2017 San Diego County Fair "Where the West is Fun" Part Two: it's open!

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food.  Usually, we (Kirk, Ed (from Yuma) and Cathy) write about the event surrounding the consumption of the food food...Cathy has a big event and quite a bit of food for today's post. 

Link to Part One

I wrote about the 2017 San Diego County Fair before it opened.   The Mister and I have been here two times already and are slowly eating our way through the unusual as well as more common Fair foods, all while enjoying the thousands of other activities, displays of judged entries, contests and shows.There was an enormous sand castle being built during the first week of the Fair.  
It's just to the left of the entrance, at the front of the Paul Ecke Garden Show area, which has displays in the theme of the Fair. 
There are also several areas in this shaded outdoor area of the Fair, serving some 'fancier' food choices along with adult beverages. 
The Theme Exhibit (to the right of the entrance) has live entertainment, facades for photo opportunities and tons of information about the expansion of our United States West of the Mississippi (including this nice display about the Pony Express-reminding me of a stop on our summer road trip last year (bottom photos of this post). The Family Funville area (at the center of the racetrack) has the Fiesta Village as well as   
 child size rides and food booths which offer some kid friendly food choices.  There are so many more things going on in this area, including the Creative Youth exhibit as well as the Farm area. The Farm is growing rapidly with additional seedlings brought by elementary school children visiting the Fairgrounds as an end of year school trip; quite an education about the how and where food originates, as well as other farming knowledge about our pollinators (bees and butterflies) and hydroponics in this area.

Back in the Midway area are the Home and Hobby


 With displays of crafts, collections, preserved foods and baking winners as well as being able to watch some crafts being created. The Home and Hobby area is where One Day Contests are held. You get into the Fair for free if you enter!

The Mister and I will be back at least two more times this year.  Some things have been disappointing.  It was promoted at the Pre-opening that the Bacon A-Fair would be selling bacon wrapped cactus, but they don't have it on the menu.We walked over to Chicken Charlie's, to order the 

 pineapple malasadas, but were told they were not being made.

We went to find what we knew:   

 The 17 Hands, just to the East of Plaza de Mexico (across from Woodworking and Gemstones)  is still serving a simple menu, in a covered, cool room with plenty of seating.  

Then we walked over to the Chuckwagon, checking out the menu first. 
I tend to read from the bottom of a menu. The bottom right item caught my eye ( mentioned in my 2016 County Fair postscript post); I really like apples. Another 'Fair time' snack is the fresh corn.  This year, I decided to be different, went to the Kids Zone infield and ordered a cup instead of an ear of corn at the  Fiesta Village.  Topped with butter and Cotija cheese, I also added lime; this was a very large portion; more than an ear's worth of corn.    
The Mister had noticed the "Fish Fry Medley" as a new menu item at the Reno's Fish and Chips stand on the Midway and ordered it.  Each item is fried separately and has a unique breading.  Cod (a large, tender piece), octopus (one piece, barely worth mentioning; I hope the 'octopus on a stick' is a larger portion), clams (teensy, tiny and either were fried in bad oil or had freezer burn; an off flavor), shrimp (very small but flavorful) and squid rings over a massive amount of fried potatoes. That was it for my fried food for the week!

Back to Roxy's, a local favorite for a falafel burger (with added avocado).  It comes with a large salad and just tastes good.  Always a choice (last year we tried the eggplant parmesan sandwich and it was great, as is the artichoke sandwich).
A visit to the San Diego County Fair is not complete until we have a fresh made cream puff with a cup of coffee (with real half and half).  

 

Who else has been to the Fair this year?  Soo! Maggie! cc/Pink Candles Part One- the sights!  cc-Part Two-the food! 

2017 San Diego County Fair Website Open until July 4.  Closed Mondays except July 3 and first three Tuesdays

In addition to the thumbnails of menus above, I am attaching these thumbnails to show some planned places and foods we will try during the rest of the Fair. 

Comments

[Soo @ hungryones]

Reading your post gives me deja vu. I took photos of the model train and the metal sculptures and ate at Reno's Fish & Chips. I gave you a shoutout at the end of my Del Mar Fair post. You have done an awesome job documenting the fair each year.
http://www.hungryones.com/2017/06/del-mar-fair-2017/

[Cathy]

Thanks so much, Soo. Great minds, eh? This Fair has a great theme, but seems a bit disorganized; I can't put my finger on it, but will hopefully see a difference on my next visits.

[Seth]

First time going maybe 6 years, going to be hard to pick something(s) to eat this year. Can't decide what i want.

[caninecologne]

Yay, this is our preview for our visit tomorrow. I need to find that cauliflower sandwich and corn in a cup will definitely be consumed (much neater to eat than an ear of corn)! I love the home and hobby section, especially the collections (some of which are quite interesting).

As always, your posts are so informative. Looking forward to your subsequent fair posts. :)

[Cathy]

I thought a bit before responding, Seth. You are almost a 'first timer' and I have added some thumbnails to the bottom of this post; would simply recommend that you go slow, with smaller or shareable things. I do try things I can't get during the rest of the year, like the cream puff and apple rings/apple fries/apple tower...even though Roxy's is in Encinitas, when we go there, I always want the soup and not a sandwich...There are many 'on a stick' items available too... Just walk around and enjoy. Make sure to get discounted admission tickets (or enter a Home and Hobby daily contest to get in free if you are planning on a certain date) and use the free parking-more $$$ to spend on foods!

You will enjoy the Fair, cc. I'm glad you pay attention to all the exhibits and entries in the Student Showcase as well as Home and Hobby. It's another Fair theme of things to learn.

[Jess]

Even though Bacon-a-Fair didn't have the new bacon wrapped cactus posted on the menu board when I visited, I was able to order it by asking. They prepared it as a special order thus it took awhile to get. Small but slime-y and tasty.

[Soo]

Thanks for the link! I noticed some extra hits on my Del Mar Fair post. :-)

[Cathy]

Thanks for the tip about just asking, Jess. It did take a bit longer, because the cactus wasn't pre-made (the asparagus and Brussels sprouts 'age' well on the grill, but those thin cactus leaves probably don't). It was yummy!
You're welcome, Soo. It was so nice to see that you already went to the Fair and that you enjoyed the same things we had as well as stuff I hadn't noticed. Have never stayed into the evening; the lights are just beautiful and make it look so different.

[Lynn @ Oh-So Yummy]

i always enjoy wandering around the fair. the last two years i ordered 'healthy' food from roxy's but this year actually sampled various vendors for 'taste of the fair.' i missed the cauliflower items that cc mentioned but definitely want to try those next year!

[Cathy]

Oh, so jealous-we haven't made it to a 'Taste the Fair Day' in quite a few years now, Lynn-it's such a good deal. They didn't have the cauliflower sandwich last year and I missed it. Its a great vegetarian choice...so many complimentary flavors.