Archive for the 'Amusement Park Fare' Category

L.A. County Fair 2011: Deep-Fried Kool Aid, Indian Fry Bread, Monster Corn Dogs, and More!

Published by Gastronomer on September 7, 2011 in Amusement Park Fare, Los Angeles, Native American, Pomona and Thai. 20 Comments

It has become an annual tradition for The Astronomer and me to spend a glorious summer day at the L.A. County Fair. In addition to indulging in carnival cuisine, we love taking part in hillbilly fun and soaking in Pomona’s intense rays.

We had a hell of a time last year sampling deep-fried Oreos and chicken sandwiches made with jelly-filled Krispy Kremes. Not to mention, admiring homemade cakes paying homage to Vincent Van Gough and whooping it up at the pig races. This year, we vowed to outdo ourselves in all manner of food and fun.

The Astronomer and I arrived on opening day primed and ready to stuff our gullets. As “The Official Fair Foodie,” it was my duty to explore the edible terrain and leave no vendor unturned.

Our first stop was at Terri’s Berries, one of a handful of spots at the Fairplex serving legitimately healthy stuff.

The Astronomer and I shared a paper boat filled with fresh fresh fruit ($7), as well as a large and fuzzy peach ($1). These would be the only unadulterated nutrients that we would feed our bodies all day.

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Doughnut Perfection at the L.A. County Fair

Published by Gastronomer on September 4, 2011 in Amusement Park Fare, Los Angeles and Pomona. 14 Comments

The search for Los Angeles’ best doughnuts has taken me west to Stan’s Donuts, east to The Donut Man, and somewhere in between to Nickel Diner. While I’ve sampled some very memorable doughnuts at these local institutions, they all paled in comparision to the maple bacon “Big D” I tasted this past weekend at the L.A. County Fair. It was easily the most amazing doughnut I’ve ever had in Los Angeles.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I forked over $8.50 for a single doughnut, but I had a feeling that it was going to be real good. The doughnuts here are fried to order, which means every ring served throughout the day is fresh and warm. Best of all, the doughnuts are Texas-sized for maximum gluttony.

The maple bacon “Big D” spanned eight inches in diameter and fit snugly onto a dinner-sized paper plate. The heat from the doughnut seeped through the plate and tingled my fingers as The Astronomer and I made our way to a picnicking area to indulge. I loved how the doughnut was glazed and garnished just moments before, leaving the maple cream delightfully runny, while the bacon was crisp and caramelized.

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L.A. County Fair 2010 – Pomona

Published by Gastronomer on September 29, 2010 in Amusement Park Fare, BBQ, Dessert, Los Angeles, Molecular Gastronomy and Pomona. 12 Comments

Our little apartment would’ve roasted us alive had we not left the premises this past weekend. After a summer of moderate weather, temperatures hit over a hundred degrees throughout the city seemingly out of nowhere. To escape our overheated pad, I suggested to The Astronomer that we troll for cute dresses in an indoor mall. He nixed that idea and offered that we head to an air-conditioned bar for NFL action instead. I couldn’t get behind that plan either. In the name of compromise, we sought respite in the least likely of places: the L.A. County Fair.

Spending the day in Pomona probably wasn’t much cooler than staying at home in Pasadena, but it was far and away more fun. It’s not every day that I can attend a pig race and then eat barbecued ribs afterward. No sirree, just once a year when the fair rolls into town.

The L.A. County Fair is equal parts food, rides, and exhibits. We focused solely on eating and observing during our visit. Before deciding what to consume first, The Astronomer and I strolled through the fairgrounds scoping out the goods. The 1/2 pound dogs glistening in the sun looked mighty enticing roasting next to a pile of onions and peppers. Truth be told, these were the largest wieners I’d ever seen.

The giant turkey legs nearby smelled and looked terrific as well. My friend Laurie attended the fair a few weeks before and reported that the turkey legs were seriously delicious.

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Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwich

Published by Gastronomer on September 26, 2010 in Amusement Park Fare, Los Angeles, Pomona and Postcard. 14 Comments

P.S. It was a raspberry jelly-filled doughnut!

Disneyland: Home of the World's Best Corndog

Published by Gastronomer on August 9, 2010 in Amusement Park Fare, Cajun, Orange County and Restaurant Review. 23 Comments

Banh mi has been synonymous with Disneyland for me for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my mom always purchased a couple of sandwiches from the local deli for my brother and me to eat while visiting the park. Bringing our own lunches was not only economical, but also perfectly delicious for our Vietnamese-trained taste buds.

I’ve continued this tradition as an adult because a parade of junk food can’t compare with a taste of home. Or so I thought… All was well in my brown bagging world up until a few months ago when I heard rumblings that Disneyland was a noteworthy dining destination. From the freshly made corndogs on Main Street U.S.A. to the deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwiches in New Orleans Square, the food at Disneyland suddenly piqued my interest. A full investigation was in order.

It saddened me a little walking into the park without my usual bag of banh mi sandwiches, but one whiff of the Little Red Wagon corndog cart and the matter was completely forgotten. Located just beyond Main Street toward Tomorrow Land, the Little Red Wagon dishes out battered and fried wieners from morning until night. The Astronomer and I made a bee line for the cart as soon as we entered the park.

After enduring a fifteen minute long wait, we were rewarded with the world’s best corndog ($5.79). The exterior was deep-fried to a delectable golden brown, while the hot dog was juicy like you wouldn’t believe. What set this corndog apart was the thick layer of breading hugging the dog that somehow managed to crisp up nicely and yet remain fluffy too. It also had very distinct cornmeal notes that I really liked. Truly, Disney’s creation was heads and shoulders above every corndog I’ve ever eaten. Even the grease dribbling down the stick and onto my fingers didn’t detract from the awesomeness.

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