The Bloomsburg Fair

[Holly Moore]

Headed to the Bloomsburg (PA) State Fair (Runs through 9/29) (Exit 34 off of I-80) yesterday.  Some of the best fair eating I've come across - all sorts of traditional and non traditional fair fare.

Started, of course, with Deep Fried Oreos that had been dippered in a sweet batter.  Surprising, very good.  The heat melted the Oreo filling into the batter and the cookie part went soft and became like a filling.  That same stand sold batter fried pickles and batter fried apples.

Had a great Roast Beef sandwich at a stand called "Top of Beef."  A number of roasts are skewered together and cooked over a charcoal fire.   Sort of like a Gyros.  Then slice some off, then throw it back on the fire to cook some more.

Just a bit away, Gross's French Fries - Twice fried - the first in giant enameled kettles, the second to order in a fryer.  Finally a fry as good as a Belgium Frites.  Washed everything down with some home made birch beer near the Polka stage.

Unfortunately I pretty much reached my capacity.  Had to pass up all sorts of things.  Fresh apple dumplings, home made ice cream, pumpkin waffles, incredible blueberry muffins, waffles and ice cream, waffles and creamed chicken, corn dogs, porkcetta (sliced pork in a spicy au jus), barbecued anything, cinnamon buns, stickey buns, fudge, buckwheat cakes, fried oysters, fried chicken.  The fair is 1/2 food, 1/4 midway and 1/4 animals and stuff.

Worth a road trip.  Very crowded on weekends, best if you can make it during the week.

[jhlurie]

Started, of course, with Deep Fried Oreos that had been dippered in a sweet batter.  Surprising, very good.  The heat melted the Oreo filling into the batter and the cookie part went soft and became like a filling.  

The idea of this fascinates me.  Is this the only place you've ever seen this, Holly?  Can it be duplicated with any deep fryer?  Do you know what was in the batter?

I'm not a travelin' man like you, Holly, and I'm not sure I'd go as far as Bloomburg PA for this... but it sounds neat.

Jason... are you reading this?  This is right up your alley too. :)

[Holly Moore]

The batter was a sweet fritter batter that pretty much engulfed the oreo into a blob as it cooked.  I'll be putting pics from the Bloomsburg fair on my site sometime between tomorrow and the weekend and the oreo's will be well featured.

[kitcat]

We went to the Bloomsburg Fair Friday, 9/28  (we've been going for the past 5 years) and just had to  try the fried Oreos on the way out-- They're exactly as Holly described! I'd read about them and other Fair food options on their website: www.bloomsburgfair.com and came to the Fair armed with a list of recommended foods/stands. Also, we went with a couple who'd never been before. It's helpful to go with at least one other person so you can go halve-sies (or quarter-sies) on many foods and sample more that way. We just grazed our way around and enjoyed freshly made Benton's apple cider, roasted peanuts in the shell, John the Greek's gyros, superb cinnamon buns, Hewlett's hot sausage sandwich, potato pancakes from the Running Deer Hunt Club, May's BBQ,  Gross's fries, and probably others I've forgotten-- most foods shared among two or four people.  Last year I made the grave error of going on a ride called "Flippin' Out" (not at the Fair this year) early in the day and felt sick the rest of the day-- could only manage a mustardless soft pretzel after that, so made up this year for all that I missed last year! It's an extremely fun day and the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes make the 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) well worth the trip.

[Holly Moore]

The Bloomsburg Fair page is up at HollyEats.Com.

http://www.hollyeats.com/BloomsburgFair.htm

And here is the promised pic of the deep fat fried Oreo's.

[Jason Perlow]

Holly you know you're not supposed to post pornography here... shame on you

[Holly Moore]

One man's porn is another man's arteriosclerosis.

[kitcat]

Excellent report and photos at your website-- Thanks! I'll be directing potential Fair-goers to your site and I'm already looking forward to next year's Fair.