Secrets of the City

A pancake/sausage breakfast. Gonna try one of the church tents. My wife wants an egg coffee. A Pronto Pup. And Dippin’ Dots ice cream.

Outta the place by around noon to 1 p.m.

I always get Pronto Pups, corn on the cob, whatever looks good at the Schell’s booth, cheese curds and Tom Thumb Donuts. The Funnel Cake Fries and beignets sound good. If there’s a short line at Sweet Martha’s, I buy a cup of cookies.

Ooh! I see Arctic Island Slushes. New. For some reason, I’ve been drinking a lot of slushes this summer. I’m sure I’ll have to swing by that place.

Oh, and I don’t get all that in one day. I like to spread it out a bit.

I could go for a Slush Puppy right now.

Mini donuts, Dippin’ Dots, milk, and Sweet Martha’s Cookies!

Corn on the cob, cheese curds (split with cjc), frozen apple cider, french fries and corn fritters.

I think we will try and go at least 4 times this year, if not more. Love the State Fair, love it, love it.

1. Corn dog. (Goes better with mustard, you betcha.)

2. Cheese curds. (My secret sin.)

3. 10 gallons of Lemonade.

4. Key Lime Pie on a stick.

5. Various other delights and confections as I happen upon them. The State Fair is the only time I’m not ashamed of being an impulse buyer.

@kc! – What do you do during 4 visits to the Fair? When I go, it’s usually for the whole day. I check out everything in the education, fine arts and horticulture buildings, try to catch 2 free shows, and eat 2 meals (with 2 or 3 snack stops), then maybe catch the Grandstand act. But after all that, I’m so tired I think to myself “maybe I’ll do the RenFest next year instead.”

What keeps a person occupied for 4 separate visits?

I like to share at the Fair. I don’t want a whole order of choco-bacon, foot-long corn dog, etc., I want a bite or two of each.

Last year I went for the first time in a decade or so. We were there for just over 60 minutes and got all the food we wanted to eat, ate it, then left. I know that’s absurdly short, but I just don’t like anything else there. Not a single thing, just the weird good food. Okay, maybe 15 minutes of people watching.

What keeps a person occupied for 4 separate visits?

There’s no end to kc!’s delight in finding globs of pre-chewed gum on the sidewalk and making the Biggest Piece of Pre-Chewed Gum at the Fair!

You’d be amazed at what she can fit into her mouth.

Roasted corn for me, pronto pup for Mrs. Lungs. Going to the Fair on my birthday. as is my tradition since I was a kid.

Ah, the gum…

We split buildings up so we don’t have to hit them up all in one day. We spend lots of time in them actually looking at the stuff.

We go to music shows. We watch animal judging competitions. We eat food. I generally volunteer for something, which it looks like I may not be doing this year. We people watch. We watch the stupid lumberjack show. We go with friends and redo things we’ve already done.

This is my favorite thing to do all year long. Second is Fringe. Third is camping.

I like going to the grand stand shows.. Kelly Clarkson anyone?? Whoop whoop!

Maybe my searching skills are off, but I can’t seem to find any listings for Schumacher’s. I usually stop by there during one of my MSF visits for a Reuben or a Czech sausage. Did Chef John shut down his State Fair operations?

Answering my own question: according to an e-mail from MSF staff, Schumacher’s is gone. In it’s place will be an expanded French Meadow Bakery, so all of you scone lovers won’t have to muscle through the crowds inside the Food Building anymore.

@indyr: Darn. That means no Schumacher Reubens and Rachels for me this year.

I usually coincide my one Fair visit each year with the llamas. I llove llamas.

Roasted corn, French fries, cheese curds, 1919 root beer, cider freezies, lemonade, mini donuts, mocha on a stick, corn fritters, cinni minis, tater tots on a stick, pork chop on a stick… have I forgotten any of the greatest hits?

I find it’s better to snack one item at a time rather than eating a full meal. Also, I always get the small size and share with a group. That allows for maximal sampling.

And I”m going to MN Cooks day. Can’t wait!

Since no more Schumachers, try the corned beef and cabbage at O’Gara’s. Steaming hot, with carrots and potatoes. Goes great with the unique lemonade from
West Indies Soul Food right across the aisle in the Food Court. Just Minnesota-nicely shove your way through!

@Debra – West Indies Soul Food moved to the International Bazaar last year, so you’ll have to go a bit further for that lemonade.

WCCO-TV morning show is going to do a Happy Birthday shoutout to me at the Fair on Aug. 27.

Why?

CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE THE GARLIC FRIES AT THE BALLPARK. SO GOOD

CAN’T WAIT TO HAVE THE GARLIC FRIES AT THE BALLPARK. SO GOOD

Just
returned from opening day at the fair. Schumacher’s is now a Bake Shoppe…. I am horrified… no more wonderful Czech food… John have been at the fair since forever….. Sadness fills my soul and my stomach screams for those wonderful dumplings and kraut! I read that John has reworked the New Prague Hotel resturant and it is open once again…so now it is on to New Prague for his wonderful gastric delights.

Schumacher’s is now a Bake Shoppe

Yes, and that old time pizza/spagheti joint across from the Education Building (the one with the beer garden) is now selling nothing but Spam.