2019 San Diego County Fair- OzSome! (Part 2)

mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Kirk and (sometimes) Cathy write about food and sometimes add in little tidbits about how and where the food was attained.  This is one of those posts, written by Cathy.

The 2019 San Diego County Fair, the largest attended County Fair in the USA (and fifth largest Fair of any kind), has been open since May 31 and will have its final day on July 4.  I wrote a short post before the Fair opened and hope that many of you have already had a chance to attend.  The Mister and I have visited the Fairgrounds a few times and this short post is just a small taste of some of the Fair foods we have had, and some of what we have seen.  There will be a 'Part Three' wrap up post, after the closing. Soo and Maggie have attended.

The theme of the 2019 Fair, "OzSome" focuses on the L. Frank Baum original book series, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (and not the movie-musical which most of us have seen on television).  There are far more details in the 13 volume book series.  

 From 1947-1984, Spanish actor Tommy Hernandez portrayed Don Diego as the Official Ambassador to the Fair.  After the death of Hernandez, instead of having another actor portray Don Diego Alvarado, whose family had a large land grant in the Del Mar area during the late 1800s, a 16 foot tall bronze statue stands at the entrance to the Fairgrounds, appropriately dressed for the Theme. 
 Once you walk inside, there are characters greeting and walking around, ready to pose with families for photos.  Each of the various Exhibit areas is decorate in the Fair theme.  
As are many of the entries and displays.

  The tornado ravaged home, crushing the Wicked Witch (look to the bottom left in this photo), is quite an original display in Home and Hobby.  As are the entries in so many divisions.  

I know, you are here for the food.  Here's a bit of what is available.  
Inside Bing Crosby Hall, the old Dixie's Mini Donuts stand has been sold, name changed to Lillie B's Donuts and reversed (you pay first then walk along and watch your order prepared).  Still hot and fresh and a traditional treat. 
As always, a sandwich from the Roxy's fair booth is a given for us.  This year it was the artichoke sandwich ($13, because we added avocado).  This sandwich is just wonderful, yet we never order a sandwich at the restaurant.

Another regular 'Fair food' for us comes from the Fresh Cream Puff booth.  This year there was an offering of a 'Neapolitan' puff- with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry cream...but the strawberry wasn't ready yet, so we asked if we could just have a chocolate and vanilla combo...($4) the shell was fresh made as were the real whipped creams. An indulgence we can't find 'on the outside'.  

The Mister always must order 'something pesto' from Pignotti's.  This year is was the tortellini.  Cheese filled and slathered in the wonderful basil-garlic-olive oil sauce...a comfort food. 
  There's a 'new' booth on the Midway this year (it had been closer to the animal barns in previous years) selling cheese curds ($7).  These were served on a bed of garlic-parsley-coarse salted fries, which were also quite good, although the squeaky cheese was just a perfect bite.  There are a few 'themed' items, like this "Wicked Witch" Sriracha ceviche. As well as a duo of "Good Witch" and "Wicked Witch" toasts...and everything else on the menu at the Emerald Eatery inside the Paul Ecke Garden Show area (This restaurant/booth changes annually with Fair Themed, 'healthier' choices).

There will be plenty more activities to show in the third post of this series.  There's a week to go: the Junior Livestock Auction is tomorrow, fireworks the evening of the 4th of July, and so much more to enjoy until then (Woodworking, Gems and Minerals, Concerts, Flower Show, Photography and Art, Creative Youth, the Farm in Family Funville, the Theme Exhibit, rides, carnival games, Petting Zoo, Camels, Pig Races and a few daily contests (watermelon spitting, pie eating and more) and events.  Since the admission is $20 per person, you could still buy a "Best Pass Ever" for $32-it's a season pass, and gets you in every day of the Fair (so you feel no pressure to do everything at once)) at Vons or Albertsons.

San Diego County Fair Website Open daily at 11 (10 a.m. on July 4).  Free parking this year only at Torrey Pines High School and Miracosta College (with a free shuttle) $5 parking at Horse Park and $17 parking at the Fairgrounds

It's OzSome!

Comments

[Soo]

I'll have to try the cream puff next year. The fish and zucchini I tried wasn't very good: www.hungryones.com/2019/06/fair2019

[Cathy]

I saw that on your post, Soo. The oil factor usually isn't a problem at the Fair, especially with such volume. We try something new each year along with regular stuff. (I had attached your link to the first paragraph, instead of the bottom of the post; getting all unpredictable with my posts).

[RedDevil]

I was never a fair lover until I got to SD, but the SD fair is a lot of fun! Thanks for your posts!

[kat]

everything you ate sounded wonderful, what a great event!

[Cathy]

So happy to know I'm an 'influencer' of this American-and local- tradition, RD. I try to share what The Mister and I do as well as inform, because everything has a reason. The Theme this year is quite interesting.
Other than the cheese curds, each these foods are 'regular' purchases at the Fair, Kat-tried and true. We've been back and tried some 'new' (to us) items for the third post. The activities and entries for the Fair make a visit fun and informative...in between the snacking.

[Soo]

Thanks for the link! I was distracted by the photos and missed it. I'll concentrate on trying new stuff next year.

[Cathy]

No problem, Soo; I know you always attend this traditional event. This year, one of the days we attended was a Thursday, when most food booths offer $3 "Taste of the Fair" samples until 5 p.m.. That may be the best way to try a variety (you'll see in my wrap up post).

[Caninecologne]

We had a fun time at the fair this year. One of our more healthy choices to eat were the Good and Wicked witch toasts at Emerald Farms Eatery. Glad you gave us the heads-up on those. The toasts were pretty good. The alcoholic offeringsfrom Mike Hess Brewery and Ballast Point were pretty good. I was surprised I enjoyed the Wizard of Haze hazy IPA.

Home and Hobby was a little bit more presentable this year especially with the collections. One of my favorites was the purple Tupperware collection and the egg dishes. I still didn't like how the baked goods were displayed along with the quilts and blankets though.

Overall, we enjoyed the sights and the themed displays!

[Cathy]

The Emerald Farms Eatery has some great food offerings each year,cc; Fair-themed yet not too wild and crazy. Home and Hobby had a LOT more of the Guilds giving demonstrations again and that is a good thing-showing the HOW of the various crafts. Each area kind of 'changed it up' this year, rearranging displays (chalk art on walls along the Ecke Flower Garden Show, Preserved Foods out on the patio with Table Settings) and it is a good thing.