You can hear the food block at the Lane County Fair before you see it. Oil sizzling in the fryer, impatiently waiting for another batch of curly fries. Vendors shouting out their fare, competing with one another for the customers who mill about with their mouths watering. Popcorn popping, burgers grilling, and cotton candy machines whirring to life as hungry fairgoers pass by.
County fairs are known for showcasing outrageous foodie creations, and I was chomping at the bit to try them. Vendors at the Lane County Fair didn’t disappoint. I ate my way through the fair, trying everything from trendy, Instagrammable Korean corndogs to an outrageous mound of curly fries drenched in cheese sauce. Here’s what I ordered while spending a day in the fair’s the deep-fried paradise.
Korean corn dog
According to the owner of the Korean Corndog Booth, customers waited in line for 45 minutes to sink their teeth into this delectable treat. After trying my first Korean corndog, I think I would wait that long, too. I opted for the mozzarella dog crusted with potatoes, and added ketchup and sweet and sour sauce to the top.
The Korean corndog’s coating was salty, crunchy and even a little bit sweet, and the mozzarella inside was perfectly melted for a satisfying cheese pull.
Deep-fried Pepsi
Part of the fun of ordering deep-fried Pepsi was seeing how the chefs at the stall were going to pull it off. Would it come out as a cake? As a doughy ball with Pepsi syrup in the middle? These were my predictions, so I was surprised when a Pepsi cup filled with little funnel cake-like squiggles came out through the window, topped with strawberries and whipped cream…