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* Your favorite Illinois State Fair food is…? Specifics, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:28 am
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I just cannot get over the pork chops on a stick. Well cooked, good meat, well seasoned, handy.
Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:35 am
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson: “Mmmmmm, beer!”
Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:35 am
Bob Vose corn dog washed down with a lemon shake-up. Shrimp on a Stick is a good walking snack between meals. Ribeye sandwich from the stand by the barns. Don’t know why, but that one is better than the others. The Jamaican jerk chicken meal at the ethnic village, washed down by a beer, and for dessert, nothing beats the Prairie Farms ice-cream from the Dairy Building. But I am seriously considering the new pineapple whip.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:41 am
Vose’s corndog, Speiss fries, roasted sweet corn dipped in butter with garlic salt, Jamaican jerk chicken dinner in Ethnic Village, and just about any brand of cold beer.
Comment by Tasty Grouper Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:44 am
Since childhood, I’ve always loved the pork burger. It’s not something you can easily find outside of fair season. Just so tasty.
Culler’s fries are right up there, too. With lots and lots of vinegar. Never heard of doing that until I moved to Springfield. And as a good friend said the other day, “I never put vinegar on my fries except at the State Fair.” True, and I don’t know why.
As mentioned by someone else, the jerk chicken in Ethnic Village is great. The sauerkraut at the German booth is deliciously sour.
And I also think I’ll try the new pineapple whip today. It looked good.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:48 am
New this year, to me at least, is the BUCA-WICH stand behind the Miller tent. Their steak and cheese filled hoagie is one of the best things I’ve had at the fair… and they have samples!
Comment by Checkers Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:57 am
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Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:57 am
===the BUCA-WICH stand===
Been meaning to try that, so thanks!
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 11:58 am
Burnt out hamburgers cooked by Bill Brady his event. Charcoaly!
RaunerDogs@ - free for the masses, slow roasted over a Harley tailpipe.
Pongee on a stick dished up by Dan.
LARD, need I say more…
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:05 pm
Cincy, you can make jokes about the other stuff. But lard is serious business at the Fair. I once knew a woman who got a blue ribbon for her rendered lard at the Iowa State Fair. (Admittedly, she was the only entrant. But still…)
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:11 pm
I don’t know about best, but I succumbed to “Fried Kool-Aid” a few years ago and have almost completely recovered by now.
Comment by Jason McGrath Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:16 pm
Lemon-orange shakeups -can’t think of vendor-two stands, one opposite food court, other just North of main gate-nothing better after tromping all over. Cullers french fries are great- I discovered vinegar from them waaay back; use it all of the time now- Steak n Shake now offers it on their fries-very good…
Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:22 pm
Cullers Fries, Vose’s Corn Dog and Lemon Shakeup, Rib-eye Sandwich by the barns, Cuban Pork Sandwich, and sauerkraut at the German booth.
Comment by Sunshine Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:27 pm
Deep fried Twinkie !!!
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:29 pm
OK, that’s it. I cannot take any more. I gotta get to the fairgrounds. Ciao.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:30 pm
I have to second the Cajun Steak Buca-Wich. Had one Thursday night and it was a great as it was last year. Definitely recommend it. Also tried the pineapple whip with pineapple juice. was very refreshing on a hot Saturday afternoon. Sunrise Café lemon-orange shakeup is always a must have every year.
Comment by Mankow Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:37 pm
Lemon/Orange shake-up from the Sunrise Cafe stand has the perfect blend and just the right amount of sugar…of course it must be accompanied by a Vose’s corndog!
Comment by Foodie Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:51 pm
Mini donuts.
Comment by Judy P Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:53 pm
OBriens steak kabobs!
Comment by SpfldPolitico Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:55 pm
Eclairs from the dairy building
Comment by Bonsaso Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 12:57 pm
Fair must have food agenda: Cullers Fries, Vose’s Corn Dog, dairy building milkshake, and Tom Thumb donuts for dessert.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:03 pm
Deap Fried Brownies. So incredibly moist!
Comment by SirLankselot Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:05 pm
Lincoln Lager at the twilight ballroom
Comment by the unknown poster Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Alka Seltzer in the middle of the night is a State Fair tradition.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:38 pm
Vose Corn Dogs. Cheese curds. Looking forward to trying the shark this year.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:40 pm
Culler’s Fries and Tom Thumb donuts
Comment by 1776 Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 1:46 pm
The deep fried brownies are worth a couple of toes.
Comment by Dave Dahl Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 2:18 pm
Culler’s fries w/ a healthy amount of vinegar
Mini Donuts
Ribeye Sandwich (across from north sky lift)
Comment by TCB Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 2:22 pm
Dairy building shakes, ice cream and cream puffs. And the butterfly pork chops are tasty too.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 2:41 pm
I’ll have to break down and go to the fair some year.
Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 2:49 pm
Apple Cider Slush with ice cream from the Ag tent
Comment by UISer Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:01 pm
Bud Lite….On a Stick!!!!
Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:04 pm
Anything in the pork pavilion……I live there for a week every year.
Comment by Friedman Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:14 pm
The taco salad cup at the IBA ribeye corral
Comment by Fairgoer Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:15 pm
Norse is right, the dairy building milkshake is the bomb.
Comment by Quicknote Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:21 pm
I loved the honey ice cream as a kid - do they still have that?
Comment by Decatur gal Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:32 pm
Well, it’s not food from a stand, but I have to give a shout to the chocolate-filled chocolate croissants made by Jeanette Malafa (Senate Republican staff) that won Second Place in the Fleischmann’s Yeast “Best Baking” Contest!
Comment by Agricola Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 3:43 pm
Culler’s fries with vinegar, fried cheese curds, mini-donuts, and cream puffs from the dairy bldg. Hopefully not all in the same day!
Comment by Way South of I-80 Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 4:28 pm
Oh, and I forgot the honey ice cream in the Illinois Building - that is a tradition!
Comment by Way South of I-80 Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 4:30 pm
This sounds better than anything Taste of Chicago has to offer. I hope one day I get down to Springfield during the fair.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 5:19 pm
Think Dillard’s spent too much time @ the fair.
Stick with the lemonade Kirk
Comment by Now Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 6:13 pm
Prairie Farm Milk Shake from the milk carton buildings, the roasted sweet corn dipped in butter and a pork chop from the pork farmers. Tafty is always good for a treat. Does anyone know if they still have the wine tent at the fair? Thanks
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 6:47 pm
There used to be a pastry stand 7-8 years ago….best cream puffs
Comment by Jimmy James Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 8:34 pm
The Ribeye from the Ribeye Corral and a funnel cake from Paulette’s.
Comment by BryanEngelbrecht Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 8:40 pm
Wensicia @ 5:19 pm:
You can still get some fair food outside fair time if you know your way around Springfield establishments.
Lemon Shake-ups (made with sugar or Splenda if you ask) are available year round at Sunrise Cafe (2nd & Vine), as are all the other offerings that ‘Hamburger Dan’ has at his booth in the fairgrounds.
Waldmire’s Cozy Dogs and homemade fries, with vinegar if you want to add it, are always on the menu at Cozy Dog (S 6th/Old RT-66). Going on the third generation working there. Personally, I opt for the deep fried pork tenderloin instead.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 8:54 pm
To Rich’s question, I prefer to eat my way through the Ethnic Village. Jambalaya (add some hot sauce), Braut w/ Sauerkraut, Jerk Chicken, Potato Pancakes, etc.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 8:56 pm
the beer battered cheese curds were surprisingly good
Comment by Capitol View Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 9:48 pm
Everything everyone else mentioned, plus Sutter’s Salt Water Taffy.
Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Aug 14, 13 @ 10:02 pm
Vose’s corn dogs - “Best Corn Dogs at the Fair”, and the Meat Parfait from The Meat Man (Midstate Meats). Although the Meat Man is not there this year. I called Midstate and the person I talked to said something about it costing too much money. He also said they will not be at the Ethnic Vestival either, bummer!
Don’t forget Gyros from the Greek stand in the Ethnic Village.
Comment by KurtInSpringfield Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 6:42 am
Tums…..used to be rolaids.
Comment by georgeatt Thursday, Aug 15, 13 @ 8:06 am