e-Edition

Flagstaff Weather

Comments?

Rate this story

Email this story

Print this story

Please pass the Pepto-Bismol

Fair food is so much fun it's hard to stop.

By LARRY HENDRICKS
Assistant City Editor
Sunday, August 31, 2008

The smell of barbecue sauce, fried rice, fry bread and grilled sweet corn greeted the nostrils of county fairgoers as soon as they walked into the fairgrounds Saturday.

The sizzle of chicken, beef and hot dogs resonated from several corners of the food court at once. The selections of food were mind-boggling.

Do I go for Thai-Chinese barbecue? What about a Greek gyro, or corn dogs, or hamburgers, or cheese fries?

Then there's the kettle popcorn, the cotton candy, the ice cream.

Oh, my. I'm going to need more money.

LOVE THAT GOOP

As with any county fair, food at the 59th annual Coconino County Fair, which continues today and Monday, is as important as the rides, the entertainment and the agricultural displays.

"It's just part of the whole experience of coming to the fair," said Karen Ortiz, who was serving brats, burgers and cheese fries from one of the stalls.

Ortiz, in her 13th year working the fair, said fair food's appeal is that you don't normally eat it every day. It's a chance to have fun with food.

Among the top sellers at her stall are the brats and the cheese fries after dark.

"For some reason, Americans love things with goop on them," she said, laughing.

VERMONTERS GO FOR THAI

Vermont resident Mike Dusavitch and his wife Jackie settled down with some Thai-Chinese food.

"Actually, it tastes pretty good for fair food," Mike said.

Isabella Magallon, 12, and her sister Athena, 16, both of Flagstaff, accompanied the Dusavitches to the fair.

"Food tastes a lot better when you go to a carnival," Isabella said.

"The Thai food is my favorite," Athena said. "And when I come out here, it's the only time I really get to eat it."

Neither the Dusavitches nor the Magallons were going to stop with Thai food, though.

Mike said he would be heading for the ice cream later.

"You gotta have ice cream at the fair, don't you?" he asked.

Isabella said the cotton candy is a must.

Jackie said a funnel cake will be on her menu later.

"It's not a fair if you don't get a funnel cake," Jackie said.

Athena said kettle corn is on her list.

"It's my favorite kind of popcorn," she said.

HEAD FOR THE LAZY HOG

As for yours truly, I headed first to the Lazy Hog for a barbecued pork sandwich. Digging in, I chewed on moist, smoky, fall-apart-like-butter pork that had smoke the whole way through. The sweet, slightly spicy sauce was a good complement to the meat.

"We sure sell a lot of it," said Williams resident and Lazy Hog owner Jim Robertson.

He guessed that, given good weather, he would sell about 1,000 sandwiches and another 1,000 smoked turkey wings during the weekend.

His secret? He wouldn't tell all, but he did say he cooks about 200 to 300 pounds of pork butt in his rotisserie for about 10 hours, using either oak or apple wood.

A short stroll away, I met up with a light and fluffy corn dog. The crispy outer shell and the sweet dough with corn meal contrasted nicely with a large smear of mustard.

Then came the cheese fries. The thought of crispy fries smothered in rich, tangy nacho cheese sauce brought a smile to my face as only the comfort foods of yesteryear can do.

A quick stride down the food court and I came up with a fried Twinkie. (WARNING: Don't try to fire down a fried Twinkie that just came out of the fryer. The top of my mouth is still a little sore.)

A few swigs of homemade lemonade later, I was able to take on a $3 bag of caramel kettle popcorn.

BRING SERIOUS CASH

I had to throw in the towel after that. The mind was willing, but the body had had enough.

Be sure to bring serious cash if you want to get a good helping of grub. Fair food is not cheap.

Although the food at the fair was good, comforting and reminiscent of younger, more innocent days, the inevitable indigestion reared its ugly head by the time I was headed back to my car.

Somebody, please pass the Pepto.

Larry Hendricks can be reached at 556-2262 or lhendricks@azdailysun.com.

If you go...

WHAT: 59th annual Coconino County Fair

WHEN: Today, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Fort Tuthill County Park (Exit 337, off I-17)

TICKETS: Adults, $8; children (6 - 12), $5; seniors (65-plus), $5; children under 5, free; family pass (five maximum), $25. All-day carnival pass, $25. Parking, $5. Free shuttle from NAU

INFO: Coconino County parks and recreation, 679-8000.

CARNIVAL : Today, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ride tickets sold separately.

DEMOLITION DERBY, Today at noon, in the Grandstand. $5 admission.

SYMPHONY CONCERT, Monday, 1 p.m., Pine Mountain Amphitheater gates open at noon. Free. Parking is $5.

---

»Subscribe to the Arizona Daily Sun

---

---

---

---

Print this story

Email this story

Return to News