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 – Monday, August 26th, 2024

    Daily Schedule Highlights – Monday, August 26th, 2024

    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 mnstatefair.org:

    • 9:00am: 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.
    • 9:45am: Annie Mack (Dan Patch Park) — 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”
    • 10:30am and 11:45am: The 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” Band (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — Enjoy a special performance from the members of the Minnesota National Guard that make up the Red Bull Band, which has been in service for over 100 years.
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: Doctor Kielbasa (International Bazaar) — “Known for performing familiar songs in their special style and with a twist of fun, Doctor Kielbasa is a veteran group of Minnesota musicians who love to play their unique, culturally influenced music that flows from the soul, creating a collective musical energy that is greater than any individual” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: Johnny Cash medley
    • 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!
    • 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm: The Robb Henry Trio (Schilling Amphitheater) — “The Robb Henry Trio plays an eclectic instrumental mix of jazz, blues, rock and ‘60s pop music” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Norwegian Wood”
    • 1:00pm and 2:30pm: Radius (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “This dynamic five-piece vocal band delights audiences of all ages with electrifying covers of popular songs from oldies to jazz standards to pop ballads and everything in between” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Style”
    • 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: iLLism (International Bazaar) — This Twin Cities husband and wife rap and R&B duo promise a powerful performance that reflects their personal journeys. Listen: “Post N Chill”
    • 3:45pm and 4:45pm: Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “[Terrance Simien] and his highly skilled five-piece band create a hypnotic blend of New Orleans funk-world-blues-American-reggae-flavored zydeco roots music that beckons crowds to their feet and into the groove” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Wishin To Go Crawfishin”
    • 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: The Scarlet Goodbye (Schilling Amphitheater) — “With incredible songwriting skills, strong melodies and tight, clean instrumentation, this unlikely duo artfully delivers songs that evoke the emotions of minor things in major keys” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Rosary”
    • 5:30pm: Faith Boblett (MPR Booth) — “Faith’s music falls somewhere in the realm of pop, Americana, rock, and alt country. She pulls inspiration from songwriters like Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, and Tom Petty” (artist Spotify bio). Listen: “Didn’t Want You”
    • 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 1st in the Grandstand.
    • 7:00pm: Happy Together Tour 2024 featuring The Turtles (Grandstand, $33+) — “With a show full of chart-topping hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s – an incredible 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes – the Happy Together Tour 2024 features returning favorites and new additions – The Turtles, who also act as musical hosts for the evening, Jay and the Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues and The Cowsills” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: The Turtles, “Happy Together”
    • 8:00pm: PopROCKS (International Bazaar) — “This dynamic band plays the best of today’s hottest Top 40 hits, throwback hip-hop, pop, country, party rock and timeless classics” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Hate Myself For Loving You”
    • 8:00pm: L.A. Buckner & BiG HOMiE (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Influenced by gospel, R&B, hip-hop, African rhythm and jazz, his fusion of these genres explodes in a fiery journey of syncopation and truth, earning respect from the most-trained musical ear to the everyday music lover” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Fireflies”
    • 8:30pm: The War & Treaty (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “This powerhouse husband-and-wife duo shares songs of reconciliation and humanity, blending roots, folk, gospel and soul to create music that is chilling, soulful and powerful. With their transcendent vocals, Tanya and Michael Trotter Jr. take listeners on a soaring, emotional ride with a sound that’s both stirring and sensual, driven by joy, determination and an unceasing upward gaze” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Blank Page”

    Quoted descriptions attributed in parenthesis.

  • Review: Afro Poppers from Afro Deli

    Review: Afro Poppers from Afro Deli

    We were so excited to see a new addition to Afro Deli’s menu for their sophomore season at the State Fair, adding a dessert option to compliment their exemplary sambusas. Unfortunately, whereas the sambusas spent the perfect amount of time in the deep fryer to remain pillowy soft, their new Afro Poppers were overcooked and dense, resembling some of the worst mini-donuts we’ve tried on the Fairgrounds. Served from a pre-made pile, ours were not fresh and were severely lacking in the spice infusion promised from the description, tasting only vaguely sweet but missing the ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.

    We did appreciate the customization options, making this a versatile food choice, with options for chocolate, caramel, or mango chutney drizzle, along with coconut flakes and powdered sugar. We opted for chocolate and coconut, a pairing that worked well and did their best to give these some life, but found the chocolate lacking. At $8 for 6 golf ball-sized donuts, these are difficult to recommend with better executed treats all around.

    Ratings (0-5):

    • Taste: 1
    • Appearance: 2
    • Novelty: 1
    • Value: 1

    Overall Score: 5 out of 20 (Fried-Out Flop)

  • Review: Ba’bacon Sour Cream + Onion from Baba’s

    Review: Ba’bacon Sour Cream + Onion from Baba’s

    The hits keep coming from Baba’s humble hummus hub on Machinery Hill. We’ve heaped so much praise upon everything we’ve tried from them for each of the three years they’ve been at the Fair, year in and year out atop our highest-ranked new foods. This is how Fair legends are made, how a vendor becomes synonymous with Fair food and pivotal to many Minnesotans’ visits to the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

    This year’s inventive spin on a flavored hummus bowl is a bacon, sour cream, and onion dish that is Middle East meets Midwest, akin to a high-end version of Top The Tater. This makes for the perfect dip for snacks, of course complimenting the always exemplary signature pita puffs, as delectable and pillowy-soft as ever, but we also tried it with a bag of Fritos and it enhanced those as well. Perhaps Baba’s could be convinced to sell this to-go on Super Bowl Sunday, because we want to bring it to a party and steal the show.

    Their bowls have built a reputation for layered ingredients that indicate how much thought and experimentation must go on behind the scenes when Baba’s perfects their new offerings. The beef bacon was smoky and addicting, and thankfully well-portioned. The scallions and caramelized onions were a welcomed addition, amping up the onion flavor beyond the powdered version also included which many vendors would have settled for on its own. Tater tots were pleasant but superficial, but raised the fun factor and helped to add more starch for the hummus to adhere to when the pita puffs inevitably ran out.

    Value is never a simple math equation of price by food content as we always believe a food item this good can command a higher price point, but even then we feel this is very competitively priced at $14. Our brains are running wild trying to come up with incredible Fair food pairings to try this one with, as we’re convinced by its versatility (and we want a good excuse to have it again). Some vendors are one hit wonders, Baba’s is a certified platinum star, and this is their magnum opus.

    Ratings (0-5):

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

    Overall Score: 18 out of 20 (Blue Ribbon Best)

  • Review: Sweet Corn and Hot Honey Cake from Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop

    Review: Sweet Corn and Hot Honey Cake from Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop

    Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop has become the Fairgrounds’ foremost outpost for Minnesota-sourced ingredients served from their ruby red barn-sized café just inside the Fair’s main gate, an immediate visit for bleary-eyed fairgoers in need of a caffeine fix. Their food offerings are in a constant state of reinvention, borne out of imagination rather than a need of rework, as they have built a reputation of generally having some of the Fair’s best food.

    However, they are not immune from the occasional miss, as we found out when we tried their new Sweet Corn and Hot Honey Cake, a severely flawed baked good. The cake we were served had clearly been sitting out for some time, with a stale crumb and several corn kernels that were hard as pebbles. The corn was plentiful and the driver of the flavor profile, and when we found softer pieces they provided a sweetness that elevated the cake and interplayed well with the honey. The hot honey provided a slow build of heat that did hit harder than most would expect from a cake, an attention-grabber but not enough to save the dish from ignomy.

    We’ll never know if this could have been improved simply via fresher product, but regardless it was a total miss at $8 for a product we struggled to finish. We have faith this is a rare miss from this stand, an exception that proves the rule that creating outstanding new food items year in and year out is truly a difficult achievement.

    Ratings (0-5):

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

    Overall Score: 3 out of 20 (Fried-Out Flop)

  • Daily Schedule Highlights – Sunday, August 25th, 2024

    Daily Schedule Highlights – Sunday, August 25th, 2024

    The Minnesota State Fair is now solidly underway, and the first weekend is coming to a close. There’s still plenty of time to check out everything on offer and today promises to be huge!

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

    • 9:00am-9:00pm: Minnesota Gladiolus Society Show (Agriculture-Horticulture Building) — See tremendous floral arrangements of Gladiolus in a variety of judged categories.
    • 10:00am: Dress A Sheep Contest (Sheep & Poultry Barn) — Watch the fun as teams of four race to outfit a sheep in a costume that matches their own.
    • 10:30am and 11:45am: The Dryes (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Country music husband-and-wife duo The Dryes bring the stage to life with songs that range from rowdy to nostalgic, each one a tiny window into their lives” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Take Me Out”
    • 10:45am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm: Pan Dimensions (International Bazaar) — “With a vast repertoire of party favorites refashioned in acoustic steel band arrangements, their colorful music brings a tropical twist to the fair” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Just The Two Of Us”
    • 11:00am: Maggie Rose (MPR Booth) — “Known for her blend of rock, soul and Americana-folk stylings, she has crafted albums filled with potent songs, each one anchored by her riveting vocals” (Minnesota State Fair). Also performing at 8:30pm tonight at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell stage. Listen: “Saint”
    • 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!
    • 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm: High & Rising (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Wisconsin-based quartet High & Rising plays a unique combination of instruments to bring a fresh groovy sound to bluegrass and folk-Americana music” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: Blues on the Chippewa performance
    • 1:00pm and 2:30pm: Kazual (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Lauded for their dance moves as well as their vocal abilities, Kazual … is a family band of three brothers and a cousin who perform an eclectic mix of old school, Top 40 and originals” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Her Way”
    • 2:00pm: Emily Haavik and the 35s (KARE 11 Barn) — “A singer-songwriter from the shores of Lake Superior, now based in the Twin Cities… Haavik plays a blend of Americana, folk and glitzy-glam country” (artist Spotify bio). Listen: “Take Me to the City”
    • 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.
    • 3:00pm: Ber (MPR Booth) — Viral indie pop hit-maker brings her infectious, catchy songs to the MPR stage. Also performing at 5:00pm. Listen: “Your Internet Sucks”
    • 3:00pm: Draft Horse Barrel Racing (Warner Coliseum) — Cheer on all the action as equine competitors and their riders weave in between barrels at high-speeds trying to set the best time in this exciting exhibition.
    • 3:15pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm: Rumba Nueva (International Bazaar) — “[Rumba Nueva’s] performances of merengue and bachata music gained popularity, making them area favorites” (Minnesota State Fair).
    • 3:45pm and 4:45pm: McKinley James (Leine Lodge Bandshell) — “He creates a lean, honest version of American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “She Moved On”
    • 4:00pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm: Alexander Craig (Schilling Amphitheater) — “Minnesota musician Alexander Craig captivates crowds with his high-energy fusion of rock ‘n’ roll, soul, punk and blues, inspiring dancers with a timeless rock beat” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “I Wanna Roll With You”
    • 5:00pm: Ber (MPR Booth) — Viral indie pop hit-maker brings her infectious, catchy songs to the MPR stage. Also performing at 3:00pm. Listen: “Your Internet Sucks”
    • 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 3rd in the Grandstand.
    • 7:00pm: Blake Shelton with special guest Emily Ann Roberts (Grandstand, $77+) — “Blake Shelton has been delivering country music to a diverse audience for more than 20 years. In that time, he has accumulated an astonishing 28 No. 1 singles, sold nearly 15 million album equivalents, and earned upwards of 12.5 billion global streams” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “No Body”
    • 8:00pm: Tropical Zone Orchestra (International Bazaar) — “Their interpretive style and inventive musical flair make them a fast favorite among Twin Cities jazz and salsa fans” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “De Los Besos Que Te Di”
    • 8:00pm: Mae Simpson (Schilling Amphitheater) — Mae Simpson “blurs the lines between a wide range of influences… from the depth and energy of funk and rock, down to the melodic edge of R&B and folk” (artist Spotify bio). Also performing tonight and tomorrow at the Schilling Amphitheater stage (8:00 PM). Listen: “Chandelier & Bloom”
    • 8:30pm: Maggie Rose (Leinie Lodge Bandshell) — “Known for her blend of rock, soul and Americana-folk stylings, she has crafted albums filled with potent songs, each one anchored by her riveting vocals” (Minnesota State Fair). Listen: “Saint”

    Quoted descriptions attributed in parenthesis.