Notable new foods at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair ranked
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The 2024 Minnesota State Fair is here, and with it, all the fried food, sugary sweets and delectable drinks for which your heart and taste buds yearn.
With nearly three dozen new offerings and six new vendors, there will be plenty for fairgoers to sample. And the WCCO team is here to help you winnow your must-try list down to a manageable load.
Our digital team members are hitting the fair to sample some of the notable new offerings, and we're ranking them on a scale of 4 (must-try) to 1 (most disappointing).
4: Best of the best, and would be worth coming back to the fair to get in the years to come. Elbow your way to the front of the line!
3: Solid and/or intriguing work, and well worth giving a shot. You might find your personal new favorites among these.
2: Recommended, but with reservations. Take the plunge if it's really high on your list, otherwise maybe look elsewhere.
1: Maybe just stick to the standard cheese curds and mini donuts instead, this is a misuse of your caloric intake at the fair.
Click here to see last year's rankings.
Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing
Where to get: LuLu's Public House (at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater)
What they promised: "Ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder. Served with a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig's hot sauce. (Vegetarian)."
What we got: The overpoweringly tangy ranch explodes out of the underwhelming breading on first bite. The hot honey sauce is excellent, but the foodstuff itself doesn't impress on its own. — Anthony Bettin
Rating: 2
Grilled Purple Sticky Rice
Where to get: Union Hmong Kitchen (at the International Bazaar, south wall, west corner)
What they promised: "Purple sticky rice grilled over an open flame until crunchy, then topped with choice of shredded Hmong beef jerky or pickled mushrooms. Garnished with fresh herbs and finished with Union Hmong Kitchen's Krunchy Chili Aioli. (Gluten-Free, Vegetarian option)."
What we got: This generously portioned offering-on-a-stick is one of the spicier items you'll find on the fairgrounds, thanks to the chili aioli with which it's topped. The rice is slightly dry and it's much too crumbly to actually eat on the stick, but the savory flavor is perfect. We tried the version topped with Hmong beef jerky and it's a perfect complement. — Anthony Bettin
Rating: 3
Patata Frita Focacciawich
Where to get: West End Creamery (at West End Market, northwest section)
What they promised: "'Patata Frita' kettle chip-flavored ice cream created by Minnesota Dairy Lab, sandwiched between focaccia bread from Wrecktangle Pizza. Topped with a blend of honey butter, kettle chips and herbs."
What we got: Chip-flavored ice cream with chips on top is...a lot of chip. You almost wish the ice cream was plain vanilla, just to add some sweetness to the mix. The focaccia is fantastic and spongy, though. — Anthony Bettin
Rating: 2
Check back throughout the fair for more ratings.