I tend to do my online work at the Loudonville Library. As of this week; to get to the library requires a trip through the sights and smells of the 125th Loudonville Street Fair. I can't believe that this day has reached 79F! It is good that the weather is pleasant for the fair-goers. The customary crunch of the leaves under foot and their dry earthy sent combine into memories of past street fairs and the onward march toward Halloween.
The fall season, for me, seems to start with the fair. The food venders take the majority of my attention!!! There are the local Lions club tent, the American Legion and Eagles all provide very nice homemade foods (i.e. beef/veggie soup almost exactly like my grandmother use to make - this is found at the Lions tent). Then there is the fried apple slices vendor. The apple is sliced while you wait and then dipped into a batter, deep-fried, then coated with cinnamon and sugar. This is nothing like the over-deep-friend choices we have today. It is like a cinnamon & sugar cake doughnut with a warm apple center. I would suggest apple cider with this.
For those who don't mind hearing their arteries hardening while eating, there is the Swiss cheese on a stick. This is what you might expect. A chunk of Swiss cheese placed into a stick, dipped into batter and deep-fried. When I was younger I could eat two of these a day (the fair lasts 5 days). Now one will last the entire length of the fair. For some reason it seems natural to have apples and Swiss cheese deep-friend. I don't believe that Oreo's and candy bars should ever be deep-fried.
Last but not least is an odd combination that can only be enjoyed at a fair. Fair fries and lemonade. Few places provide the thin, darkened french fries with the little table holding large shakers of salt and the invariable squirt-bottle of cider vinegar. Since the fair comes but once a year, I splurge on the outrageously overpriced small (or medium if hungry) french fry decorated paper cup. To wash this very hot and very vinegared treat down I must have a lemonade.
Buying a lemonade at a fair is a treat for the eyes. As you walk up your senses are assailed with the bright yellow lemons, already cut in half, floating in a clear plastic glass topped with a lemon decorated paper cup and all the makings of a very sour/sweet drinkable treat. The scent of sugar and lemons is unmistakable. On warm days like this it is perfect (except for the the equally thirsty bees). Once you have placed your order you are entertained as the vendor grabs the stacked cups, adds some ice and then shakes the whole kitten kaboodle a preordained number of times to produce the perfect lemony drink with most of the crystal sugar still at the bottom. Just think, a drink you can chew!!! Only at the fair.
Well, time to enjoy some fair food. Oh, yes there are rides and other types of venders, but they all lack the messy goodness of an elephant ear or funnel cake!
The fall season, for me, seems to start with the fair. The food venders take the majority of my attention!!! There are the local Lions club tent, the American Legion and Eagles all provide very nice homemade foods (i.e. beef/veggie soup almost exactly like my grandmother use to make - this is found at the Lions tent). Then there is the fried apple slices vendor. The apple is sliced while you wait and then dipped into a batter, deep-fried, then coated with cinnamon and sugar. This is nothing like the over-deep-friend choices we have today. It is like a cinnamon & sugar cake doughnut with a warm apple center. I would suggest apple cider with this.
For those who don't mind hearing their arteries hardening while eating, there is the Swiss cheese on a stick. This is what you might expect. A chunk of Swiss cheese placed into a stick, dipped into batter and deep-fried. When I was younger I could eat two of these a day (the fair lasts 5 days). Now one will last the entire length of the fair. For some reason it seems natural to have apples and Swiss cheese deep-friend. I don't believe that Oreo's and candy bars should ever be deep-fried.
Last but not least is an odd combination that can only be enjoyed at a fair. Fair fries and lemonade. Few places provide the thin, darkened french fries with the little table holding large shakers of salt and the invariable squirt-bottle of cider vinegar. Since the fair comes but once a year, I splurge on the outrageously overpriced small (or medium if hungry) french fry decorated paper cup. To wash this very hot and very vinegared treat down I must have a lemonade.
Buying a lemonade at a fair is a treat for the eyes. As you walk up your senses are assailed with the bright yellow lemons, already cut in half, floating in a clear plastic glass topped with a lemon decorated paper cup and all the makings of a very sour/sweet drinkable treat. The scent of sugar and lemons is unmistakable. On warm days like this it is perfect (except for the the equally thirsty bees). Once you have placed your order you are entertained as the vendor grabs the stacked cups, adds some ice and then shakes the whole kitten kaboodle a preordained number of times to produce the perfect lemony drink with most of the crystal sugar still at the bottom. Just think, a drink you can chew!!! Only at the fair.
Well, time to enjoy some fair food. Oh, yes there are rides and other types of venders, but they all lack the messy goodness of an elephant ear or funnel cake!