There's a reason why fairgoers go back, year after year, for the mini doughnuts, the pork chops-on-a-stick, the Pronto Pups and corn dogs, the cheese curds, the Dairy Building malts, the French fries and the chocolate chip cookies.
They're State Fair classics, as indelible a component as the CHS Miracle of Birth Center, the grandstand and the seed art exhibition.
But there's more to the fairgrounds than turkey legs and all-you-can-drink milk. In my role as a Star Tribune restaurant critic, I've devoted my time at the fair to assessing deep-fried Nut Goodies, cheese-laden (and Sriracha-splashed) funnel cakes, deep-fried Cheddar cheese dipped in, yes, crushed Cocoa Puffs and other wonders, on a constant quest for the ingenious and the delicious.
As I transition to a different coverage area, I'm taking this opportunity to look back at some of the foods that have perennially landed on my must-eat list. They're the items that signify — to me, anyway — what's great about the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
For those not attending this year's fair, there's always next year. If you are going, have fun, follow the CDC's COVID-19 safety guidelines and consider the following 15 suggestions:
Elotes at Tejas Express
It's impossible to imagine a visit to the fairgrounds without a pilgrimage to the Corn Roast, where fairgoers gobble up several hundred thousand cobs of butter-glazed, Minnesota-raised sweet corn. It's also difficult to pass by this State Fair essential, where chef Mark Haugen turns out all manner of swoon-inducing delights (guajillo chile- and chile de Arbol-marinated shrimp tacos, anyone?), including a wood-grilled sweet corn that's finished, Mexican-style, with chile-infused mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, hot sauce and tons of fresh lime.