A story this morning on NBC reported on this latest entry into the market for more and more outrageous fried foods. Fried Bubble Gum certainly falls into the category of strictly for morbid curiosity. Even at that, I doubt that any sort of curiosity would entice me to try the latest offering from the 2011 Texas State Fair in Dallas. Even looking at the photo is disturbing.
I would be curious if anyone can answer this question: How did the State Fair, that All American classic, which is ostensibly a celebration of the riches of the harvest, how did this annual ode to the wonderful products that come from our farmers become synonymous with the worst kinds of processed, factory foods? Fried candy bars, elephant ears, corn dogs and hot dogs, cotton candy, kettle corn, and now fried bubble gum.
Excellent point, well said! I saw this earlier this summer: http://gawker.com/5829686/deep+fried-butter-on-a-stick-a-real-thing-you-can-eat-in-iowa
What once was a bad joke in response to deep fried everything at state fairs has reached a new level! I especially like how it was said to commemorate the milk cow’s 100th birthday. Stay classy, Iowa!
Having been to the Minnesota State Fair a couple times – a place of all things fried, I can tell you it is about industrial farming these days with a nod to smaller scale producers. Given this, it becomes a celebration of quantity over quality – the biggest squash, the most productive milking cows, and the greasiest permutation of whatever industrial food product out there. Maybe there is hope with more people appreciating and buying directly from local producers, whether they be chefs for their restaurants or individuals shopping for themselves and families.