The End of The Fair: Geauga County Fair and the End of Summer

by Maybelle's Mom

Tuesday September 09, 2008, 9:00 PM

Salty, sweet, fried and grilled. A visit to the county fair.

I am always a little sad at the end of church fair and carnival season. I never have enough time to visit enough of this seasonal gatronomy. This year I made a really dismal effort at outdoor eating. So, come labor day, I knew I had but one more chance--the Geauga County Fair. I hadn't been to the fair in years but there were still nostagic memories of soggy fries in vinegar and maple candy.

The Fair had everything that one expects at the anticipated high expensive. After a trip through the animal stalls and some serious hand purification, we stocked up on roasted corn, sweet potato fries, ribs, perogies, smoked turkey legs, calzones and funnel cakes. Before being too disgusted at our haul, please remember I ate all this food for your benefit and amusement.

After I came out of serious food coma, I tried to assess the culinary positives of such food. The corn was quite nice though hard to ruin. The perogies were also tasty though slightly doughier than I prefer. The turkey leg was scrumptious in a medieval fair, Flintstones manner.

But, really, the thing about this fair and all fairs is not culinary innovation, it is about continuity. Nothing proves this more than the beloved funnel cake. Can you say fair without thinking of that lovely fried dough? At every fair, for my whole life, the flavor of the funnel cake is the same; sweet and warm. I have never funnelcakes them at home because I don't need to start an addiction. So, once a year, I attend an outdoor festival and chow down. The rest of the year that glorious, oily sweetness lingers in my memory full of summer warmth and joy. Here's to next summer and more funnelcake.