Each year, the thrill of first day of the State Fair starts as the gates open; the mist evaporating off the still-green grass, the promise of deep fryers firing up. Then it comes: The onslaught of orders, the bites and debates, the discovery of newfound favorites and the revelry of eating ridiculous foodstuffs surrounded by throngs of people converging on the Great Minnesota Get-Together. As the day emerges, there are trends (floats!), new challenges (credit card fees), and a whole lot of screens tilted our way with tipping options.
This year we were greeted with sun, soaked by rain and gifted the opportunity to eat deep-fried ranch dressing, cinnamon-sugar cheese curds, dill-coated Tater Tots and bacon pancakes loaded with whipped cream. We tasted more than 60 official and unofficial new fair foods and compiled them all here for you, with our most Minnesotan ranking yet in honor of our place in the state we love. Here are the best, worst and most .
.. interesting new foods at this year’s Minnesota State Fair.
Our Minnesota Nice ranking: Yes, please. (We’d go back for that.) Solid Choice.
It’s fine ...
for some. Not our favorite. Yes, please.
(We would go back for that.) Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing LuLu’s Public House, West End, $12 “I’m picking up distinct tasting notes of ..
. ranch.” An apt assessment for a bar food classic born before our eyes, these oozy triangles live up to the hype, delivering everything billed and promised with a crunchy ranch breadcrumb coa.