It’s that time of year again. We go to the fair and check out new food and classics and give you the skinny on some awesome fair food. This year, we sent three stalwarts out on their own with a $15 budget (each) to sample some of the Clearfield County Fair’s finest. Here are their stories.
Aaron T. Evans
Right away, you’ll notice that I only did two items. I went for items that were a little higher-priced, and the purchase of a $2 soft drink put a slight dent in my allocation.
The first thing you’ll notice is the generous portions of meat, peppers, onions and mushrroms. They’re great and all, but the what really rocks is the homemade bread the toppings are placed in. Very soft, very tasty. The only thing missing from this sandwich was sauce, but really, no complaints. Another note, the serving is enough for two people … but why share if you don’t have to?
My big “If” … If I liked baked beans, and if I liked cole slaw, I would have tried the Barbecue Sundae from Kyler’s Good Time Concessions. Sounds like a fantastic idea, just not for my tastes.
Jessica Shirey
I have covered the Clearfield County Fair Queen Contest since 2008. Dippy’s Pizza seamlessly gets mentioned in every other contestant’s speech. I’ve heard past queens rave about ending every night of fair week with Dippy’s Pizza.
During my fair coverage, I’ve circled the fairgrounds in search of this Dippy’s Pizza. I could never locate the stand frequented by fair royalty, and it required some help finding it. I was told to “look for the line” above the grove.
When I arrived to the Dippy’s Pizza stand, it wasn’t any wonder I could never locate it. You can’t see the small stand for its lengthy line of fans, and the passersby stopping in amazement of all the people so willing to wait.
I hopped in line and listened to fairgoers who referenced it as “the longest line at the fair.” All of them claimed it would be worth it. While being teased by the aroma, I spotted Nicole Wasson, Pennsylvania state fair queen first runner-up, passing with hers.
Surely she, too, had been sent searching for this Dippy’s Pizza, and now I know why it comes so highly recommended. It is absolutely freaking amazing. Dippy’s Pizza gets five stars!
Stop No. 2: Sweet Treats
Sweet Treats became a fair favorite a few years ago during this very same assignment when reviewing the Chocolate-covered Key Lime Pie, which is pretty amazing, by the way. I returned to taste test another one-time-a-year treat offered at the stand.
I debated over deep fried Oreos, Snickers and Twinkies. I even considered the Pennsylvania Dutch Funnel Cake. But in the end, I settled on the Hot Fudge Brownie Delight, as I couldn’t recall the last time I’d partaken in one.
A small mountain of vanilla ice scream was piled upon brownies and hot fudge. Of course, it was topped with whipped cream. It wasn’t any different than any other hot fudge brownie delight though. I give this sweet treat three-and-a-half stars.
Stop 3: Miss Debbie’s Specialty Apples
Super Extreme – S’more
I have never – yes never – tasted not even so much as a nibble of a caramel apple. Every year, I pass by Miss Debbie’s specialty apples stand and marvel at her candy-coated treats.
When discussing this assignment with my mom, she encouraged me to “try something different” and to “step outside my comfort zone” for at least one review. She encouraged the caramel apple, and of course, I asked “what if I don’t like it?”
Mom replies, “You put it in your refrigerator and call your mother.”
She instructed it would be one fair treat that’s partaken in at home, “so you don’t lose your candy.” Ironically, the gentleman at the stand made the same suggestion but said I would “enjoy the flavor” more if I waited until I was at home.
I debated over all the selections from specialty apples covered in Reese’s Pieces and Peanut Butter Cups to Oreos and crushed Toffee before reaching my decision – the Super Extreme S’more.
My specialty apple was dipped in caramel with a thick coating of marshmallow, creamy milk chocolate and graham cracker crumbs. It was topped with a chocolate-covered graham cracker and partially coated marshmallow.
When I arrived home from the fair, I placed it in the fridge before having my first-ever taste of the gourmet treat. A short time later, I sunk my teeth into a juicy caramel apple and experienced its sweet fusion of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker crumbs.
My first-ever caramel apple experience gets five stars!
Steven McDole
The stand naming item from Chang’s Chicken on a Stick is worth a shot. The chicken comes by itself, with rice or with lomein.
By itself the chicken is served on a barbecue skewer on a plastic plate. It is filling with a tangy taste. The seasoning sauce gives it a slight orange look, but soaks into the chicken giving a uniform taste throughout.
Thanks to the skewer you can eat this on the go if you are on the move.
Apple Dumpling with Ice Cream, located across from the cow barn, namesake item is relatively straight forward. It is an apple dumpling with ice cream on top. If you haven’t had apple dumplings before then you can imagine a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice
cream on it instead.
It is a good mix on a warm day. The dumpling tastes good. Vanilla isn’t the most flavorful of ice creams, but it works with the
combination. Overall it is something enjoyable to eat while sitting down. Since you are given a plastic spoon to get through the dumpling’s crust and eat the ice cream the sitting down part is helpful.
The only thing I can say negatively about the dumpling and ice cream is I took too long eating it in the middle of a hot day. The pool
of melted and warming ice cream near the end of the dish did not do justice to what was there originally.