Fairs aren’t really my thing.  They’re loud, crowded, hot, and filled with 13 year-olds dressed like they should be out working the streets.  The food is overpriced, everything is fried (which may or may not be a bad thing), and I almost always step on gum.

However, I might make an exception to my “No Fairs” rule this year.  The San Diego Fair seems to have had me in mind when they created their theme for this year–“Taste the Fun”.

In true Fair tradition, the SD County Fair boasts a plethora of fried food favorites–Australian Battered Potatoes, Funnel Cakes, Chocolate Dipped Pickles, Chocolate Dipped Bacon, and Deep Fried:

• Klondike Bars
• Krispy Kreme Donuts
• Chicken
• Snickers
• Hamburgers
• Pop-Tarts
• Oreos
• and…………….BUTTER.  (appropriately sold at “Heart Attack Cafe”)

and much, much more.

Fairs are splurges, both for wallets and stomachs.  I don’t have a deep fryer and honestly, don’t think I ever will.  The oil that just sits in there until you use it grosses me out.  So fried food is limited to frying pans in my household and in general, it’s just…limited.  However, if I did by s ome miracle decide to visit the SD County Fair, I would go all out (and probably feel absolutely sick by the end of the day).

I have tried the deep fried avocados with fried green tomatoes, and you know what?  They were pretty freakin amazing.  The deep fried twinkie has always intrigued me, but I’ve never been brave enough to actually spend money on one, and then bite into it.  And you will never catch me anywhere near deep fried butter.  Ever.

Aside from all the fried food and junk food (cotton candy, caramel corn, etc.) the Taste of Fun theme included cooking lessons!  Seriously!  There were daily cooking demonstrations this year at the fair, as well as local chef appearances with special topic discussions and demonstrations.  (One of them was chickpeas, and we all know how much I adore those things!)

The Fair ends this Monday, July 5 and I’m sad to say  I never got a chance to go and “taste the fun”.  But, there’s always next year for that deep fried klondike bar 😀

What’s YOUR favorite fair food??  Would you be brave enough to take a bite of deep fried butter?