While some people go to the North Carolina State Fair for rides like the Ferris wheel, for some, the main attraction is the food. The State Fair is a meeting place of many different types of food and cultures to represent the populations of North Carolina.
Going to the State Fair, I could not possibly try all the foods that were available, but I compiled a list of some of the unique fair foods that I felt embodied the State Fair.
The JoCo HoHo – $8 – Fat Boys BBQ and Catering
Zack Scott, who worked the Fat Boys stand, described what the JoCo HoHo was.
“We start with the jalapeno pepper, we cut them, seed them, and wash them and soak them in warm water, take some of the heat out so they’re not so spicy,” Scott said. “From there, we put a stick in them. There’s a cream cheese and brisket rub spread that we put in and stick that. It’s got pepper jack cheese and then a slice of brisket, and then we wrap it all in a wonton wrapper and then drop them in a deep fryer.”
The JoCo HoHo was filling and flavorful without being too spicy. There were options to pair it with different barbecue sauces, like sweet & tangy, sweet & spicy or Sweet Baby Ray’s.
Campfire on a Stick – $9 – Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken
Tammy Carter, the sister of the owner of Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken, spoke about what the Campfire on a Stick was.
“It’s little mini pancakes with roasted marshmallows, covered in chocolate syrup and a graham cracker crust,” Carter said. “Basically, it’s a s’more on a stick. It’s amazing.”
It was a callback to the classic that everyone had as a kid in front of a fire. It tasted like the perfect s’more with the golden marshmallow that everyone attempted to make.
Korean BBQ Pork Belly Eggroll – $7 – Woody’s Wing Wagon
Shawn Whisnat, the owner of Woody’s Wing Wagon, was able to give a description of the Korean BBQ Pork Belly Eggroll.
“It’s hickory-smoked crispy pork belly with a rainbow Asian shredded veggie blend slaw,” Whisnat said. “It’s topped with Korean barbecue sauce; it’s deep-fried in an eggroll wrapper; it’s got deep-fried crispy pork belly inside of it. There’s lots of flavor. We were kind of inspired because there was no real Asian food out in the fair, so we wanted to bring something out that’s … completely different from anything else in the fair.”
Pumpkin Spice Hushpuppies with Pumpkin Spice Glaze – $6 – Old North State Kitchen
The description for the pumpkin spice hushpuppies, as listed on the State Fair new foods page, is “Hushpuppy with pureed pumpkin and spices served with a drizzle of pumpkin spice sugar glaze.”
This unique and new food would be a favorite of anyone who enjoys a sweet treat and the fall favorite flavor of pumpkins. The flavor comes through even more so with the hot glaze that is drizzled over the hushpuppies so you can taste the pumpkin in every bite.
Krispy Kreme Burger with Bacon – $10 – Can be found with multiple vendors
While the Krispy Kreme Burger is not exclusive to the State Fair, it is definitely something that has lingered in the minds of anyone who wanders throughout the fairgrounds as they look for a bite to eat.
The Krispy Kreme Burger is exactly what it sounds like, a beef patty with American cheese, topped with bacon, settled between two warm donuts.
The burger was a mix of salty and sweet flavors as the bacon and beef mixed with the donuts. While it was not the best food at the fair, it was a unique experience that everyone should try at least once to say that they did it.
A list of new fair foods can be found at the North Carolina State Fair website.
