7 places for state fair food and creative interpretations : Raleigh Convergence

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kō•än’s ko.rn dog, image courtesy of Tabletop Media Group

The NC State Fair may be canceled, but you can still indulge thanks to the creativity of Raleigh area food + drink purveyors.

Restaurants with Tabletop Media Group and WRAL’s Out & About editor collaborated for some inspired specials including:

Tonbo Ramen: Japanese Fried Chicken (JFC) with Fried Ramen Mac-n-Cheese. “This delicious dish includes a Japanese fried chicken quarter served with panko-coated deep-fried ramen mac-n-cheese, Asian slaw and shishito tartar sauce,” Tabletop shared in a release. (Downtown Raleigh)

STIR is mixing up a Dole Whip Cocktail: A pineapple rum-based cocktail, made with with John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum Liqueur. (North Hills)

kō•än will offer a few items including a “ko.rn dog,” “a house made hot dog, gochu-chup, NC honey mustard and pickled onion.” (Cary)

Whiskey Kitchen: Their elevated smoked turkey leg include a spiced Cheerwine and bourbon glaze. For dessert, frozen strawberries are funnel cake battered and fried, topped with powdered sugar. (Downtown Raleigh)

Whiskey Kitchen’s funnel cake strawberries.

Other restaurants getting creative include:

La Farm: The bakery usually offers their house-made s’mores at the NC State Fair. Now, they’re offering the s’mores on would-have-been state fair weekends, from Friday-Sunday and Oct. 23-25. (Cary)

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Don’t worry — we’ve got your @ncstatefair craving right here! Our S’mores will be available Oct 16-18 & Oct 23-25! #smores #ncstatefair #lafarmbakery 📸 @anagramphoto

A post shared by La Farm Bakery (@lafarmbakery) on Oct 12, 2020 at 5:46pm PDT

Andia’s: The local homemade ice cream company is known for its unique and decadent creations, and that’s the case again with their state fair food-inspired menu at its two shops beginning Saturday. Try a funnel cake sundae, cinnamon sugar mini donuts topped with an ice cream flight, a pineapple Dole Whip milkshake or another inspired treat. (Cary)

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ANDIA’S FAIR FOODS ARE COMING! 🎡 Every year, we release menu specials during the @ncstatefair and this year, we’re taking it up a notch. Since the fair is cancelled, we’re bringing some of your favorite fair foods to Andia’s starting on Saturday, October 17. Introducing the Funnel Cake Sundae! Enjoy a freshly baked funnel cake with a double scoop of ice cream, drizzled and sprinkled with a sauce and topping of your choice. We’re extremely excited to show you everything else we have planned. Be sure to check our page every day this week to see what other specials will be hitting our menu 🥳 #scoopedwithlove

A post shared by Andia's Homemade Ice Cream (@andiasicecream) on Oct 11, 2020 at 3:01pm PDT

If you’re hungry for the real deal, the NC State Fair organized a fair food pickup for 22 food vendors at the fairgrounds.

See a full vendor list here with menu items, including fried candy bars, kettle corn and gator kabobs. Drive in Gate 9 off Trinity Road and bring cash in case your preferred vendor doesn’t accept cards.

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