4 foods to try at the York Fair
Two years ago, Katrena Wagner received an extra credit assignment from her York Catholic grammar school teacher. All she had to do was go to the York Fair and take a photo of herself eating a Savory’s pumpkin funnel cake.
So Katrena went to the Fair with her mother Gina that year, purchased one of the sugary desserts, and took a bite.
Something about the treat resonated with the mother-daughter duo — maybe it was the fried dough, maybe it was the cinnamon, sugar and glaze on top or some combination of both — but now the pair come to the Fair every year to grab the treat.
“It’s just good,” Gina said. “I don’t even like pumpkin, but it’s just so good.”
Many fairgoers have similar stories about their favorite foods. Some longtime visitors remember going for a Bury’s burger or a chopped steak from the York firefighters stand. Newer foods like the gator tail or the “Bacon Bomb” hope to elicit such memories in the years to come.
Here are three other items passionate fair foodies suggested to try at the York Fair this year:
Steak sandwiches at York Little Theater
What is it: An Italian-style steak sandwich grilled on a flat top and placed on a soft roll with onions.
What you said: “It’s a great steak sandwich,” Daun Metzler said. “I like to support the locals and we’re supporting the York Little Theatre.”
What they said: “We instruct our grill people that we don’t order ahead,” said Duff Finn, volunteer at the stand. “The order comes in, the steak goes on and the customer gets a hot steak with lots of onion.”
Waffle ice cream sandwiches at Lola’s waffle and ice cream
What is it: Your choice of vanilla or Neapolitan ice cream placed between two freshly-cooked waffles
What you said: “We used to get these and make them on your own at home,” Ronald Davidson, of Manchester, Md. said. “It’s very good.”
What they said: Judy Nace, owner of Lola waffles and ice cream, said they’ve been using the same 450-degree waffle irons for decades. If they break, a family relative is able to repair them. The result is a waffle that customers say just tastes different, in a good way, of course.
Loaded baked potato from the York Jaycees
What is it: A baked potato with up to seven toppings — jalapenos, salsa, bacon bits, sour cream, chives, butter and cheese.
What you said: "The York Jaycees loaded baked potatoes are a truly great part of the fair's history," said Laura Gray, of East Prospect. "You can get that with a bottle of water for $5. Great taste and price."
What they said: “It’s that fair food that your parents always got,” said Mike Smith, a worker at the Jaycees’ stand. “The taste of our potatoes always draws a crowd.”
Anthony J. Machcinski is the Food and Drink reporter for the York Daily Record and FlipSidePA.com. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter, or email him at amachcinski@ydr.com.
York Fair Attendance Numbers
York Fair officials released the attendance for the first three days of the fair.
Friday: 66,029
Saturday: 57,112
Sunday: 86,364