You know, I think it’s pretty easy to get caught up in the lights and the action of the New York State Fair, especially when it comes to the food. Having worked the last three years covering The Fair and the food, and getting to work behind the scenes with some of the restaurants there, it’s really easy to chase the cheese pull, the cross-section, and the “best of the best.” But behind most of these Fair vendors are people trying to make a living and do their best to grow their businesses and provide for their families.
Now, this might seem like an odd way to kick off my first blog on trying the food at the New York State Fair — especially when I’m talking about a booth like Fair Deli, where owner Zach is constantly trying to outdo himself and come up with the next viral hit. Today he invited me and some other creators and influencers out to his booth at The Fair to try some of his new hits. I got to try his new Dubai Hawaiian Roll, his Captain Pickle, and his Dr. Pickle Float.
Some of these I’ve had conversations with Zach about over the last year, when he’s dropped hints about what he might be offering at The Fair this year. I’ll get to the flavors in just a little bit. First, I want to stop for a second and admire this guy’s drive.
The State Fair is something Zach and his family think about all year long. For the last 12 months, Zach has been researching, observing, traveling, taste-testing, dreaming and developing different dishes and recipes to bring something unique and special to the Fair. And, at the end of this year’s Fair, they’ll be thinking about ways to make next year’s even better.
So when I get to make a video about the food he’s created, it’s not just about making a video that’s going to get me 100,000 views (maybe, hopefully). And it’s not just about tasting some delicious creation he came up with. It’s about admiring the hard work, dedication and determination he puts into the New York State Fair every year.
The Dubai Hawaiian Roll
It seems pretty simple and pretty odd at the same time — I’ve never heard of someone deep-frying a Hawaiian roll before.
Zach starts by taking three Hawaiian rolls and putting them on a thick skewer before dropping them into a deep fryer, just long enough to get them warm with a slight snap on the outside. Then he covers them in sweetened condensed milk, pistachio cream, crushed pistachios and toasted shredded coconut.
What you get is this warm, gooey, sweet, delicious treat. It’s messy, but you can walk around The Fair and eat it right off the stick. And with three rolls on there, it’s perfect for sharing with two other people — if you want to share.
Captain Pickle
This creation is one that Zach has been talking to me about for a couple of months.
He starts with a bed of pickle chips — and I mean it’s a bed of pickle chips. Then he tops it with deep-fried shrimp, which get a drizzle of their house-made Dr Pepper reduction and a spicy, mayo-based chili sauce. At the end, a little dill seasoning.
This is also really good. Pickles don’t seem like much by themselves, but with all the pickles and all the shrimp in here, it’s definitely a meal. The shrimp are frozen, but it’s a higher-quality frozen shrimp, so you get a nice bite with a good crunch. The pickles, the shrimp, the sauces — it all just works together, and it’s delicious.
I mean, what are we really going to say about fried shrimp? It’s delicious.
Dr. Pickle Float
I think it was two or three years ago that Zach launched the Dr. Pickle, and if memory serves, it was a last-minute decision to serve it. Sounds simple enough: A nice cold Dr. Pepper with pickle juice added, pickle chips and half a dill pickle as garnish. This year, he’s upping things by adding vanilla ice cream.
That’s right: Vanilla ice cream, Dr. Pepper, pickle juice, pickle chips and half a dill pickle. And somehow, it works.
It almost tastes like a Dr. Pickle cream soda. You lose some of the harshness of the Dr. Pepper with the vanilla ice cream, but you also don’t feel like you’re drinking a heavy float. It’s incredible — It doesn’t feel like a lot. It feels like a refreshing drink.
The Takeaway & Where to Find Fair Deli at The Fair
Fair Deli is located in the same spot they’re at every year — their huge trailer can be found almost directly across from the Poultry Building, behind The Eatery.
You should definitely get out there to check them out, because the food Zach’s created this year is spectacular, along with some of the traditional Fair favorites he’s had in the past. But you should also get out there because this is an incredibly hard-working family that puts just about everything they have into making the Fair a spectacular experience for all of us every year.
Yes, go for the Dubai Hawaiian Roll. Go for the Captain Pickle. And you absolutely need to try that Dr. Pickle Float. But when you do, remember there’s a family behind that Fair Deli booth that has spent the last 12 months thinking about what they could create to make your trip to The Fair more memorable and tastier.
I think they nailed it.
