It was a beautiful night and the biggest "Taste" yet! I heard between 1100-1200 people were in attendance and more food and games than ever before! I knew it would be busy when I exited from southbound Snelling onto Como Ave and I got in the end of a line of cars entering Gate 7. I figured I had made a good navigation decision as I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the line of cars behind me going under the bridge and back east on Como Ave!I parked and hiked up the hill and joined Mom & Dad and some friends David and Cindy in the International Bazaar.
Walking down the far outside wall, I found the Corn Roast, new to the Taste this year!
Next was Duke's Poutine with turkey gravy over cheese curds and French fries, but I decided to let someone else try that!
I grabbed an ice packed fresh lemonade and skipped over the line at Bayou Bobs (not interested in sauté Gator) and found Sara's Tipsy Pies!
Oh my! My new favorite food! They are flaky crusted hand pies made with local beer and liquor. I tried the "Bapple" (blueberry apple) and Salted Caramel Finnegan's Apple and they were so delicious! What's more is I like Sara's story and will support her business venture! I am not an advertiser in my blog, but this is worth a link! Sara's Tipsy Pies
I moved on down the wall and found Mancini's and they offered up Porketta Pig Wings and this year's new food is Mini Chocolate Chip Canolli. The Pig Wings are great but the Canolli was just OK, but there are lots more delicious desert options! (I'd rather have a mini-donut!)
The line was quite long for Peter's Hot Dogs, Dino's Gyro's and the Global Market.
I rounded the back end making my way back to our table, I found Lulu's Public House booth with the new Mac & Cheese cupcake and next door was the Sausage Sisters offering of Chicken Fiesta Sausage Hot Dish! I filled up a secondary plate!
Since I arrived a bit late, I felt I was behind the rest of the team!
Mom had eaten and was already playing Midway games and returned to the table with her winnings!
The Mac & Cheese cupcake garnered some Oohs and Aahhs from the group. It was quite large so we all had a bite. It was tasty, but I feel like it shares the quality of cheese curds, that once you have eaten lots of it, it feels heavy and hinders continued food consumption....like a rock in your stomach.
The Sausage Hot Dish was spicy and good, but is something I would make for a pot luck, not seek out at the Fair.
Corn...well, corn. Mmmmmm just goodness salted and dipped in butter.
I waited in line to get a beverage and I saw the Sweet Martha stand....I decided white wine went best with cookies.
Returning to our table I recruited help in gathering cookie cups to put in my baggie to bring home to my family. Just a piece of advice for cost conscious cookie consumers. Upon returning home, I poured all the cookies into last years empty cookie bucket. Seven cups of cookies barely filled the bucket ( and they were cold) By my calculations, it is a much better value, to find some friends and buy a bucket...don't waste money on just a cup.
A new donor at the Taste this year is the Midwest Dairy Group. They are what makes the Dairy Building, the Dairy Building. We got to try their new Salted Caramel Puff Corn Shake. I was just going to "taste" it, and I quickly found the cup empty!
It is a vanilla shake topped with puff corn and drizzled with caramel sauce. Good thing they gave a coupon for a free one during the fair! It was yummy!
I had consumed many sweet things and decided I needed something salty. Mmmmm....more corn.
The lines were shorter for food and the crowds around the Midway games of skill grew!
Dad tried the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings from West Indies Soul Food, and said they were OK. I wanted a Peter's Hot Dog!
I started filling up another plateful with a plain old Peter's dog, Chicken Tikka on a Stikka from Hot Indian Foods at the Global Market.
(I did not try the Kimchi 'n' Curry Poutine, but my friend Sonja said it was good) I picked up a Gyro from Dino's and a mini Lingonberry Ice Cream cone, that I had to eat as I walked.
I picked up a slice of Minneapple pie and headed back to our table. I have to say, the Minneapple Pie was rather mediocre. Go get a Tipsy Pie in the food building!!
This year there were so many people I knew at the event! I ran into Greg & MaryJo, Colleen & Dave, Lisa & Paul. Behind us at another table were some of the Simpson Street crew, Bartley & Sonja and some newer neighbors Nils & Jennifer, I met for the first time!
The Postiglione's (who are MY neighbors) donated their 1919 Root Beer for this event and I had a nice chat with them!
Because there were so many people to talk to and catch up with, I didn't get around to eating all he remainder of the food. I ate the hot dog and most of the mini ice cream cone, tried the Chicken Tikka (very good!) and then packed up the rest to take home.
I made my way home shortly after Mom & Dad, but some of the group, stuck around for a ride on the Space Needle!
Lots more great food than last year, more games and prizes and many more people. The More the Merrier!
Next year, I need to remind Margaret & Gayle to get tickets and come along!
Next was Duke's Poutine with turkey gravy over cheese curds and French fries, but I decided to let someone else try that!
 |
| David ate the Poutine! |
I grabbed an ice packed fresh lemonade and skipped over the line at Bayou Bobs (not interested in sauté Gator) and found Sara's Tipsy Pies!
Oh my! My new favorite food! They are flaky crusted hand pies made with local beer and liquor. I tried the "Bapple" (blueberry apple) and Salted Caramel Finnegan's Apple and they were so delicious! What's more is I like Sara's story and will support her business venture! I am not an advertiser in my blog, but this is worth a link! Sara's Tipsy Pies
I moved on down the wall and found Mancini's and they offered up Porketta Pig Wings and this year's new food is Mini Chocolate Chip Canolli. The Pig Wings are great but the Canolli was just OK, but there are lots more delicious desert options! (I'd rather have a mini-donut!)
The line was quite long for Peter's Hot Dogs, Dino's Gyro's and the Global Market.
I rounded the back end making my way back to our table, I found Lulu's Public House booth with the new Mac & Cheese cupcake and next door was the Sausage Sisters offering of Chicken Fiesta Sausage Hot Dish! I filled up a secondary plate!
Since I arrived a bit late, I felt I was behind the rest of the team!
Mom had eaten and was already playing Midway games and returned to the table with her winnings!
The Mac & Cheese cupcake garnered some Oohs and Aahhs from the group. It was quite large so we all had a bite. It was tasty, but I feel like it shares the quality of cheese curds, that once you have eaten lots of it, it feels heavy and hinders continued food consumption....like a rock in your stomach.
The Sausage Hot Dish was spicy and good, but is something I would make for a pot luck, not seek out at the Fair.Corn...well, corn. Mmmmmm just goodness salted and dipped in butter.
I waited in line to get a beverage and I saw the Sweet Martha stand....I decided white wine went best with cookies. Returning to our table I recruited help in gathering cookie cups to put in my baggie to bring home to my family. Just a piece of advice for cost conscious cookie consumers. Upon returning home, I poured all the cookies into last years empty cookie bucket. Seven cups of cookies barely filled the bucket ( and they were cold) By my calculations, it is a much better value, to find some friends and buy a bucket...don't waste money on just a cup.
A new donor at the Taste this year is the Midwest Dairy Group. They are what makes the Dairy Building, the Dairy Building. We got to try their new Salted Caramel Puff Corn Shake. I was just going to "taste" it, and I quickly found the cup empty!
I had consumed many sweet things and decided I needed something salty. Mmmmm....more corn.
The lines were shorter for food and the crowds around the Midway games of skill grew!
Dad tried the Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings from West Indies Soul Food, and said they were OK. I wanted a Peter's Hot Dog!
I started filling up another plateful with a plain old Peter's dog, Chicken Tikka on a Stikka from Hot Indian Foods at the Global Market.
 |
| Tipsy Pie! |
This year there were so many people I knew at the event! I ran into Greg & MaryJo, Colleen & Dave, Lisa & Paul. Behind us at another table were some of the Simpson Street crew, Bartley & Sonja and some newer neighbors Nils & Jennifer, I met for the first time!
 |
| (don't know who took this pic, but it's great!) |
Because there were so many people to talk to and catch up with, I didn't get around to eating all he remainder of the food. I ate the hot dog and most of the mini ice cream cone, tried the Chicken Tikka (very good!) and then packed up the rest to take home.
I made my way home shortly after Mom & Dad, but some of the group, stuck around for a ride on the Space Needle!
 |
| (photo courtesy of Sonja Mackey) |
Next year, I need to remind Margaret & Gayle to get tickets and come along!
Great job Heather. captured the whole thing. I was smart to go throw my balls for the prizes early. I did try the basketball but missed terribly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great report! The photo was taken on my phone by Caroline Bailey (yes, of those Baileys ).
ReplyDelete"..those Bailey's" are awesome :)
DeleteI think we might have to look into this next year!!! Now to figure out when we get our tickets from BSci. Thanks for sharing your blog!! :-)
ReplyDelete