I go to the Minnesota State Fair every year, along with over a million other people. And I always bring a camera. So when Bon Appétit asked if I might photograph the food this year, I said hell yes. The fair, which runs through this Labor Day weekend, is known for its food, and we’re not talking about artisanal juices. Unless you count blueberry beer, which, why not? There are deep fried cheese curds, spam burgers and spam sushi, candied bacon donut sliders, neon shaved ice, french toast bites, pizza on a stick, pickle dogs, and something oozing cheese and red sauce we’ll call The Italian. Suddenly the bacon on a stick seems quaint in its simplicity. But that’s there, too. If you can’t make it to Minnesota this weekend, tour the fair below.
Susan Merrill, Shelley Hermanson, Jan Hermanson: I started out by photographing three women on a bench (two of them sisters), cooling off with some shave ice from Minnesnowii Shave Ice. It was a warm day, and their treat was disappearing fast.
From there I met Elin Elmquist, enjoying some French toast bites with her parents at The Blue Barn.
Burnt butt ends from R.C.’s BBQ.
Elisa and Ryan Olson sharing a bench and the burnt butt ends.
Pizza on a stick from Tino’s Pizza on a Stick.
Mike Kuzma sampling the Spam burger from SPAM.
A closer look of that Spam burger.
Deep fried bacon, green olives, cream cheese with ranch dip from Fried Olives on a Stick.
Moving across the fairgrounds, I stumbled upon Leah, Quincy, and Demarkus enjoying a turkey leg from Turkey to Go.
Cheryl Blue, cooling off with friends and some blueberry beer at LuLu’s Public House.
Tyler and Anya Solyntjes chowing on bacon on a stick from Big Fat Bacon.
Iron Range meat and potatoes from Giggle’s Campfire Grill.
Grant Larsen sipping on a chocolate chip cookie beer at Andy’s Grille.
One of my favorites, the Pickle Dog from Pickle Dog. Although the ingredients may seem basic (pickle, cream cheese, cold cut) this meal takes eating in front of the fridge to a whole new level.
The Strawberry Donut Delight from Strawberry Patch.
Deep fried pepper rings from Big Pepper.
Rene Urbina eating something spicy and Italian...
Candied bacon doughnut sliders from Minnesota Wine Country.
Deep fried cheese curds from Mouth Trap Cheese Curds.
Annie Yu wields a BBQ turkey leg from Donna’s Barbecue Sandwich.
Bacon-wrapped tater tots from Tot Boss.
Yes, this is Spam sushi from Sushi Rolls-Sabino's.
Cheesy French onion monkey bread from Blue Moon Dine-In Theater.
OOf-da Tacos from OOF-da Taco.
Vegie Fries owner Michael Rosenthal with an order of Vegie Fries.
Max Rosenthal, 14-year-old son of Michael Rosenthal, is saving the money he earned at the fair to buy a camera.
David Bowman is a photographer in Minnesota.