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County fairs were a rite of passage during my formative years in Columbia, South Carolina. We couldn’t wait to ride the rickety Ferris Wheels and roller coasters that would be considered a death trap by today’s standards. My buddy Jake delighted in pranking the clueless staff at the information desk, asking them to page imaginary friends like Homer Sessual (reportedly a German exchange student) to come to the rocket. Say it in fast in a broad Southern accent and you’ll see the humor from a 14 year old boy’s perspective.
Then of course, there was the food. Cotton candy, French fries doused in vinegar and huge “Elephant Ear” fried donuts. The kind of stuff that sticks to your ribs like 20 years later. I’ve heard about the evolution of county fair food over the years, with the advent of fried Twinkies and Snickers bars. But yesterday, a friend who attended the Orange County fair this past weekend alerted me to a new concoction - chocolate-covered bacon. Just writing this, I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde locked in a heated conflict. Part of me, dormant and suppressed, rejoices in the thought of crispy bacon smothered with chocolate goodness, while the often healthy grown-up cringes a bit in horror. But if that sucker was in front of me right now, I’d snarf up a piece of chocolate covered bacon before you could blink. You know, just out of scientific curiosity.
So that creative invention made me wonder what other outrageous food pairings might be out there. Turns out that Denny’s now has a fried cheese sandwich that features four jumbo fried mozzarella sticks jammed inside – making a mere “grilled” cheese sandwich seem tame in comparison. IHOP’s pancake stackers put layers of cheese cake in between pancake and dump whipped cream and fruit on top. At 1,250 calories, it’s a meal that will stick around your middle.
What is the most outrageous food pairing you’ve ever encountered or created yourself? Feel free to use past tense or blame hormones to assuage any guilt!
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I love cotton candy:) My niece brought us a chocolate bar once with bacon in it; I think that is a pretty big craze right now. I don't think I have done anything crazy foodwise. I just go for good old fashioned binging:)
Have you heard about the Luther Burger? It's a bacon cheeseburger with a Krispy Kreme donut in place of a bun. Do a google image search to view some photos of it. GROSS!
Deep-fried Snickers. You should do research at the Great Minnesota Get Together...http://www.mnstatefair.org/find/food/
I went to a great restaurant in New Orleans two years ago (in the Treme') called Elizabeth's--they served praline bacon. It was quite delicious. Sweet/salty; ying/yang.
I failed to mention that they also had FRIED BUTTER. That one didn't appeal so much. But honestly, if I don't indulge myself in a little salty, chocolate-y, somewhat carmel tasting goodness every once in a while I will wither away. Good thing the fair only comes once a year!
Okay, I've heard about the burger with a Krispy Kreme bun before and deep-fried snickers. But I think Lisa just managed to top everything with the notion of fried butter. Wow. Is that butter fried in butter, or a deep fryer of oil. Actually, I guess the semantics don't really make a difference at this point, now do they?
In regards to the chocolate covered bacon -- I just can't try -- in complete fear that I would hate it if I ended up loving it!
I forgot about Jake's friend Homer Sessual--I only remember Mike Hunt, who always seemed to get separated from us.
Alan, I'm sitting here laughing my butt off! Totally forgot about Mike as well. And now all of my blog readers know we were the smart ass kids they used to complain about.
I still think Kentucky Fried Rat or whatever they are calling themselves these days has the best combo, with their non bun based burgers, choosing instead to use two fried chicken breasts as the top and bottom bun......... yep, because bread alone is going to turn you into a small orbiting planet in our galaxy compared with the alternative proposed multi spice concuption they offer......... ohhhhh those marketeers are just so lovely and thoughtful to us, the general public who they think are all idiots
Shira and Alan,
I'll meet both of you at the Rocket soon! I'll be with DHS '84 Classmates I.P. Freeley and Seymour Butts, if you remember them. (They remember you both fondly.) xoxo, Mike
P.S. Between us I.P. just got a PUBLISHING DEAL for his new coming-of-age novel (with the working title "Yellow Rivers" I believe).
Was I.P. Standback called to the rocket? He was an attorney here in Columbia, HONEST !!!!!
Shira, Dad and I loved the hot dogs on a stick especially after we smothered it in mustard !!!!!
I used to visit a website that was dedicated to this kind of "food" but finally decided it was like watching a train wreck. I don't think most of us reading weight loss blogs need much encouragement to eat more stuff....
I love this gourmet chocolate bar with goji fruit and himalayan pink salt! Amazing and ridiculously expensive. They also make one with bacon!!!