It’s a truth universally ac knowledged that North Caro lina State Fair-time in Raleigh is easily one of the best times. Fair food, fair rides and fair games fill the dreams of stu dents and citizens alike, and when the bright midway lights finally reach their usual blinding capacity, we’re ready for them.
Lately, the bacon craze has left me dizzy — not just as a vegetarian, but as a human. And there is no time like a trip to the fair to broaden one’s bacon palate. Bacon-covered cinnamon rolls, bacon chocolate chip cook ies and good old-fashioned, deep fried bacon litter the fairgrounds just waiting for the next poor pork-happy victim. Lucky for the meat shy, there are many meatless alternatives to the everyday turkey leg.
The first thing I did when my friends — who go to that light blue school down the road — and I eventually made out of the parking lot, past the ticket gate and into the fray was seek the first vegetarian-friendly confec tion I could find. At the top of the list? Oreos.
That’s right, these delicious chocolate and crème cookies are vegetarian friendly — sorry, vegans, Oreos have come in cross contact with milk during the manufactur ing process. Lucky for me, fair food vendors have made deep fried Oreos a staple and of ten experiment with the tra ditional batter — this year I saw Oreos deep fried in a red velvet batter, but wasn’t brave enough to try them; maybe next year.
Topped with powdered sug ar, the Oreos come out of the fryer dangerously hot, so it’s probably a good idea to search for the next sinful food to try while they cool a few hundred degrees. It didn’t take long for the next veg-friendly morsel to come into view. I decided to chance salmonella and food poisoning with deep fried Pillsbury cookie dough — a decision that ranks in my top 10 all year. The cookie dough hadn’t really baked all the way through, which kept the doughy consistency, but the chocolate had melted and was oozing out of the sides. Posted on a wooden skewer, the cookie dough was the per fect to-go snack.
My friends decided it was time for a savory treat, so we set out in search of the famed deep fried vegetable stand. The booth looks like any other but their menu is where the diversity lies. We opted for deep fried pickles, a Southern favorite, and deep fried macaroni and cheese, a new discovery.
Normally I would stay away from macaroni and cheese because it violates the “Don’t fix what is not broken” rule, but I have never been glad der to step out of my culinary shell. The outside of the tri angular pocket was a perfect golden brown that crunched a little when you bit into it, and the inside was solid, cor ner-to-corner-to-corner mac and cheese. Fried pickles are a classic — never a disappoint ment and perfect as always.
Downtown Raleigh is known for its diverse culi nary atmosphere and con stantly budding entertain ment scene, but it’s time to move the party toward the fairgrounds. Regardless of your dietary restrictions or preferences, don’t be fooled by the N.C. State Fair’s histor ically carnivorous reputation — there’s food for all at North Carolina’s Homecoming.
Fried pickles are a southern North Carolina State fair staple.
