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.
  • Fair News Round-Up — August 27th, 2018 Edition

    Fair News Round-Up — August 27th, 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

    Last Saturday blew past the attendance record for the first Saturday of the Fair, breaking that record by 20,000 people with over 222,000 people making their way to the Fairgrounds to open the weekend. Could we be looking at a new overall attendance record, breaking the mark set just last year? Could the 2 million total visitors mark be finally surpassed? With two record attendance days out of three, it certainly seems possible. Here’s what people have been discussing about the Fair online today:

    • The Star Tribune talks to people in the Eco Experience building about the economics of GOING GREEN and the potential to create jobs.
    • Did you have trouble getting to the Fairgrounds with the record crowd on Saturday? You’re in GOOD COMPANY, as brand new Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins tweeted out that he had to bail on his trip to the Fair due to a lack of parking. Win us a Super Bowl and I bet they’ll give you your own VIP spot next year, Kirk!
    • Speaking of sports, three Minnesota Twins players tried their hand at BUTTER CARVING at the Fair on Friday. Miguel Sano later on hit a massive 460 foot home run, so either the butter was performance enhancing or he has a new pre-game tradition.
    • The Growler has become an essential publication for navigating the crowded Minnesota craft brewery scene, and this extends to the CRAFT BEER OFFERINGS of the Fair. Their article gives a review of all 27 new beers at the Fair, a task that this individual reviewer couldn’t possibly pull off, or at least not while still typing up coherent sentences.
    • Chris Reimenschneider’s review of Saturday night’s Trampled By Turtles show wasn’t published by press time for yesterday’s Fair News Round-Up (or presumably for yesterday’s paper either, perhaps since the show ran all the way up to 11pm), but it’s OUT NOW and spoiler alert: he liked the show. No surprise there. The real surprise is learning from his reporting that this was the best attended Minnesota act at the Grandstand since way back in 1993 when Bob Dylan played the Fair and the building had a larger capacity pre-renovation.
    • The St. Paul Pioneer Press details what the Minnesota State Fair Horse Show is all about and how the EXCITING EVENT has captivated Coliseum audiences with an expanded schedule this year. You still have one more day to take in the action, with today being the final day until next year’s Fair to see these horses (and their human companions) compete in varied events. I caught the 6-horse hitch event on Friday, and there’s something captivating about seeing 66 horses pulling 11 wagons all in the arena at once, and the very attentive crowd all seemed to agree.pano_20180824_173844
  • Daily Schedule Highlights — Monday, August 27th

    Daily Schedule Highlights — Monday, August 27th

    The first weekend of the Fair has concluded, and the Great Minnesota Get-Together is in full swing! With the week in-between both weekends of the Fair comes 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, Kids Day and Minnesota State Patrol Day at the Fair, with a variety of special events and special deals available to Fairgoers, including discounted admission for those age 5-12 or 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.
    • 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.
    • 12:30pm: Trivia Mafia (Star Tribune Stage) — play a game of team trivia with questions pulled from the Star Tribune’s archives for fantastic prizes.
    • 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.
    • 2:00pm: Timberwolves Head Coach Tom Thibodeau (Star Tribune Stage) — sportswriter Jerry Zgoda interviews the Timberwolves head coach about the state of his basketball team just ahead of the highly anticipated 2018-2019 season, after finally making the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons.
    • 3:00pm, 4:00pm and 5:00pm: The WoodPicks (West End Market) — hailing from Northern Minnesota, this five piece band performs original songs and their own versions of classics from the realm of country and Americana music.
    • 3:30pm and 4:45pm: Ben Haggard (Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage) — the son of country music legend Merle Haggard, Ben Haggard has the pedigree of music royalty as he ventures into a music career all his own.
    • 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.
    • 8:00pm: The Beach Boys (Grandstand) — over 50 years of musical prowess back follow the Beach Boys into their headlining Grandstand performance that should entertain listeners of all ages with timeless hits and smooth harmonies.
    • 8:00pm: The Dustbowl Revival (West End Market) — a massive eight-member band out of California will keep the party going at West End Market well into the evening with their unique blend of funk, bluegrass and roots music that is high-energy and danceable.
    • 8:30pm: En Vogue (Leinie Lodge Bandshell Stage) — the 1990s are back! R&B hit-making trio En Vogue headline the Bandshell with hit songs like “Never Gonna Get It” and “Whatta Man,” and look to wow audiences with their show-stopping vocals.
    • 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: Moroccan Sausage Bowl from Sausage By Cynthia

    Review: Moroccan Sausage Bowl from Sausage By Cynthia

    The Fair does a great job of embracing flavors that go beyond the borders of Minnesota. The entire International Bazaar is a love letter to all things spicier than ketchup and more exotic than lefse. Other vendors throughout the Fairgrounds like to keep things exciting as well, and that now includes the Sausage By Cynthia stand, near the Dairy Building. Previously best known for offering the Viper Jerky, a stick of beef jerky so spicy you have to be 18+ and sign a waiver to purchase, they now aim to transport Fairgoers to Morocco with their newest creation. A ground beef and lamb sausage is spiced up with herbs and red pepper and mixed in with carrots, turnips and chick peas, along with a hearty handful of green olives. This is definitely not your typical Fair food, and maybe not the first choice for a hot summer day either: this is essentially a stew, and it’s hot in both flavor and temperature, and might leave you running to the nearby all-you-can-drink milk booth to cool down. However, all the elements here work well together and create a vibrant and unique option for those craving something a little different. At $7, its a pretty good value for a rather filling, stick to your ribs dish.

    Ratings (0-4):

    • Taste: 3
    • Appearance: 4
    • Novelty: 4
    • Value: 3
    • Portability: 1

    Overall Score: 15/20 (Fairly Fresh)

  • Review: Honey Cream Soda Float from Minnesota Honey Producers

    Review: Honey Cream Soda Float from Minnesota Honey Producers

    Desiring something sweet at the Fair while avoiding the overly-sugary confections that abound is a Herculean task. One bright and shining beacon is the Minnesota Honey Producers stand, which specializes in one thing: locally-sourced honey from bees and their beekeepers across the state. Their spoke on the circular (and gorgeous) Agriculture-Horticulture Building is dedicated to buzz-worthy bee creations and the act of beekeeping itself, with live bees on display, fortunately inside a glass case. New here this year is the Honey Cream Soda Float, an unconventional take on the timeless tradition of dunking ice cream in soda. Rather than the usual root beer, we’re instead treated to a smooth and refreshing honey soda that is made without sugar. The ice cream is worthy of merit too: honey ice cream from the outstanding Sweet Science Ice Cream. The end result is a very sweet treat that manages to give a strong honey flavor without overwhelming. The biggest downside: at $9 for a 12 oz. cup, the price point stings your wallet.

    Ratings (0-4):

    • Taste: 4
    • Appearance: 3
    • Novelty: 4
    • Value: 0
    • Portability: 4

    Overall Score: 15/20 (Fairly Fresh)

  • Fair News Round-Up — August 26th, 2018 Edition

    Fair News Round-Up — August 26th, 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

    Saturday was a characteristically busy day at the Fair, as most people’s desire to go to the Fair finally lines up with their availability. Today should prove to be a busy one too, though the threat of rain might scare some people off. Here’s what people have been discussing about the Fair online today:

    • State Fair proposals are nothing new, but KARE 11 brings us a story of a unique one: in the CHEESE CURD LINE. Definitely a moment the couple will never forget, and probably memorable for about a thousand onlookers as well.
    • The Star Tribune has a beautiful feature up online about FARM ANIMALS at the Fair and the kids who exhibit them. The barns at the Fair are some of the oldest structures on the Fairgrounds, and the roots of what built the Fair into what we have today. A lot of great photos in this incredible gallery that provide an intimate look into an often overlooked side of the Fair.
    • Speaking of AMAZING FAIR PHOTOGRAPHY, I’ve been remiss in not mentioning My Pronto Pup, the fantastic website that photographer and Fair enthusiast Brian Lebakken has maintained for ten years now. His site is one of the first I ever found purely dedicated to the Minnesota State Fair, and a huge inspiration for this very site.
    • Politics and the Fair go together like Sweet Martha’s cookies and all-you-can-drink milk. The Star Tribune goes into detail of what’s going down POLITICALLY AT THE FAIR this year.
    • KSTP explores the CRAFT BEER BOOM at the Fair and what that has meant for breweries, their fans, and the Fair itself.
    • Humorist James Lileks has some DUBIOUSLY SOURCED FAIR FACTS to offer us, Q&A style. You might not want to pass along these nuggets of info to strangers who ask at the Fairgrounds.
    • It looks like there’s no formal review of last night’s Grandstand show with Trampled By Turtles from Star Tribune music critic Chris Reimenschneider, but he did tweet out an INCREDIBLE VIDEO of the nearly sold-out crowd singing along to “Alone.” My voice is one of the thousands you hear, as I was belting out the lyrics from high upon my perch near the top of the Grandstand. I haven’t seen that many people there for a show in several years, great to see Minnesotans turn out in full force to support Minnesota music!