LA County Fair - I Didn't Go for the Food (or did I?)
Here's proof that advertising (sometimes) works: a work friend of mine mentioned a funny TV commercial for the L.A. County Fair, which I didn't see, but it prompted me to go to YouTube and look up their past commercials, which I found, which made me laugh, and made me decide to go to the Fair this weekend. For whatever millions of dollars they spent in media, I was happy to contribute my $10 share.
In case you haven't seen them, these TV spots are pretty clever...
TVC 1: Does Cashmere Come From Cows?
TVC 2: What Comes From a Cow?
Iced caramel macchiato!! Precious!
I have fond memories of the Fair - my first "real" job was working the cash register for Grant's Hamburgers at the Orange County Fair, age 15. Not only did it indoctrinate me to the working world (as a carnie, nonetheless), it gave me a special nostalgia for the lights, sounds, tastes, and smells you only find at the Fair.
So when Brian and I decided to hit the LA County Fair Friday night, I went partially for the memories, and partially for the food. I mean, where else do you have an excuse to eat really, REALLY unhealthy food, then go shop for a jacuzzi or a ski-doo? (besides Wal-Mart)
Friday-night traffic aside, we got to the Pomona Fairgrounds fairly quickly, and we hit the ground running. For our first course, we started with a corn dog, nachos, frozen banana, and chocolate-dipped cone (not pictured). Sorry, I was so excited I forgot to take out my camera!
Then we moved on to some freshly fried potato chips, accurately named "Tasti Chips."
After gorging on all that food, we took a spin on the Zipper, the swings, the Moscow Circus fun house, the Euroslide.com (sadly, not a real Web site), and the Orbiter. Uggh. Maybe we should've held off on the food until after the rides... why do all carnival rides have to involve so much spinning? And spinning... and spinning...
After what seemed like an hour of spinning, we decided to settle our tummies with some dessert.
First a funnel cake. I didn't realize there were two different varieties of funnel cake: Pennsylvanian Dutch Funnel Cake, which is the kind pictured below, and Mexican Funnel Cake, which resembles churros squeezed through a much thinner, longer tube. Take your pick.
After that (what? you think we were full?), we split a caramel apple. Plain, no nuts, fresh from the bottom row.
It was at the end of all this gorging that I caught sight of the food miracle I wanted to try most: Deep Fried Oreos and Deep Fried Twinkies. I mean, really...
Despite their claims - "Try Me I'm So Good" - I was too full to stomache even one more bite. Too bad, I would've really liked to give you an update and some photos.
Maybe you can go to the LA Country Fair, try them, and update me. Then we'd really push the new media advertising bubble full circle.
LA County Fair
Ends October 1st
Wed-Thurs: 11AM-10PM
Fri: 11AM-midnight
Sat: 10AM-midnight
Sun: 10AM-10PM
Located at the Pomona Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
6 comments:
Hey Colleen,
I love fairs. Cat and I go to the OC Fair every year. Awesome post. Brought back some great memories.
- CP
The next time I try to talk us into a ride based on the name of our little Orbit...Just...slap me or something - i still can't keep down any food.
Great idea! A friend of mine tried to get me to go this past weekend, but lame me didn't take him up on his offer. I'm thinking of hitting the fair next Wednesday night for the Annual SPAM Competition! =)
They have some surprisingly good BBQ places too, (mostly Texas Style)but i also left with the temptation of trying some Fried Oreos.
Colleen
I couldn't believe it when you said you worked for Grants Hamburgers at the OC Fair. Could you contact me at Tastichips@cox.net? I am the current owner and possibly your old boss depending on the timeframe. Thank you again for your kind words we try to make the best product possible.
Lori S.
I have been going to the L.A. County Fair since the 1960s. The food used to be much better. Now I don't get anything besides corn dogs, BBQ brisket and corn (at $4 a pop no less). I think Chicken Charley's was the worst offender. We got some greasy, fried until the meat turned rock hard wings that had turned cold. They a decent tasting sauce, but it was also cold.
Perhaps I'm hitting the wrong places, but i'm sticking to BBQ.
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