Everyone knows that part of the FUN of going to the Fair is the Food.

Fair food tantalizes all the senses with the amazing displays to draw you closer, the wonderful smells to get you hungry, the sounds of “mmmm” and “ahhhhh” as people sip, lick, and chew on what they’ve purchased, and the explosion of taste when you finally decide on a little something for yourself.

Everything about Fair Food is FUN!

Everywhere you look there is some kind of incredible edible to behold.

And just when as you begin to truly, truly salivate over all the delicious choices…

You run into something like this.

What is going on in this world?!

Here’s something that seemed to be a big new item this year…

Deep Fried Butter.

No… not something deep fried in butter. We’re talking a stick of butter, covered in batter, deep fried, and served up on a plate covered in whipped creme and chocolate sauce.

And then there was this…

I’m sorry. I can’t even comment. There just aren’t words…. except for maybe one…

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Phew.

Glad that’s over.

Suddenly I’m not hungry anymore and I’m not sure I ever will be again.

Okay… things are just getting down right completely out of hand.

Let me take you back to the good stuff.

Ahhhhhhh…

Cool. Sweet. Refreshing. No oil involved.

Though Fair Food is a lot of Fun, it doesn’t come cheap.  I’ve developed some strategies over the years to help me stay on budget when taking my family to the Fair that still allows me to enjoy every bit of what I want.

It’s tempting to want to come to the Fair and plan on tasting everything, but unless you have money to burn, I suggest eating before you come and bringing plenty of your own snacks and water from home. This way you can plan to spend food money on a single meal, like dinner, and a single snack such as an afternoon appetizer or a late night treat.

Trying to pay for a family of five like mine to eat a couple full meals, plus snacks and drinks whenever someone gets thirsty or hungry, would seriously break the bank.

Last week on our excursion to the San Diego County Fair we ate breakfast and lunch at home and then piled in the car and got to the Fair around 2pm. I threw a bunch of bottles of water in the bottom basket of our stroller and I filled a grocery bag with Animal Cookies, Granola Bars, Fruit Rolls, Pringles, and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches.

Everyone was welcome to snack as they pleased as we meandered amongst the rides, games, farm animals, and exhibits and at about 7pm everyone was ready for some actual dinner.

My hubby and my 8 year old decided on some really yummy French Bread Pizza. It was $9.00 for the plate, but there were four large pieces, enough for both of them.

My four year old and one year old are both very plain and picky eaters. They didn’t want anything from the Fair for their dinner, but were both thrilled to eat the Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches I had made and brought with us.

And then it was my turn…

What oh what shall I choose???

Tempting.

Interesting.

Perfect!

I had a giant stuffed baked potato filled with chicken, salsa, sour creme, chives, cheese, and topped with slices of fresh avocado.  I nearly choked when the cashier said that for the potato and a small soda my total was $11.50, but after I took that first bite, every bit of remorse melted away. That potato was soooooooo good! And that ice cold sweet soda hit the spot after drinking only water all day.

As I walked around the Fair, eating my potato, completely happy with my dinner decision, I realized that in total I had only spent $20.50 on food purchases. Our whole family had eaten dinner, consumed plenty of snacks brought from home, and were fully hydrated from drinking water all day. No one was hungry. Everyone was content. And I still had plenty of spending money in my pocket for the night ahead full of rides, games, and some kind of treat.

Not too bad. Not too bad at all.

I felt even better when I meandered past another Potato stand that was charging $7.50 for just the potato and $1.00 for every topping you wanted to add to it. I had gotten the better deal and that right there is a good tip…. At the Fair there are often several different stands that sell the same kind of food, but with varying portion sizes and prices. Shop around a bit before you commit.

Check out the bottom three potato toppings in far right column, in the above picture. If you’re the person who chooses those toppings for your potato, please leave a comment on this post and tell me where in the world you were raised and by who.

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Excuse me.

I wasn’t expecting that to happen again. I’m done. I’m moving on.

So when the night gets late and you’re done with all of the rides and games and you begin to meander toward the exit, a funny thing happens.

Certain concessions begin calling out to you. Certain smells begin reeling you in, and you realize… “Hey! I’m pretty sure I’m starving.”

There are plenty of sweet treats to be had at the Fair. They are available on every corner.

But, for me, there is no difficult decision to be made.

For me, there is only one final treat of the night to be had when at the Fair.

Oh baby!

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

This is a Mexican Funnel Cake.

If you’ve never had one, you haven’t lived.

It’s the best fried food on the planet and it’s big enough to feed your whole family.

It’s a Funnel Cake, but instead of the typical batter you’re used to, it’s churro batter drizzled and deep fried in oil to a crispy perfection, and rolled in cinnamon and sugar just like your favorite fresh hot churro. But then it is covered in strawberries and whipped creme. I prefer to eat mine without the drizzle of chocolate seen in the picture above, but that’s just me. You do what you gotta do.

The sign said, “Serves two” and this fresh hot delicacy will set you back $11.00 for one plate, but like I said, it fed all five of us. It fed all five of us very, very,well, and made us very, very, happy!

While Fair food can be pricey, a lot of the portions are big enough to share and the flavors rich enough to make you want to give some of what you have, away. In total that day we spent $31.50 to feed our family of five and we thoroughly enjoyed every bite!

We chose a “Kids get in FREE day” and bought $3 admission tickets for my husband and I at Albertson’s before coming. All the rest of our small Fair budget was able to be spent on rides and games. It was a FANTASTIC DAY!

It you haven’t been to the Fair in a while you should find out when one is coming to your county, and go.

And if you’ve never had a Mexican Funnel Cake… I’m sorry. You should fix that. Right away. And don’t just take my word for it…

The Food Network rated Mexican Funnel Cakes as the #1 Fried Food at the Fair.

Get thee to the FAIR! And bring some money for the food.

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