Get Out There! 2023 San Diego County Fair (Part 2; it's happening now)

Thank you for stopping to read mmm-yoso!!!, this food blog.  Cathy is writing the post at the start of July.  

Link to Part one: Before the Fair opens

The San Diego County Fair has been in full swing since June 7 and will end with a spectacular fireworks display on July 4.  There is still time to "Get Out There" and see what the 2023 theme has in store for you.  Not all of the activities are here, just a few highlights, and, of course some of the unique Fair foods.

 When you park for free at Torrey Pines High School, the transportation might take you around the back side of the Fairgrounds and you can see the rides from a different viewpoint as well as where the workers live during the Fair.  It's been "June Gloom" weather for most of the mornings near the coast.
 The Paul Ecke, Jr. Garden Show has many displays decorated with the theme.
 The Theme Exhibit Hall (to the right when you walk in the main entrance) is very informative regarding San Diego County and our parks and recreation areas.



 

This year, we were going to try to order more unique food choices and mostly succeeded.  Can't get Indian Fry Bread anywhere in the County.  This garlic butter parmesan bread was warm/fresh made and so satisfying.

 The Gems and Minerals exhibit is beautiful and informative.

  We did want something fried, yet protein/sort of healthy and so Calamari and fries was our choice.
 To make that meal a bit healthier, I walked across the way and ordered this (really great) peanut infused slaw to accompany. 


 Design in Wood always has beautiful entries.
 On another visit, our quest for 'semi healthy/fried protein' had us ordering this 'Fair Special' from Chicken Charlie's (onion rings, fried zucchini and chicken strips) along with a delightful strawberry lemonade from Stuffie's, just across the way. 
 The Fine Art entries are always mesmerizing.

 We found a few new booths (since both the Cream Puffs and the Gingerbread House were gone).  This was a blueberry pie in a cone from In Your Face Pies.  The blueberry filling was warm and this was a good size portion. 
 There was a spinning demonstration in the California Grown barn along with instructive animal exhibits.
 We've seen photos of Hawaiian Honey Cones on various places online and wanted to try.  The cones are produced in Hawaii of organic corn cane (not sugar cane).   The cone tastes like ... and has the texture of ... think Cheetoes without the cheese with a definite hint of honey.  The ice cream filling is a vanilla Hokkaido style, made with milk from Hokkaido.  Unique and very good; smooth, creamy, a distinct milk flavor with subtle vanilla. This was fun and quality and what we expect of Fair foods.

 The Home Arts, Home and Hobby, Home Made section of the Fair had such great entries this year.  
 We had to get a cherry lime Icee.  The flavors remind us of when we were dating and used to share a cherry-lime rickey at Drakes.
The sights and sounds are everywhere!

I hope you can get to the San Diego County Fair and enjoy the start of summer!  Purchase tickets and parking online before you go.  Cash and cards can be used inside the Fairgrounds. Website

Comments

[Peter]

Amazing post, Cathy! My wife and I did/saw just a fraction of this! Highlights for us were the "secret" tiki bar Destination Unknown (mai tais were quite good) and the plant-based Wicked Kitchen for eats. Thanks for the tour!

[Cathy]

It was a great Fair this year, thanks, Peter. So much we didn't see-or I didn't take photos- The Flower Show, Photography, all the Youth and High School and Community College exhibits, the various demonstrations in addition to spinning and lace making (scroll saws, model shipbuilding, carving, how to make a sphere from rocks/minerals), all the performance stages; there is something happening everywhere all the time on the Fairgrounds. There was a speakeasy as well as the rooftop bar this year...We found (and purchased) Wicked Kitchen products before going to the Fair at Food 4 Less (Almond sticks, Berry White sticks), Sprouts (three frozen meals: a tofu rice bowl, a Korean inspired bowl and a burrito) and at 7-11 (a shelf stable smoky Mac), so didn't buy anything at the Wicked Kitchen restaurant, although there were more choices; excellent food.

[kat]

interesting & fun food booths

[Soo]

Looks like you had some really tasty food. I haven't had an icee since K-Mart had them. I noticed the pie place and was going to get a chicken pie but I wasn't hungry enough when we left. The honey cones look interesting.

[Cathy]

There were quite a few 'new' food booths this year, Kat. Also on the lookout for something other than 'Flaming Hot Cheetos' flavored anything.

This year we wanted to order unique, especially after discovering the Cream Puff booth was gone, Soo. Icees are so rare now that K-Mart is gone. The pie-in-a-cone was really good and so was the Honey Cone.