Carnival Cuisine

Fair food is a quiet but integral part of fair culture. Concession stands run by local clubs and organizations assemble a staff of volunteers, create a unique menu and establish a temporary eatery that leaves a lasting impression in the memories of their patrons. It’s seemingly impossible to sever the fond thoughts of fair time from those of the enticing meals to be had there.

At the 4H stand, I had a classic traveling taco. This is a simple dish that is convenient for events where you want to walk and eat. With something like a traveling taco, the quality and variety of ingredients makes or breaks the dish; it was excellent. The meat was well seasoned and moist, portioned generously, covered in cheese, fresh lettuce and onions (I skipped the black olives out of personal preference) and salsa and sour cream all over a bed of nacho cheese Doritos.

Next, visiting the Boy Scouts, I had the Eagle Scout Burger. This burger meat is a mixture of locally sourced ground beef and pork. With two patties stacked and cheese on both, the burger was hearty and filling and came hot off the grill. The flavor was fantastic, sharp and just a little peppery. The burger was very juicy and satisfying; the bun came from Grains of Montana and was a perfect complement.

Although one of the more popular items from the Connection booth was likely the gryo. I absolutely had to try their homemade pies. I tried both the mixed berry and pecan. Pie is not normally my dessert of choice, however these were spectacular. The mixed berry was a sublime union of tart and sweet, with a light, golden crust. The pecan had a more traditional pie crust which held a delicious pecan filling. The whole top was a crust of pecan which added a wonderful texture to the softer filling.

Overall, I was full and could not have been more satisfied with my food choices. I hope everyone got the chance to try out these fantastic dishes.