Top 10 New Foods at the 2010 State Fairs

"With all due respect to George Washington Carver, America's greatest food inventions have all originated in one place -- the fair. From cotton candy to corn dogs to deep-fried Coke, the enterprising folks at America's state and county fairs top themselves year after year.

Some observers thought state fair cooks had hit their peak last year, when the Texas State Fair debuted Deep Fried Butter. But in 2010, they outdid themselves once again, proving that if it's edible, it's even better battered and fried. From coast to coast (but mostly in the middle) here are our top ten favorite finds."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/endless-s ... 34080.html

Didn't ice cream cones start at a state fair? I think I liked the entries better when hey were based on innovation (like an ice cream cone) rather than the "what can we fry now?" mentality. Some of the entries noted in this article looked just plain silly to me.

Agreed, but extra technical points if you can deep fry beer in liquid form without compromising alcohol content. Challenge.

Oh. And it has to be tasty? Dipping sauce for deep fried beer?

I thought ice cream cones were invented at one of the World's Fairs.

I would totally try the deep-fried cheddar bacon mashed potatoes. In fact, I'm tempted to go into the kitchen and try my hand at them right now!

There's a pretty tasty version of deep fried mashed potatoes at the Irish Rover that Robin very favorably (and deservedly) reviewed recently - where he and company ordered two refills of them at 4.95 a plate. They've been on the menu as long as I can remember, and I've had probably upwards of 50-100 orders of them throughout the years. They've always teamed up very very nicely with a Cashel Salad and Snakebite for me.

I thought ice cream cones were invented at one of the World's Fairs

Yeah I think you're right Beth. I knew it was some sort of fair.

There's a pretty tasty version of deep fried mashed potatoes at the Irish Rover

Irish papa rellenas - sounds good!

We love them at Havana Rumba - Papas Rellenas - Mashed potato balls stuffed with picadillo (seasoned ground beef), breaded and fried golden brown. Served with pimenton crema. $7.25

Sometimes I make the peruvian version at home with seasoned gr. beef, raisins and chopped nuts. Served with aji, of course

There's a pretty tasty version of deep fried mashed potatoes at the Irish Rover

Irish papa rellenas - sounds good!

We love them at Havana Rumba - Papas Rellenas - Mashed potato balls stuffed with picadillo (seasoned ground beef), breaded and fried golden brown. Served with pimenton crema. $7.25

Sometimes I make the peruvian version at home with seasoned gr. beef, raisins and chopped nuts. Served with aji, of course

Cuba Libre in jeff also has papas rellenas and they are pretty good.