Iowa State Fair's Newest Addition

[the dude abides]

If any of you know anything about the great state of Iowa, you'd know that the Iowa State Fair is one of the top state fairs in the country. A couple of years back it was listed #2 on USA Today's list of places all Americans should visit. In addition, it's attendance (I'm not positive on this one) is also #2 in the country behind California. And this is a state with a total population of only around 3 million. Which may also mean one of several things...
1) We don't have anything better to do.
2) As much as we complain about the heat and humidity there's little we'd rather do than to walk around outside all day with a hundred thousand other people standing elbow to elbow.
3) We love people watching. My wife and I have a game where we see who can count the most guys with mullets wearing wife-beater tshirts.
4) Becasue there's nothing better to do than pay $10 to get into the fair to drink luke-warm $6 dollar draft beers.
5) Or possibly we just love any food that's served ON A STICK

With that, I wanted to share this little ditty about a favorite new food being served right outside the fairgrounds (there's something like a 10 year waiting list to be a food vendor)
CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON ON A STICK!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.kcci.com/video/20431311/index.html

 

[bigsteve]

Well, why not? Once a year at the fair isn't going to kill anyone. Although it doesn't sound too good to me, especially at 3 bucks a whack.

Best part of the fair is the food. I've been meaning to try deep fried twinkies, but haven't gotten around to it. They're probably passe' now that candy coated pig candy has arrived.

 

[the dude abides]

$3.00 is pretty cheap for anything at the fair. If they were inside the actual gates they'd be getting $5.00 minimum for those suckers. I liked how the reporter said he "didn't feel very good" after eating it.

Here's something I found that was pretty interesting...

The Iowa State Fair boasts nearly 200 food stands and more than 50 delectable items available on-a-stick. Search our Food Directory for more delicious Fair food!
Here's the list as of August 2009:

1. Frozen s’more on-a-stick
2. Chocolate-dipped cake on-a-stick
3. Chicken club on-a-stick
4. Buffalo chicken on-a-stick
5. Chocolate-covered peanut butter round on-a-stick
6. Chocolate-covered key lime round on-a-stick
7. Carmellows on-a-stick
8. Pretzel rods dipped in caramel or chocolate
9. Pickle on-a-stick
10. Pork chop on-a-stick
11. Corn dog
12. Cheese on-a-stick
13. Cajun chicken on-a-stick
14. Sesame chicken on-a-stick
15. Carmel apple
16. German sausage on-a-stick
17. Teriyaki beef on-a-stick
18. Corn on the cob on-a-stick
19. Cotton candy
20. Veggie dog on-a-stick
21. Turkey drumstick
22. Nutty bar
23. Fried pickle on-a-stick
24. Hot bologna on-a-stick
25. Shrimp on-a-stick
26. Chicken on-a-stick
27. Monkey Tails (chocolate covered banana on-a-stick)
28. Taffy on-a-stick
29. Honey on-a-stick
30. Ice cream Wonder Bar
31. Deep fried Snickers bar on-a-stick
32. Deep fried 3 Musketeers bar on-a-stick
33. Deep fried Milky Way bar on-a-stick
34. Deep fried Twinkie on-a-stick
35. Lamb on-a-stick
36. Meatballs on-a-stick
37. Deep fried hoho on-a-stick
38. Fudge Puppy (waffle drenched in chocolate syrup and topped with whipped cream)
39. Chili Dog on-a-stick
40. Funtastick Pork on-a-stick
41. Dutch letters on-a-stick
42. Turkey tenders on-a-stick
43. Deep fried hot dog on-a-stick
44. Chocolate covered cheesecake on-a-stick
45. Potato Lollipop (4 thick slices of russet potato deep fried and on-a-stick with dipping sauces)
46. Pineapple on-a-stick (Fresh pineapple dipped in funnel cake batter and deep fried)
47. Chicken lips on-a-stick (breaded chicken breast smothered with hot sauce, served with blue cheese dressing).
48. Cornbrat on-a-stick (bratwurst dipped in corndog batter)
49. Frozen fudge brownie on-a-stick
50. Ice cream cookie sandwich on-a-stick
51. Rock candy on-a-stick
52. Salad on-a-stick
53. Hard-boiled egg on-a-stick

 

[bigsteve]

Ughhh Just the thought of some of those makes me want to blow dinner.

 

[beer-b-q]

I think from the looks of it I would want to be their "Stick" supplier... They are the ones getting over...

 

[fire it up]

Wouldn't be a proper fair if 90% of things didn't come on a stick.
Are you going?
Curious as to what "salad on-a-stick" is. Hopefully battered and deep fried salad veggies, now that would be horrible.

 

[alx]

Maryland fair is pretty lame.My mom tells me the OHIO fair is much like you describe.I would love to go to an old school-midwest style fair...

 

[jimvans]

We love going to the Iowa State Fair. Too bad we can't swing it this year. Two years ago I got to be in the grilling contest there. I didn't win anything, but it was fun.

 

[nater3]

I was down there Friday and had a great time with the family. Definitely plenty of interesting things to try.

 

[bigsteve]

I was thinking about partially cooking some bacon slices, each cooked in the shape of a circle. I would roll up some more bacon, and stuff the circles with them. Then I would wrap the whole thing like an ABT and smoke it. I'd call it "BigSTEVES Genuine Bacon-wrapped, stuffed Bacon."

If I put it on a stick, I bet it would sell. I should make some and post Q-view.

 

[fire it up]

I'm sure you would sell tons of them, lot of prep work though.
If you do try it I would love to see some Qview of that creation.
Hell, why not make a corn bread and bacon batter and fry them up in bacon fat?

 

[bigsteve]

Great idea, perhaps a better and easier to remember name would be:

"Big Bubbas Pigcicles"