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Friday, November 21, 2008
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News Detail
From pineapples to salad, if it's edible, you're likely to find it fried and on a stick.
8/14/2008 12:50:20 PM
By Elizabeth Ahlin
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
DES MOINES -- A glint of anticipation flashed in Rita Stauffer's eye as she placed her order for the newest delicacy at the Iowa State Fair.
She handed over $4, leaned back and imagined one of her favorite desserts in fair-friendly form.
"I really love pineapple upside-down cake,'' Stauffer said. "It should be like that. . . . We'll find out.''
Pineapple-on-a-stick is the newest addition to the dozens of foods offered to fairgoers in stick form. It comes dipped in funnel cake batter and deepfried.
Rita and her husband, Leonard Stauffer, of Iowa Falls have been going to the fair since before they were married 38 years ago. Now they meet their children and grandchildren there.
When Stauffer bit into the sweet pineapple treat, she proclaimed it good. Not quite a pineapple upside-down cake, but a worthy addition to the fair.
And, as often happens, the sight of Stauffer's contented bite inspired some passers-by to stop and take a look.
"I gotta have one,'' said Jane King of Oxford, Iowa.
The desire to try the next big food has been a boon for Terri and Larry Fyfe, who launched the pineapple snack this year. The recipe was the brainchild of Jaedun, the couple's 6-year-old son.
After the fair last year, Jaedun wanted to eat all of his food on sticks. After serving him several pineapple chunks on skewers at home, they started to think he was on to something. They spent the winter testing different batters before settling on funnel cake for its sweet taste.
The taste, apparently, is a hit. Early on the second day of the fair, the Fyfes had sold 720 of the pineapple chunks. Next year, they plan to sell it at more than one of their stands.
Not everyone loves pineapple.
King's friend, Deb Zeitler of Iowa City, declined, dubbing herself "not as adventurous'' as King.
Seasoned fairgoers know what they like, but they're always looking for new favorite fair foods.
They like the miniature doughnuts served at JR's food stand and the strawberry shortcake served inside the Agriculture Building, as well as chocolate chip cookies and Grater Taters, which are curly potato shavings deep-fried and piled high in a basket.
But when she needs a reliable fair food, King stays traditional.
"Pork chop on a stick is still my favorite,'' she said.
Other new foods this year include salad-on-a-stick, miniature cinnamon rolls served with icing or ice cream and Cajun etouffee.
The Iowa State Fair runs daily through Sunday. Admission is $10. Call 800-545-FAIR (3247) or log on to www.iowastatefair.org for more information.
DES MOINES -- A glint of anticipation flashed in Rita Stauffer's eye as she placed her order for the newest delicacy at the Iowa State Fair.
She handed over $4, leaned back and imagined one of her favorite desserts in fair-friendly form.
"I really love pineapple upside-down cake,'' Stauffer said. "It should be like that. . . . We'll find out.''
Pineapple-on-a-stick is the newest addition to the dozens of foods offered to fairgoers in stick form. It comes dipped in funnel cake batter and deepfried.
Rita and her husband, Leonard Stauffer, of Iowa Falls have been going to the fair since before they were married 38 years ago. Now they meet their children and grandchildren there.
When Stauffer bit into the sweet pineapple treat, she proclaimed it good. Not quite a pineapple upside-down cake, but a worthy addition to the fair.
And, as often happens, the sight of Stauffer's contented bite inspired some passers-by to stop and take a look.
"I gotta have one,'' said Jane King of Oxford, Iowa.
The desire to try the next big food has been a boon for Terri and Larry Fyfe, who launched the pineapple snack this year. The recipe was the brainchild of Jaedun, the couple's 6-year-old son.
After the fair last year, Jaedun wanted to eat all of his food on sticks. After serving him several pineapple chunks on skewers at home, they started to think he was on to something. They spent the winter testing different batters before settling on funnel cake for its sweet taste.
The taste, apparently, is a hit. Early on the second day of the fair, the Fyfes had sold 720 of the pineapple chunks. Next year, they plan to sell it at more than one of their stands.
Not everyone loves pineapple.
King's friend, Deb Zeitler of Iowa City, declined, dubbing herself "not as adventurous'' as King.
Seasoned fairgoers know what they like, but they're always looking for new favorite fair foods.
They like the miniature doughnuts served at JR's food stand and the strawberry shortcake served inside the Agriculture Building, as well as chocolate chip cookies and Grater Taters, which are curly potato shavings deep-fried and piled high in a basket.
But when she needs a reliable fair food, King stays traditional.
"Pork chop on a stick is still my favorite,'' she said.
Other new foods this year include salad-on-a-stick, miniature cinnamon rolls served with icing or ice cream and Cajun etouffee.
The Iowa State Fair runs daily through Sunday. Admission is $10. Call 800-545-FAIR (3247) or log on to www.iowastatefair.org for more information.
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