Geddes, N.Y. — Saturday was the busiest day so far of this year’s New York State Fair. The 80-degree temps and clear skies likely had a lot to do with that.
Sure, the 83,240 patrons pales in comparison to 2018′s record-setting 127,394, but the swell in attendance caused all kinds of problems on the roadways leading to the fairgrounds and at the gates to get in. Traffic was so bad that dozens of fairgoers stuck in a jam parked their cars on the side of the road in Solvay and walked down.
Those of us on the grounds could feel it. We waited longer to get food and drinks, we had to push our way into the cow birthing center to watch a calf born at 4:15 p.m., and the crowd at Chevy Court to see the Ying Yang Twins stretched all the way to the Toss & Fire Pizza compound.
Here’s a look from above the Fairgrounds on the Skyliner at dinnertime:
Speaking of dinner, let’s eat.
Today’s Menu
I’m at the Fair every day and night, and hey, a guy’s gotta eat (and drink). I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, so I might as well as pass suggestions onto you while I’m working here. That said, I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. If you find something that makes your tummy happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot. I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab.
Lunch: I will tear through no fewer than eight gyros at various stands during the Fair’s 13-day stretch, which probably explains the stretching my shorts get. Anyway, it was too hot on Saturday for such a sandwich at Kiki’s on Restaurant Row, so I opted for the Greek salad ($15).
It’s pretty much the same thing as their gyro, just without the toasted pita: lamb, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives and feta cheese. They finish it with olive oil, oregano and tzatziki sauce.
The greens, vegetables, tzatziki and feta were nicely chilled, so the whole meal went down easily (and quickly). I was proud of picking a salad over yet another large sandwich for once. I rewarded myself with a cold Utica Club pilsner across the road at Bosco’s. They’re one of few stands that still have it on tap, and it’s still under $5.
The Greek salad at Kiki’s at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Dinner: All that walking made that salad disappear in my stomach, but I didn’t want to ruin my three-hour health kick, so I bought a burrito bowl at Las Gringas, a relatively new stand from North Carolina.
Like my salad earlier, this bowl has all the makings of a Mexican sandwich, just without the tortilla. It’s corn, black beans, shredded cabbage, onion. cotija cheese, chipotle mayo and my choice of protein (I picked chorizo or chicken or beef). All that lays on a bed of brown rice under a blanket of spicy sauces. It’s $16.
A burrito bowl from Las Gringas at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
This stand has an impressive menu, and their sauces will kick you in the teeth if you’re not careful. I have a high tolerance for spice, and I wasn’t prepared for something that would actually challenge me. I figured the squeeze bottle marked “HOT” was some kind of joke, so I doused my bowl with the dark red nectar. Yes, it was forceful, but it was tasty.
I will return, simply to put more of that sauce on any of these tacos, nachos, Mexi-eggrolls or a gringa (their giant quesadilla).
The food lineup at Las Gringas at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Beer of the day: Some may have hit the first weekend of the Fair a little bit too hard, so they may need a palate cleanser before hopping back into the work week.
The pilsner from the Paradox Brewery is a refreshing way to spend an afternoon chasing away the Sunday Scaries. Sip one of these while watching golf in the Beer Garden as the kids ride the Topspin 13 times in a row.
“I have had more than one brewer tell me this year that pilsners are the new sours,” said Beer Garden owner Erinn McDowell.
She serves it with a lime wedge, so you still get a little sour. And remember, it’s the beer of the day, so it’s $1 off.
The pilsner from Paradox Brewery is Saturday’s Beer of the Day at the New York State Fair’s Beer Garden. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
» Detailed daily schedule for Sunday, Aug. 25
Concerts
1/27
» The Elders, 1 p.m. at Chevy Court
» Dax, 6 p.m. at Chevy Court
» Dropkick Murphys, 8 p.m. at Suburban Park
The Dropkick Murphys played to an energetic Chevy Park crowd at the New York State Fair on Saturday night. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Today’s forecast: Warm, sunny and a little muggy
Fair Basics
Hours: The Fair is open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Buildings are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Midway is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but it closes at 9 p.m. on Labor Day.
Tickets: Entry to the fair is $8 for an adult. Seniors 65 and older get in free. So do kids 12 and under. You can buy tickets online in advance. You won’t be able to pay cash for tickets at the gate — you’ll need to purchase them on your phone, or using a kiosk at the gate.
Parking: Parking will run you $12 per car this year, up from $10 last year. You can NOT pay with EZ Pass Plus, but you can pay with a credit card at entrance to the parking lot. You can also buy parking passes in advance online.
Other rules: Smoking is only allowed outside the gates in designated area. You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks. No pets are allowed, unless they are working dogs or in a competition. Visitors must wear a shirt and footwear. Last call for booze is 10:30 p.m. each day.
State Fair newsletter: Stay up-to-date on all New York State Fair news, food, music, schedules and more with our free newsletter. It’s emailed to you each morning. Click here to sign up.
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Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
This article was originally published by a www.syracuse.com . Read the Original article here. .