Six new food vendors try their luck at the Minnesota State Fair.
Several of the new restaurants specialize in multicultural dishes, from Spanish-style paella to Korean mochi doughnuts to an Egyptian-style rice and vegetable dish.
Korean food on the way to the Minnesota State Fair
Chan’s Eatery makes Korean corn dogs, which are deep-fried hot dogs coated in panko and filled with mozzarella cheese. Once the mixture is fried, it is dusted with a little cinnamon sugar. Fried potatoes can also be used as a topping.
This new vendor also sells mochi donuts, which come in eight flavors: Original Glaze, Churro, Cookies ‘n Cream, Fruity, Chocolate, Strawberry, Matcha, and Taro. Fruit and milk boba teas with optional tapioca and jelly toppings are also available.
New beers: There are 63 new alcoholic beverages at the Minnesota State Fair. Here are some of the specialties
New Mexican restaurant
El Burrito Mercado serves Mexican dishes, starting with Quesabirria Taquitos, which are deep-fried rolled tacos filled with beef and marinated in red sauce and cheese, then topped with salsa verde and grated cheese. Another specialty is the Esquites, which are corn kernels cooked with herbs and topped with sour cream, grated cheese, chili powder and lime.
For drinks, El Burrito Mercado offers its Agua de Sandia Loca, a watermelon drink with chamoy (a pickled fruit sauce) and pieces of spiced dried mango.
Traditional Egyptian cuisine
Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine serves traditional Egyptian dishes. One of its specialties is koshari, which consists of rice, noodles, chickpeas, lentils, tomato sauce, garlic-vinegar “dakkah” sauce and fried onions. The dish can be served with either chicken, beef or vegetables. In addition, the new operator offers a caffeine-free hibiscus iced tea.
Indian style food offerings
Midtown Global Market’s Indigenous Food Lab serves a bowl of nixtamal and wild rice with wóžapi (a tart berry) and bison meatballs or sweet potato dumplings. Customers have the option of adding a seed mix. All items are gluten-free. The location is open August 28 through September 2.
Spanish inspired snacks and drinks
Paella Depot sells a Spanish-style dish. The new vendor serves chicken and chorizo paella, a traditional Spanish dish of caramelized rice with leeks, red peppers, zucchini and sugar snap peas, with the option of fried egg or seafood. There are also six flavors of aguas frescas. These drinks are made with fruit purée, whole fruit, lime juice, agave and water. All products are gluten and lactose free.
Refreshing teas with fair flavours
Loon Lake Iced Tea serves a selection of new teas, including Cotton Candy Iced Tea. Other brewed teas are flavored with blood orange, blueberry, peach and strawberry. The teas come in sweetened and unsweetened varieties.
