American Fairground Treats

Having been brought up on traditional British agricultural shows and fairs I have noticed in my travels major differences in the treats offered in different countries. 

Each year in the UK, there used to be much buzz on our farm as we bathed and generally beautified our livestock.  My brother would enter our Highland Pony each year whilst another relative usually entered with one of our Collie dogs - who won best-working collie two years in a row (not that he's actually done a days work in his life mind you).

The food on offer was the usual type for Britain - fish and chips, burgers and the ubiquitous candy floss (known as   cotton candy in America).

It was only when working at the Queensland State Fair in Australia that I realized other countries offer different fare.  I tried a "corn dog" - I later learnt that this originated from the USA - which is basically a hot dog, dipped in corn batter and deep fried. Personally, I think a corn dog looks suspiciously like a human stool and doesn't taste much better; though I hear that many Americans love them.

I was wide-eyed at the array of treats on offer at the various fairs I have attended in America.  Kettle Corn (popcorn cooked in oil in a large kettle, that is both salty and sweet), corn dogs, funnel cakes (deep fried batter smothered in powdered sugar), candy apples, and hundreds of varieties of fried potatoes!

As most people know, the deep-fried Mars bar (a battered Mars bar deep-fried) first appeared in Scotland - Europe 's heart disease capital.  It has since made its way across the Atlantic where anything and everything can be deep fried at the fair.  We tried deep-fried Oreo cookies at Maryland State Fair which were surprisingly very tasty.

Fairground treats are definitely not for dieters!

BY: PJ