

    • Taste: 4
    • Appearance: 4
    • Novelty: 2
    • Value: 1
    • Portability: 0

    Overall Score: 11/20 (Fairly Fresh)