10 Foods You Have to Eat at the 2022 Kentucky State Fair
The 2022 Kentucky State Fair is underway at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. I spent opening day like there like I have for 20 of the last 22 years and, like always, much of my time was spent eating. So, to get you geared up for your trip to the Fair, I decided to put together a list of the 10 Foods You Have to Eat at the Kentucky State Fair. And, yes. I built this list from experience. I have been coming to and enjoying the Kentucky State Fair for two decades and I have pretty much tried everything there is to try.
#10- ADULT SLUSHIES
I have to make a confession. Because I was technically "working" during my visit to the Kentucky State Fair, I couldn't really indulge in an adult slushee. So, instead, I just stood there and stared at them longingly. There are four flavors to choose from and all of them look AMAZING! In fact, they kind of remind me of my high school prom when my friends and I decided it would be cool to pour vodka into our slushees we bought at the Pantry. That was NOT good. These, on the other hand, look insanely delicious and I want to go back "off the clock" so I can have one (or three). Choose from Pina Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri, Bourbon Slushee or Margarita.
#9-JUMBO SMOKED TURKEY LEGS
Look, if you are hungry and want to walk around the Fair gnawing on a piece of meat that will make you look like an extra in Jurassic Park, get one of these. The smoked turkey legs are indeed JUMBO and are the highlight of the food served over at the Savori Tent. And, bonus! You can actually watch (and smell) them being smoked. They are SOOOO good.
#8- A PORK CHOP SANDWICH FROM THE KENTUCKY PORK PRODUCERS
If you're on a tear to eat at the Kentucky State Fair, find that tent! There are endless goodies underneath it and all the vendors are indeed Kentucky Proud.
You'll find the Kentucky Pork Producers there and they're serving up one of my go-to State Fair foods. Their pork chop sandwiches are HUGE and scrumptious.
#7- DEEP FRIED SOMETHING
I put the word "something" there for a reason. Honestly, you can't come to the Kentucky State Fair without getting something that's deep-fried and you can literally pick your poison. Some traditionalists love a basic funnel cake or elephant ear. Some folks like Deep Fried Oreos or Deep Fried Girl Scout Cookies. The booth above even offers Deep Fried Snickers. There's a large margin for error here because, well, you just can't go wrong when you order something sweet that has been deep fried to Hell and back.
#6-LEMON SHAKE UPS
The Kentucky State Fair can get really hot and you'll get thirsty, quickly, walking around the Fair and Exposition Center. Nothing will quench that thirst like a Lemon Shake Up. Good news! You'll have plenty to choose from. There are infinite booths that serve some kind of lemonade or shake up and they're all basically the same. Water, lemon and a BUNCH of sugar. Shake it up and throw one back!
#5- BRISKET SANDWICH FROM THE KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Another staple of the Great Kentucky Proud Cook Out tent is the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association. At their booth, they always serve up some ridiculously tasty ribeye sandwiches. Plus, they serve up these! My favorite item on their menu. Their brisket sandwiches are DELICIOUS! Plus, you can decide how you want them. I ate mine bone dry today. My friend Ashley clobbered hers with some BBQ sauce. Neither one of us left anything on the bun. Heck, there was no evidence left of the bun either.
#4: JUMBO EARS OF CORN
One of the staples of The Great Kentucky Proud Cook Out tent is the Corn Growers Association booth featuring ridiculously big ears of corn that are just soaked in butter. And shout out to Gallrein Farms of Shelbyville, KY for serving up those jumbo ears this year. Eating them will both delight and exhaust you. Every time I shuck one of these things with my teeth, I immediately start wishing I had some dental floss with me. But, you know what? That's all part of the experience and I'll proudly walk around the Fair the rest of the day with kernels of corn stuck between my teeth.
#3: THE DONUT BURGER
When you pick up your official 2022 Kentucky State Fair Visitor's Guide, you will quickly notice that there's a photo of the wildly popular Donut Burger on the front cover. Arguably, this has been the most popular food at the Fair for years now. And why not? I mean, look at it!
It's a hamburger sandwiched between two fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. Someone today asked me to describe it. I said, "It's meat and sugar. How can you go wrong?" The answer is simple. You can't.
#2- FRIED MAC & CHEESE BALLS
There's a reason the folks who own the Cheezy Does It! food truck have been featured on the TV show Carnival Eats. This is some good eatin'. And their Fried Mac & Cheese Balls are the stars of this show. There are a couple of different varieties available: regular and Lobster Mac & Cheese Balls. I've had both and each will rock your world. But, after today, I have to confess. I couldn't keep my claws off the lobster balls. LOL.
#1- PINEAPPLE WHIP
Though I built and shared a Top 10 list, there's truly no competition for the top spot on it. The Pineapple Whip at the Kentucky State Fair is the absolute best. In fact, don't just take it from me. Take it from the tour guide riding on our shuttle today. When we got near the Pineapple Whip booth, he blew the siren on his horn and yelled at the driver to stop the shuttle. He dismounted from the back of the tram, went over the booth and came back with a Pineapple Whip on a cone. He said, "I get one of these every day. I love these things." Trust me when I tell you. You will too.