What I’m eating: tried and true favorite fair foods

Date: 8/29/2023

Fair season is upon us!

Whether it is the Franklin County Fair or the Big E, fairs are a time-honored staple for excitement and entertainment. Locals across various communities congregate in a lively space lined with crafty vendors, fascinating findings, and my personal favorite — delicious food.

Attending the Big E was an annual tradition growing up in Agawam. Everyone from my school would invade the fair’s bustling premises on Agawam Day, sprinting to the ticket booths with our free attendance vouchers. Equipped with spending money from our parents and unlimited ride tickets, we would all venture between engulfing mouthwatering treats and trying not to throw them back up on the various roaring roller coasters.

I will spotlight my favorite specific spots from the Big E in my next “What I’m Eating” column. Today, I wanted to discuss some of my general fair favorites. These are the foods I am constantly scouring the fairgrounds for in search of the ultimate guilty pleasure satisfaction.

French Fries

Are there enough adjectives to articulate how glorious french fries are? I would say no. Even a slight mention of french fries can instantly transport me into a dream-like trance where I imagine a tidal wave of fries landing on a plate in front of me.

The real question about french fries is what type of fry best suits the fair environment? Do you go with the classic crinkle cut? Maybe the rustic crunch of a waffle fry? You cannot fail with any choice, but I always lean toward the swirly charm of curly fries. The peculiar shape and starchy fluff curly fries feature make them an ideal vehicle for any fleet of sauces or toppings.

Fried Oreos

I still do not understand how fried Oreos came to be. Did someone’s Oreo package magically fall into a dough cloud before rolling into a vat of frying oil? Whatever bizarre sorcery occurred has created what is perhaps the quintessential fair food.

That is both a compliment and a diss to fried Oreos. On the one hand, they represent the gold standard of unhealthy eating. The dish takes an inherently sugary snack and enfolds a thick, buttery fried crust around it. I could not fathom fried Oreos being a regular fixture in my diet. But, as a special occasion treat, fried Oreos scratch that guilty pleasure itch. The heated Oreo texture creates a chocolate and frosting-infused filling that enhances the cookie into a whole new orbit of flavor.

No, you still will not catch me eating fried butter, fired Kool-Aid or whatever else is the hot new item people are frying randomly. While the fried trend has gotten out of hand, fried Oreos remain an irresistible snack that is hard to pass up.

Mini Donuts

Coated in sugar and heated to a cozy, warm temperature, mini donuts are simply on their own delicious donut platitude. Honestly, I’m not too fond of donuts in most circumstances. I often find them incredibly dry or way too rich, with their gargantuan size always preventing me from finishing one.

Instead, mini donuts exemplify the food’s best qualities in a bite-sized package. Each bite delivers a pillow of decadence, with the cinnamon/sugar flavor making an ideal counter to the airy appeal of each picturesque donut. They are also perfect for sharing or enjoying while walking around the fairgrounds.

Soft Serve Ice Cream

After absorbing mountains of filling fried foods, soft-serve ice cream acts as my post-meal pallet cleanser. As everyone is rushing out of the fairgrounds at night’s end, you can usually find me stopped at an ice cream vendor, enjoying one last treat on my way out.

Why ice cream over a bevy of other dessert options? Because it is so straightforward. At this point in my fair experience, I do not think I can handle another mammoth snack in my system. A simple and slight ice cream cone instead serves as the perfect way to close out the night without over-extending myself.
I hope you enjoyed hearing my clamor over my favorite fair junk food experiences. What are some of your favorites?