Geddes, N.Y. — Ever since the State Fair started selling 7-ounce cups of milk for a quarter, chocolate has outsold plain ol’ boring white milk 12-to-1. That explains why it ranks No. 3 in State Fair Food Hall of Fame.
As in years past, the state bigwigs will try to slow the outpouring of chocolate milk.
Today and tomorrow, the tanks of white milk have been disconnected and replaced with strawberry. The pink lactose-laden liquid will be available through the end of the Fair on Labor Day, or until the supply runs dry.
If the trend continues, it’ll likely be gone by noon today. Enough of this milk talk, let’s go find something to eat with the 25-cent shots.
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: Let’s all give Bees and Thank You a big “Welcome to New York!” This new stand next door to the Villa Pizze Fritte sells grilled cheese sandwiches sweetened with fresh honey.
This food truck out of Boston just set the tone for the day’s menu: combinations you think shouldn’t exist but are pretty damn good.
Their $8 sandwich couldn’t be any more basic. It’s two thick slices of white bread that’s buttered on the outside and grilled with a bunch of American cheese on the inside. Nick Laorenza, back in 2016, thought this traditional sandwich could use a some sweetening up, so he started adding pure honey to the mix. (I asked for bacon, just because I didn’t think it had enough calories.)
Bees and the honey they produce have become a passion his and his co-owners. They donate proceeds to bee sanctuaries and programs to educate the public about bees. Bees and Thank You offers several combinations of honey-sweetened sandwiches, including pulled pork and Buffalo chicken.
A “Classic” with bacon from Bees & Thank You at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Happy Hour: The Fair Deli stand has been serving long lines since it opened a stand here a few years ago. Their food earned its following. This year, the item garnering all the attention is their Pickle Drink. Some call it a Dr. Pickle, or the Pickle Pepper. Whatever it is, it’s odd.
The blueprint that Murad Marji and his son Zach drew up calls for a 16-ounce cup of ice with some Dr. Pepper, pickle juice and a mess of dill pickle chips and half of a gherkin.
“Some people love it, and some people absolutely hate it,” Zach said. “What do you think?”
Honestly, Zach, I enjoyed it when I first tried one earlier in the week. I just thought it was missing something. Finally I realized this drink resembled a pickleback (a shot of liquor chased by a shot of pickle brine), but without the booze. So this time I brought a flask of Irish whiskey.
The pickle drink at Fair Deli is actually tasty. It just was missing one ingredient. Only at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
That made all the difference. I enjoyed it so much that I bought two. People in the line buying food thought I was nuts, not just for buying such a drink, but because I was basically tending bar on top of the garbage cans next to the stand.
I passed the second cup around the crowd, and pretty much everyone agreed that it was a festive cocktail suitable only for the State Fair. Zach, get a liquor license next year, and sell the Dr. Jameson Pickle Backs!
The pickle drink at Fair Deli is actually tasty. It just was missing one ingredient. Only at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Late-night snack: The Pig and The Potato has been serving its pulled pork parfaits in the Eatery for more than a dozen years. Most customers don’t realize the people behind this entree that looks like a dessert was created by Dennis and Catherine Yost. The Yosts own School & Vine, a fine-dining restaurant in an old two-room schoolhouse in Jamesville.
The big seller this year there is their jumbo plate of pulled-pork nachos ($16). Like the grilled cheese and honey and the pickled Dr. Pepper, it’s an unusual combination that works.
They use lightly salted tortilla chips covered with melted nacho cheese, shredded cheddar and a bunch of shredded pork covered in a subtly sweet sauce that clearly was homemade and not from a bottle. A ladle-full of sour cream finished the job. My friends and I finished this in about 5 minutes.
The nachos at The Pig & The Potato in the Eatery at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Beer of the day: The Meier’s Creek Velvet Fog IPA is the perfect companion for Syracuse University’s football opener.
“This super juicy IPA from one of the most reliably delicious breweries in CNY is one you can’t miss,” said Erinn McDowell, the owner of the Beer Garden at the top of Restaurant Row. She’ll have the SU vs. Ohio game on at 3:30 p.m. today and encourages all of us to grab some steak tips from across the street and pony up to the bar for one of these.
Like all the other beers of the day, the Velvet Fog will be $1 off its normal price.
» Detailed daily schedule for Saturday, Aug. 31
Concerts
» JAMS Funk Fest 2k24, Noon to 8 p.m. at Chevy Court
» Brian Kelley, 8 p.m. at Suburban Park
Today’s forecast: It could be a wet and stormy Saturday and Sunday
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. .