Category Archives: Food

You Know You Want a Blue Ribbon

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Sure, the Fair is still six months away but it’s not too early to be thinking of entering your best cookie or salsa recipe or your best photograph into one of our fun & exciting contests and competitions. Entries are open for all categories in Culinary Styles, Tapestry and America’s Kids. You look great in blue (ribbon, that is), so what are you waiting for?

Culinary Styles features preserved foods, baked goods and several specialty categories like cheesecake recipe, all-American pie, BBQ, cupcakes and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Every year the judges have a blast tasting all the goodies, and Fairguests love seeing who runs away with a first place. Deadlines for entry are:

  • Preserved foods – June 25
  • Baked goods and other featured contests - Aug. 2
  • Tablescaping – July 19 (hurry, this one fills up fast!)

Tapestry, which includes jewelry, arts & crafts, needle art and photography, has a June 25 deadline.

America’s Kids is themed A Living Library of Fun (part 2) – a continuation of last year’s fun adventure where books came to life. Competitions include magic shoes (turn an ordinary pair of shoes into something spectacular), build a model hot air balloon, creative cakes, build a scarecrow, crafts, writing and so much more. Deadline for America’s Kids competitions is June 27.

Details, including rules & regulations and entry forms, for all the contests and competitions can be found at lacountyfair.com.

Ok, ready, set – cook and create!

 

Thanks For the Memories

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And so we end another Fair….and a great one it was! Thank you all for coming to our party. We enjoyed having you. What a way to celebrate our 90th anniversary! Here are some take-aways from this year:

  • 1,473,371 guests – and you were one of them! It was our fourth biggest Fair ever.
  • Food & shopping continued to be the two biggest reasons for coming to the Fair.
  • Guest satisfaction was the highest ever
  • Guests donated more than 110,000 cans of non-perishable food to Helping Hands, Caring Hearts Ministry, Foothill Family Shelter, Caring for the Hills, Inland Valley Hope Partners and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in exchange for free admission
  • In honor of 9/11, the Fair donated more than $9,300 in proceeds from the Weekend for Heroes promotion to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
  • City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, American Red Cross, Huntington Hospital and Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital held blood drives resulting in 734 pints of blood donated
  • Guests donated more than 16,000 books, 13,000 school supplies, 300 shoes and 2,400 pairs of socks to local charities in exchange for free admission
  • More than 140,000 students and teachers experienced the Fair educational exhibits through the FairKids Field Trip program at no charge
  • The Fair honored 17 communities and 31 community heroes on their dedicated days
  • Local universities also benefitted from special promotions and dedicated days with more than 10,000 discount redemptions

You helped make all this happen -so thanks again. Thanks, too, for reading Hot Blog on a Stick. We had a ton of fun giving away tickets and T-shirts. Keep reading us and pencil in the Fair for next year, Aug. 30-Sept. 29.

 

 

Asian culture comes to the Fair

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Asian culture has made waves in the U.S. lately. It’s no secret that Korean star PSY’s Gangnam Style music video has not only gone viral, but is the most “liked” video in YouTube history. It’s hard to go anywhere without hearing the catchy tune nowadays.

Riding off this culture phenomenon, Japanese, Chinese and Korean traditions all converged here at the Fair this weekend for an upbeat festival. There were all sorts of interesting things to see (and taste!) From “stinky” tofu–and it really did smell–to warm, crunchy egg rolls to a variety of flavored boba smoothies, it was an adventure from start to finish.

Check out what some of the booths had to offer in the photos below:

Oh, and in case you were curious, here’s the video, Gangnam Style:

Fair Food Friday: A Deep-Fried Finale

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Deep-fried Oreos

No Fair season would be complete without a blog post dedicated to all things deep-fried! You won’t find this much food craziness anywhere outside the Fair and certainly not in any restaurants. It’s no secret that Chicken Charlie is the King of all things deep-fried. He has it down to an art form AND a science. Think about it, how do you deep-fry ice cream, keep a warm, battered exterior and a frozen treat on the inside? He does it.

Deep-fried Dodger Dog

One of our newer items at the Fair are the deep-fried Dodger dogs. This L.A. team made a huge comeback this year, surprising fans and haters alike with a pretty good season! They were even #1 in the National League for awhile! Fans of all ages will remember with fondness stepping into the stadium and cheering on the boys in blue while munching on Dodger Dogs. Thank to Chicken Charlie, new memories can be made at the Fair, bringing a piece of baseball nostalgia to the grounds, deep-fried style.

Deep-fried cookie dough is next on the “must try” list. Talk about a warm, gooey mess! Looking deceptively tame in its powdered sugar cage, the cookie dough bursts forth in a taste of dough, chocolate and yes it oozes and oozes sugary deliciousness. You will definitely want to bring napkins along for this one, but the mess is worth it!

Deep-fried cookie dough. Credit to Patch

Those are just a few of the foods to try at the Fair. But the list of deep-fried novelties goes on:

  • Kool-Aid
  • Twinkies
  • Frog legs
  • Peanut butter & jelly
  • Klondike bars
  • Cereal
  • Thin Mints (yes, even Girl Scout cookies)
  • Pineapple
  • Spam

Whew! That’s one sugar-filled Fair Food Friday! We’re sad it’s our last one of the season but it has been a blast trying out all the different treats. Which ones were your favorite?

 

The most delicious food competition yet

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Today’s food competition was all about the chocolate: Chocolate chip cookies and brownies, that is. Walking into Culinary Styles is like a waft of heaven with the warm, inviting scents of freshly baked cookies and rich, chocolaty brownies drifting towards your nose. I have to say, I envy the judges of their job yesterday!

Frank n Chips

In first place for chocolate chip cookies was David Miller, Los Angeles with his Gramercy recipe, a gooey sweet treat that made the judges coo in delight. Second place went to Jessica Kubel, Monrovia for her unique chocolate bacon toffee cookies. In third was Maya Howard, Montclair for her fun Frank n Chips cookies, getting into the spirit of Fall with a classic Halloween character.

The brownies were equally fun to look at. Danielle Buckland from Ontario snagged first with her Blondies brownies creation. Jessica Kubel took second again with her white chocolate mixture!

Wine Down Wednesday – Sparkling Wines

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One way to relax at the Fair is to participate in our wine education program. Top chefs and wine experts share their knowledge with guests, providing wine and cheese for all! (21+) You can get the full schedule and list of speakers here.

Tonight, Playboy Mansion’s Executive Chef William S. Bloxom-Carter will be at the Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace to reveal some of his best tips for successful hospitality, hosting parties and of course, the best wine. Be sure to check that out if you get the chance!

On Sunday I had the pleasure of learning from Rene Chazottes, the director of wine at Newport Beach’s Pacific Club and Maitre Sommelier in his session: “Celebrate! Every Day’s A Good Day for Sparkling Wine.” He served six different wines, made from Spain, Italy, New York, Australia and France as well as four cheeses.

The first, Montcadi Cava, Metodo Tradicional was a bronze medal winning wine from Spain, soft on the palate, leaving a delightfully sweet, crisp feeling. Paired with the French Tomme de Savoie cheese, this wine gives off an edgy, aromatic flavor. Don’t let the $6 price fool you either. This wine is better quality than the price lets on. As Rene said in his session, “I’m not cheap. I’m inexpensive!”

The second wine was from Italy. Rene claimed it to be the most popular of the six in America. Third up was Rene’s personal favorite, silver medalist Chateau Frank, Blanc de Blanc from New York, heavy on the palate and the most complex of flavors. This wine had a greenish tinge, indicating a cool climate where the grapes never fully ripen. Fruity and deliciously fresh was the sparkling brut from Rack & Riddle, combining strawberries and raspberries. Fifth featured was a brut cuvee from Jacob’s Creek in Australia, pale and sweet in comparison to the previous two wines.

Cremant Rose France, $18

The crowd favorite was, by far, wine #6: Le Grand Courtage’s Cremant Rose, straight from France. This wine had a light pink color to it which, according to Rene is on account of the number of grapes used to create the wine. Originating from the Loire Valley and finished in Bordeaux, makers wait for as long as 18 months before they sell this wine. Rene suggested pairing this drink with one of the world’s finest cheeses, the French Societe Roquefort. It’s intense flavor pairs well with the light, sweet taste of the wine.

All six wines had unique traits. Rene had Fairguests see for themselves through scent, color and of course, taste. If you would like a chance to learn more about wine, cheese and olive oil, be sure to stop by!

Om Nom Nom… Food competitions continue at the Fair

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1st place eggrolls by George Rametta

One aspect I love about the Fair are the many opportunities culinary artists have to display their talents. Whether its grilled cheese, chocolate goodies, hummus or BBQ, there are multiple categories to enter in. It’s a very tangible (and tasty!) way to see the imaginations of some of our guests.

This past weekend was chock full of food: tabbouleh, hummus and egg rolls on Saturday and enchiladas, salsa and guacamole today! I can’t wait to see how the enchiladas turn out.

Yesterday we had several winners:

George Rametta, 1st place – Steak and cheese eggroll drizzled with BBQ sauce
Virginia Joines, 2nd place – Traditional Filipino lumpia
Heather Monoian, 1st place – Tabbouleh, parsley scallion hummus
Steven Joines, 2nd place – Roasted red pepper hummus
Theresa Goodell, 3rd place – Theresa’s South of the Border hummus
Lauren Jarvis, 4th place – Creamy roasted garlic hummus

Congratulations to all!

Fair Food Friday : Heat Wave

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Most days at the Fair we like to switch things up… check out the latest from the creative minds at America’s Kids or hang out with the brilliance emanating from Genius or maybe even taking a stroll through the Garden Railroad. But on Fridays we are always, without fail, all. about. the food. It’s called Fair Food Fridays for a reason!

This weekend marks week 3 of the Fair, not to mention the hottest it’s been all month! (We are talking 100+ degrees people.) For those of you brave enough to venture out before the sun sets, there are plenty of snacks and drinks to help you stay cool. Here are my top five choices:

1. Hot Dog On A Stick Lemonade

What goes better with a crunchy corn dog than ice cold lemonade? Sweet, lemony fresh juice chilled with crushed ice cubes paired with some fries or your corn dog and you are set to relax in the shade or walk to your next “must do” of the day.

2. Dr. Bob’s Handcrafted Ice Cream

Freshly made banana split from Dr. Bob's

We’re not talking just any ice cream. We are talking Dr. Bob’s ice cream. As in, the ice cream made right here on the fairgrounds with flavors including Tahitian vanilla, cinnamon, Mississippi Mud, maple walnut, dark chocolate and several others. They even have a banana split doused in pineapple, whipped cream and fudge. It’s sweet, it’s yummy and a great reprieve from the heat. There’s more to life than Baskin Robbins and Coldstone’s Creamery after all!

3. Big Kona Huna Shaved Ice

My mango and strawberry creation. Thanks Big Kona Huna!

With over 20 flavors to choose from, it’s not hard to create the perfect blend of flavors.

While favorites include Wild Cherry and Tiger’s Blood, my personal favorite is mango and strawberry.

If you want to be a little more adventurous, you can ask for it Hawaiian style and get your colorful ice doused in condensed milk. (It tastes better than it sounds.)

The best part? This icy, chilly concoction is only $5!

 

 

4. Dip n’ Dots

Dip n’ Dots brings cute and sweet to a whole new level. In a nut shell, Dip n’ Dots serves tiny, itsy bitsy ice cream circles in a dish for you to eat. Flavors include the standard vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, but birthday cake, cookie dough, banana split, moose tracks, strawberry cheesecake yogurt and even rainbow sherbert styles are offered as well! This has been a favorite treat of mine for many years and I am always glad it’s at the Fair!

5. Margaritas

For the 21+ crowd, sometimes all you need to forget the heat is a good drink. The margaritas can be found throughout the Fair and are a mixture of sweet and tangy, providing a wonderful escape from the incessant heat.

Ghirardelli, Ghirardelli, Golly What A Day!

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A Ghirardelli brownie entry!

Scrumptious, chocolately goodness graced the tables of Culinary Styles on Sunday as 35 contestants laid their best baked goods out for the annual Ghirardelli chocolate contest. The rules were simple: make a confection using Ghirardelli chocolate! The result was a decadent mish-mash of cookies, cakes, cupcakes, chocolate cocktails, cheesecake and even scones.

First prize when to Upland resident Peggy Linberg for her Mini-Whoopie Passion Bites. Second place was Heather Monoian from Thousand Oaks with her dreamy Silk Fantasy Cheesecake while Norco resident Nellie Hatton received third place for her amazing FOUR layer chocolate cheesecake. Congratulations to our winners!

Check out the photos of our winners and their desserts below:

Fair Food Friday: Berries and chocolate and caramel, oh my

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Saw these treats and just HAD to take a photo of them

There’s something about the food each year that truly completes the Fair experience. It’s adventure and nostalgia all rolled into one. We decided it would be fun to bring back last year’s Fair Food Fridays and highlight some of our favorite treats each week!

I enjoy a deep-fried anything as much as the next Fairgoer but there is a lot to be said about the healthier side of life–if you count caramel apples and chocolate dipped strawberries as healthy, of course! I made a quick visit to Terri’s Berries today and got a little peek at what goes on behind the scenes.

To make a white chocolate caramel apple, there’s a lot of work to be done. First, Terri selects a crispy apple from her supply of fruit and dips it in caramel. Once the caramel has hardened, she dips it again into creamy white chocolate.

Then, before it has a chance to completely harden, she rolls the caramel-chocolate apple into a variety of tasty snacks, whether that’s sprinkles or, in this case, crumbled Oreo cookies. Once the chocolate and Oreo combination has completely dried, it is all ready to be set on display and then, delivered into the hands of an eagerly waiting Fair guest.

Terri also offers chocolate-covered strawberries, fresh fruit bowls and an assortment of healthy snacks for those ready for an action-packed day at the Fair. Make sure to stop by if you get a chance and take a glance at her treats. They look AND taste absolutely amazing!

Oreos + white chocolate + caramel = YUM

Berries ready for eating