The 2008 San Diego County Fair Part Two- A day at the Fair, with food

mmm-yoso!!!.  You are here.  Cathy is blogging. Enjoy.

Hi.  I know you've been waiting for this post.  The Mister and I met up with Ms. T. at the front gate of the Fairgrounds the other day.

Where Don Diego greeted us, along with an Olympic looking sculpture. We had come in on the Double Decker bus from the free parking area on Via de la Valle, saving us $9 in parking fees. Its a nice ride and kind of fun. There are also a few old yellow school buses, which are...um...smaller than I remember them being. The buses run every 15 minutes and take you right to the front gate, where you can walk in and see the Midway.

There are all sorts of stimulating entertainment, sights and sounds, even at the opening hour (10 a.m.). 

The concession stands remind me why I came here... and I must remember why I came here. To blog! 

The Mister brought this to the table first. The deep fried White Castle cheeseburger. The innards. It is a White Castle cheeseburger and fries ($~6 for the plate) but we were one of the first orders of the day and I could detect just a slight...um...un-freshness in the taste of the oil used to fry the batter. Not rancid, but not fresh. The fries were excellent though. Oh, and the White Castle (it isn't called a burger) was, without the batter, just as I remembered. But I usually don't get it with cheese. The teensy chopped onions and soft mushy bun were good. If I were to grade it, it would get a "C". Passable. 

Gosh, the ads on the stands are overwhelming... Ms. T chose the healthiest and best tasting meal we had all day-the chicken kabob with pickled turnips and fresh hummus-with the large refillable for $2 (including tax) at any concession stand beverage, the total was $20. The kabob was wonderful-fresh chunks of charbroiled chicken breast, crispy green peppers and sweet onion chunks with a side of fresh, home made(a little chunky/not perfectly smooth) hummus and fresh a bit salty in a good way pickled turnips this was the best overall meal.   Definitely an A+. Oh, you read the signs, did you? Of course I got the deep fried Spam (~$6). This was excellent. the batter was more waffle or cornmeal- The Mister said like corn dog batter (I have *never* had a corn dog in my life...really) and quite pleasant. Four big chunks (half a can, I'd say) and two slices of canned pineapple along with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. Excellent. I'd give it a B+/ A- only because of that health thing people talk about...people like my Family Physician...(Hi Dr. B at Kaiser!)

So, we decided to walk off some of the 'breakfast' items we ate and look around the Fairgrounds. The Midway rides look the same.  

Home Arts has the quilts displayed so you can't touch them (apparently there was a problem).

The cake decorating contest entrants were also protected. As were the Crafting winners. The Palomar College student woodworking competition was particularly interesting to me and I liked this small table the best. It is very well made with curved walnut sides and maple.  

This was a creative floral design, using a lemon sliced water filled base. There are weekly floral competitions for various flowers. This one was pretty.

Oh, back to some food. Seriously. The foot long hot dog- extremely good quality. Grade: A. With chili (bottom cup)(Grade:B-; It had beans)(About $5) and a $2 Tuesday special 2 ounce sample of the BBQ beef-excellent (grade: A). OK. You can't tell the size? That's a Samsung mobile phone on the tray.

The ubiquitous Funnel cake- top is the $2 Tuesday sample, bottom is the $3 with strawberries and whipped cream regular size. (I liked the plain one better). It's a sweet and was OK, but I don't crave sweets.  Grade: C

The reason I come to the Fair. The cream puffs. $3 regular size vanilla, chocolate mini $2 Tuesday sample.I love the fresh cream and shell made daily. Can't get it anywhere around here, or I would.

More from The floral design competition.  

Finally, an order of Tasti Chips, always a favorite ($5)... Grade:A) I eat the Trader Joe's Hawaiian chips in the blue bag-regularly. I love good chips.

Then back on the free transportation back to the free parking lot. Another year at the Fair.

You can get discounted tickets at Ralphs with a $10 purchase. ($10 versus $12 standard admission).  Most vendors have $2 specials on Tuesdays.  I did not try the frog legs.  I grew up eating them and just did not want anything else fried.  They taste like fishy chicken...Sorry

www.sdfair.com  Until July 6

Comments

[Stephen]

Ah, the fair. Thanks Cathy for the post. Looking at the food, I think my cholesterol just went into outer space. LOL. I sure hope that Chicken Charlie's place uses different oil for frying the chicken, twinkies and frog legs.
Great photos. =]

[Eileen]

Deep fried white castle cheeseburger? Never tried it that way. But I like white castle cheeseburger and I like deep fried food. Gotta try that if I get a chance. Yum!

[nhbilly]

Wholly molly forgetabout the other stuff and munch your way thru the park and indulge till you belt burst at least you guys walked it off ;-).
I can't wait to drop by the OC fairgrounds for some feasting. Oh yeah anything fried is gooooooood till the last drop.

[RONW]

simply too many things to comment on. Suffice it to say that I'd be reluctant to board the bus back to the parking area.

[Cathy]

Hey, Stephen- They seem to use diffierent oils and batters for each item. Their kitchen seemes to be one of the the largest food concessions not on the Midway. Also pretty much the all fried food concession.
Eileen- you can get in for less free if you enter one of the one day cotests listed in the Competition Handbook at the Public Library. Along with the free parking, it makes the rest of the money you will spend that day a bit less.
Oh, Bill...the heart of the Fair is Home and Hobby, Student Showcase and Kid's Best. Food is seconday (ahahahah!)
If you can get to the bus, in the heat of the day, and get up the stairs of the Double Decker, all things should be 'safe', Ron. :)

[ed (from Yuma)]

OMG. I gotta get to the gym. I musta gained 5 pounds just reading this post.

Great stuff!

[Kirk]

Hey Cathy - I like how you gave each food item a grade.

[Cathy]

Hi, ed- and that wasn't half the stuff we could have gotten! But I had to do it, for the Blog, you know...:)
You like that, Kirk? Thought it more concise. I did not get a Koolickle- a strawberry flavor Kool Aid marinated pickle- I knew what that grade would be- and I used the $3 to buy Lotto tickets instead.

[janfrederick]

We just went yesterday. We should have taken your advice and stuck with deep fried spam. But we just had to try the deep fried white castles. Ours were VERY greasy and you couldn't really taste the white castle. It was lost in the batter somewhere. The fries were good though.

We did try the spam later. Yum! I always buy the reduced sodium version, so I'd forgotten just how salty the real stuff is. Good though. Need to see my cardiologist now.

[Carol]

I'm so glad you tried the fried Spam (I was hoping you would). Hmm, I think I'll take my White Castles without the fry part (they were on sale at Albertson's last week, hehe). Thanks for the post, I always like to enjoy the Fair vicariously through you! :o)

[Cathy]

Hi, JF- I was thinking since we were probably the first people to order it that day, that was the reason. The fries must be made in a different oil. I suppose having different oils and batters is good. Now, three words: Spam with Bacon (sold at Marukai) pfft on low sodium Spam.
Hi Carol- I grew up with White Castles and never liked the ones with cheese. That was part of it, but the batter did not add anything to it. (Whereas I think the batter added something to the Spam and to the deep fried Twinkie I had a few years ago). I've always loved County Fairs. They are America. Even with the business aspect in place...

[foodhoe]

wow, that looks like a fantastic day of feasting! I have never heard of a battered and fried burger - holy cow! and neither have I seen corn battered spam. Wow, I really must keep my eyes open for such delicacies at the local county fair.

[Cathy]

Oh, yes, FH- The California County Fairs start in San Diego and move north, culminating in Sacramento in October. Almost all of the food vendors follow the route-it is their income for the year- so most of these fine delicacies can be enjoyed by you. Go to your local library and see if there is a competiton handbook of some sort and it should give you dates and website information about ways to get into your fair for less (so you can spend more on goodies).