North Carolina State Fair – Raleigh

I am the least maternal person I know. I am the least maternal person you know too. I’m willing to bet money on that. But I’d be lying if I  said the idea of being a mother one day has never crossed my mind, especially with the recent boom of babies on Facebook.

Today I dragged my father to the North Carolina State Fair, an event I’ve so sorely missed during all my years away from home. To be assigned vacation right during the fair is absolutely awesome, and when I found out, there were moments of excitement when I could barely catch my breath.

We just walked in.

Me: Let’s get a Turkey Leg!

Dad: But I don’t LIKE turkey…

Me: That’s okay, what do you like? Cheeseburgers? Fries? Bloomin’ onion? Ribs, barbecue, etc, etc…

Dad: I want pizza!

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find pizza at a state fair? I do now.

I also got some Sweet Corn. You can’t go wrong with corn. But make sure you go to a place that roasts it over a grill with a flame that chars the husk. This one just wasn’t that good without the char.

Me: Hey, let’s try a Frozen Banana dipped in bacon!

Dad: But you can’t mix sweet and salty.

Me: Haven’t you ever heard of salted caramel?

Dad: No.

Me: Oh just try it.

Dad: No! I don’t like it.

Me: How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried it?

I also got a Deep Fried Milky Way. Because what state fair is complete without a heart attack on a stick? Then we looked at the livestock.

Me: Oooo, look at those cows/goats/rabbits/[insert name of something cute and fuzzy here]!

Dad: They smelllllllllll

I love the state fair. Not just for the food but the culture and the fact that you can’t help but have fun. I even like the smells. I’m still not over the thrill of finally getting to go again for the first time in 6 years. And what’s even better, now that I’ve taken my dad to the fair, I feel like a child might be easier.

Fiesta Hermosa - Hermosa Beach

I've been craving some pretty disgusting things lately. Like deep-fried Twinkies and Cronuts in bacon grease kind of disgusting. There is not a chef alive who could cater to all the cravings I've had this week and not get nauseous just watching me eat. It's not like I ever need an excuse to pig out, but Fiesta Hermosa on Labor Day was pretty darn convenient.

I didn't know what Tri Tip was, but I'll try anything at least once. And the only thing better than $9 for a hoagie crammed full of juicy awesomeness sliced thin is $10 for the same thing with 25% more meat. This stuff is so tender and flavor-packed that just a couple drops of barbecue will do.

Roll some seaweed with rice and you have a party. Roll some seaweed with rice with a slice of grilled spam in the middle and you have a luau. This was my first experience with Spam Musubi, and if you're having the pure lard yearnings that have been dominating my week, this will hit the spot nicely.

Sandwich some rocky road ice cream between red velvet cookies and you have a fiesta. Never mind the festive eyesore, what better way to end a sweltering street fair than with an Cookie Sandwich?

Thanks to a grueling MD schedule, it's rare that I get a long weekend...or any weekend. I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend a precious Labor Day than at Fiesta Hermosa...undoing all my labor at the gym for the past year.