Here’s a Mat-Su experience that every foodie should enjoy at least once. Although I’ll warn you that once won’t be enough. The annual Alaska State Fair, held in The Mat-Su, is Alaska’s largest and most popular event. It has everything from tractor pulls, livestock auctions, rodeos and big name concerts, to carnival rides, traditional dance performances, fireworks displays and a competitive giant cabbage weigh-off! No joke. Some of those giant vegetables get trucked in on their own freight pallet.
One thing you’ll see a lot of at the state fair – see a lot and smell a lot – is a variety of delicious food. Peppered across the fairground’s 300 acres is a broad range of food service venues, offering tantalizing treats like fried cheese curds, corn on the cob, juicy burgers, candied apples – even bread bowls of delicious chowder and steaming cups of authentic Russian borscht! The only thing as abundant as the food at the Alaska State Fair is the multitude of local Mat-Su residents ready to share their personal recommendations. So, which fair flavors do Alaskans say you should absolutely not miss? I’ve invited the rest of The Mat-Su Alaska team to share their recommendations with you.
“My advice is to try everything! To do that you will have to return to the Alaska State Fair many times, but it’s worth it. My top recommendations are the parmesan tacos from Taco Dan’s, a baked potato from Potato Palace, and Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cake for dessert.”
– Casey Ressler, President & CEO
“The fish tacos at Tres Amigos are so good! Becky’s Original Kettle Korn is also a must when we go to the fair. I was also going to recommend Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cake, but I don’t want to just copy Casey. The mini donuts from Rollin Donuts are also a fantastic dessert.”
– Tasha Belka, Administrative Manager
“I don’t care if Casey said it first. It’s Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cake for me.”
– Dan McDonough, Visitor Services Manager
“You can’t beat the farm fresh veggies at the state fair. Alaska’s carrots are so delicious! Oh, and add my vote to Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cake. I eat mine with an insane amount of powdered sugar.”
– Katie Reeves, Membership Manager
Any Mat-Su residents reading this blog post may be as surprised as I was that nobody mentioned Porkey’s pork chop on a stick, the turkey leg at Gobbler’s Grille, all the classic eats at Husky Burger, Talkeetna Spinach Bread and so many more cult favorites. This is exactly my point! Even if it’s not your first Alaska State Fair, you should never stop asking others for their fair food recommendations. Someone may surprise you with something you’ve never even heard of before, and every year new eats are showing up on the scene.
My personal recommendations are the peanut potatoes at Bushes Bunches, then check out the impressive list of sweet and savory crepes at Crepes De Paris. Get those fingers nice and sticky from a delicious crepe, then cover them in powdered sugar from, you guessed it, Aunt Linda’s Funnel Cake.
