Fortunately, there is more to life than politics. Welcome to a distraction. I’ll be back with something serious soon. For now, take a break and enter the world of the absurd.
We were raised in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. A nice place if you stick to the suburbs and countryside. But the major cities are struggling to revive from the loss of industry over the decades. The “Big E” has been a traditional fair - 4H stuff. Each state has a house where they crow about their traditions, features and fun.
We live in a beautiful Eastern Massachusetts town now. It’s a region where jobs are plentiful, politics progressive, and diversity is becoming the norm. The traffic is awful and the housing is unaffordable. But at least they haven’t gone completely bonkers about food. The Big E is held in West Springfield. An otherwise normal Western Massachusetts town. Yet, every September, this place loses its mind. A local “newspaper” describes it below. Politics is not the only thing humans have gone crazy about.
I know that 108 whacky food items is a lot to digest. So if you get weary reading, please at least scroll down to number 86: The “BBQ Sunday”.
What can you eat at The Big E? Here are 108 foods you can find at the fair
Updated: Sep. 12, 2024, 9:46 p.m.
|Published: Sep. 12, 2024, 1:16 p.m.
The Big E is unlike any other place you can go to eat in Massachusetts. The food has no rules, no restraints and no limit on how unhealthy it can be.
It’s like the Mos Eisley of food. You’ll never find a more wretched hive. But instead of “scum and villainy,” it’s more “sugar and deep-frying.”
OK, there may be a little bit of villainy based on how I feel leaving the fairgrounds every year.
How wild is the food? The Big E has everything from pickle pizza to pickle doughnuts. There are deep-fried deviled eggs and deep-fried ice cream sandwiches.
Heck, there’s a competition for what’s the unhealthiest burger at the fair, and the frontrunner isn’t the one called “The Flatliner Burger.” (It’s either the new Insanit-E Burger or the new Quad Father).
To celebrate the 108th year of The Big E, here are 108 foods you can find at the fair this year. With that said, 108 is a lot. So we’re going to break it down into sections.
Deep-Fried Foods: If You Can Dream It, You Can Fry It
When you think of state fairs, you think of oddball deep-fried foods. It started with Twinkies and Oreos. But now we’re deep-frying everything from butter to whoopie pies.
The Big E offers no shortage of deep-fried frivolities. Although, not everything is as delicious (or horrifying) as you’d imagine. For example, the Fried Butter is actually really good, especially if you load it up with cinnamon sugar.
As always, you can’t go wrong with a deep-fried Oreo.
1. Deep-Fried Oreos | Available throughout the fair
2. Giant Mozzarella Stick | From Angela’s Pizza | On Commonwealth Ave.
3. Deep-Fried Ice Cream Sandwich | From Deluca Family Foods | On New England Ave.
4. Chicken Parm Chompers | From Chompers | On New England Ave.
5. Fried Mac & Cheese Balls w/ Bacon | From E.B.’s Food For Fun | In The Food Court
6. Deep Fried Whoopie Pie | From Sugar Shakers | On New England Ave.
7. Fried Jelly Beans | From Marion’s Fried Foods | On New England Ave.
8. Deep-Fried BBQ Brisket Mac Taco from Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos (East Road)
9. Fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups | From Piche’s Beignets | Near the Court of Honor Stage
10. Deep-Fried Deviled Eggs | From The Deviled Egg | On East Road
11. Fried Snickers | From Piche’s Beignets | Near the Court of Honor Stage
12. Fried Butter | From Marion’s Fried Foods | On New England Ave.
13. Empanadas Tacos | From Macho Taco | On Commonwealth Ave.
14. Deep-fried Cheesecake & Strawberries | From Poppie’s | Throughout the fair
15. Fried Shepherd’s Pie | From E.B.’s Food For Fun | In The Food Court
16. Loaded Tots | From Tots-A-Lot | On New England Ave.
17. Deep-fried Meatballs on a Stick | From Deluca Family Foods | On New England Ave.
18. General Tso’s Colossal Fried Shrimp | From the Harpoon Beer Hall | On New England Ave.
19. Fried Camembert Cheese | From Hofbrauhaus Beer Garden | In The Food Court
20. Tempura Plate | From the Veggie Patch | On Commonwealth Ave.
21. Fried Kool-Aid | At Marion’s Fried Dough | On New England Ave.
22. Fried Banana Balls | From Pop ‘n Fresh Fried Dough | On West Road
23. Blooming Onion | From The Big Cheese | On New England Ave.
24. Fried Twinkies | Fried Cheesecake Trailer | Commonwealth Ave.
26. Mozzarella Fingers | Hot Wisconsin Cheese | On Springfield Road
Classic Big E Foods
There are some foods that have become institutions at The Big E. For starters, we’ve got the Cream Puff, which is produced on-site in The Big E’s own bakery.
We’ve also got fairground mainstays like fried dough and cheese curds. But The Big E also has some foods that have gained a cult following. That Baked Potato at the Maine Building? It has a separate tent to accommodate the lines that grow every year. There are also multiple spots to grab lobster rolls and kettle corn.
27. Big E Cream Puff | From the Big E Bakery | At the New England Food Center & Food Court
28. Maine Baked Potato | In the Maine Building
29. Lobster Rolls | In the Massachusetts Building, Rhode Island Building, Maine Building
30. Fried Cheese Curds | Available throughout the fair
31. Big E-clair | From the Big E Bakery | At the New England Food Center & Food Court
32. Kettle Corn | Available throughout the fair
Crazy Burgers and Sandwiches
If you’re going to a state fair, you’re probably not planning on sitting down to eat with a fork and knife. Fortunately, The Big E is here with some of the most bizarre foods ever placed between two slices of bread — or, in some cases, between two doughnuts.
Keep an eye on the Craz-E Burger, which now has two doughnuts as buns. There are also the double-patty Insanit-E Burger and the Hot Cheeto-dusted Spic-E Burger.
33. Craz-E Burger (Bigger and crazier than before) | From The Emporium | In the Better Living Center
34. The Bear Necesset-E Sandwich | From Bear’s Smokehouse | On the side of the Connecticut Building
35. Insantit-E Burger (A double Craz-E Burger) | From The Emporium | In the Better Living Center
36. Spic-E Burger (Rolled in Hot Cheetos) | From The Emporium | In the Better Living Center
37. The Quadfather Burger | From White Hut | In the Food Court
38. Flatliner Burger From West Springfield Lions Club | On West Road
39. The 18-inch “German Giant” Bratwurst Sandwich | From The Wurst Haus | On Commonwealth Avenue
40. Bacon Waffle Burger from Macken’s Specialty Sliders (Outside the Massachusetts Building)
41. Spicy PB&J Burger | From SoulFully Vegan | At The Front Porch
42. Turducken Sandwich | At the New England Craft Beer Pub | On The Avenue of States
43. Supreme Schnitzel Sandy | From Wurst Haus | On Commonwealth Ave.
44. Apple Cider-Glazed Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese | From Sam Adams Beer Garden | On the Avenue of States
45. Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese | From Granville Country Store | In the Front Porch
46. Bacon Bomb Sandwich | From Bacon Bomb | On East Road
47. Rattlesnake/Pheasant Sausage | From Yankee Boy/International Lobster House | On West Road
48. Kangaroo Burger | At the Yankee Boy/International Lobster House
49. Polish “Bomb” | From New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
Sweet, Decadent Desserts
Even with fall just around the corner, it can get pretty hot at The Big E. Whenever that’s the case, you’re never far from an easy option to cool down. When the weather says it’s 85 (but it feels like 95), don’t hesitate to grab a crazy milkshake or a doughnut filled with ice cream. Sometimes you’ve got to eat to beat the heat.
50. Blueberry Pierogi Sundae | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
51. Maple Bacon Waffle Sundae | From Amy’s Sweet Treats | On Commonwealth Ave.
52. Dessert Ball | From Storrowton Tavern | On Commonwealth of States
53. S’macarons | From Vermont Marshmallow Company | Vermont Building
54. Ice Cream Cake Ball | From Storrowton Tavern | On the Avenue of States
55. Moo-nut | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
56. Frosting Shots | From LuAnn’s Bakery | At the Front Porch
57. The Moo Bomb | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
58. Milkshakes | From Chick-fil-A | On East Road
59. Oreo Cookie Cinnamon Bun | From Cinnamon Saloon | On Hampden Ave.
60. Beer-a-Misu | From the New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
61. Baklava Sundae | Sam’s New York System | In the Rhode Island Building
62. Mini Donuts | Hot & Fresh Mini Donuts | On East Road
63. Special Ice Cream Flavors | From Ben & Jerry’s | In the Vermont Building
64. Colorful Chocolates | From Chocolate Moonshine | In the Young Building
65. Samoa Apples | From Red’s Apples | On New England Ave.
66. Blue Razzle Chocolate Banana | From Veggie Patch Fruit Smoothie | On Commonwealth Ave.
67. Apple Pie w/ Ice Cream | From the Cold Hollow Cider Mill | In the Vermont Building
68. Cannoli Donut | From Cannoli King | In the Food Court
69. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches | From Wright’s Dairy Farm | In the Rhode Island Building
Various Vessels: On the Bone, on a Stick, in Something Edible?
Forks? Knives? Who needs those? You’re at a state fair. Who has time to sit down and eat? You could be spending your time walking around and looking at camels and spending too long looking at the hot tubs for sale.
The Big E has evolved beyond the plate to accommodate plenty of mobile eating options. You’ve got plenty of foods on a stick. But you’ve also got a number of options where you can simply eat what the food is served in. (No, paper plates don’t count.)
70. Giant Smoked Turkey Leg | Porky’s | On Commonwealth Ave.
71. Carmel Wafful | From Waffulicious | On Springfield Road
72. Bacon Mac & Cheese in a Cone | From Agawam Lion’s Club | On West Road
73. Dessert in a Cone | From Agawam Lion’s Club | On West Road
74. Waffle Dog on a Stick | From Tripp’s Farmhouse Cafe | Inside the Maine Building
75. Chicken Pot Pie in a Bread Bowl | From Storrowton Tavern | Located on the Avenue of States
76. Milk and a Bucket Full of Chocolate Chip Cookies | From Stella’s Milk & Cookies | On New England Ave.
77. Chicken & Waffle Bowl | From the Waffle Bowl truck | Behind the Vermont Building
78. Chicken-on-a-Stick | From Chan’s Original Chicken-on-a-Stick | New England Ave.
79. Frozen Cheesecake on a Stick | From Veggie Patch Smoothies | On Commonwealth Ave.
80. Blackened Chicken Mac & Cheese in a Bread Bowl | From Storrowton Tavern | On the Avenue of States
81. Clam chowder in a Bread Bowl | From Kenyon Corn Meal Co. | In the Rhode Island Building
82. Salmon On A Stick | From Sebastian’s Smokehouse | In the Maine Building
Crazy Combinations: Who Thought of This? And Why Does it Work?
Who would have thought that pickles would pair with so many things? But that’s the way it goes at The Big E, which is sort of a mad scientist experiment for wild food combinations.
Remember, if it sounds crazy, there’s a chance it might actually be good. Give it a try. At the very least, you’ll have a fun story.
83. Burnt Bacon Ends in Chocolate | From Ultimate BBQ | In the Food Court
84. Mashed Potato Fries | From Macken’s Specialty Sliders | Outside the Massachusetts Building
85. Pickle Pizza | From Angela’s Pizza | On Commonwealth Ave.
86. BBQ Sundae | From Porky’s | On Commonwealth Ave.
87. DoughCo | From Anna’s Fried Dough | On East Road
88. Bacon-Wrapped Dilly Dilly Dog from The Meatball Factory | On West Road
89. Dill Pickle Cupcake | From Lu Ann’s Bakery | At The Front Porch
90. Maple Bacon Hot Dog | From Ferrindino Maple | On Springfield Road
91. Thanksgiving Nachos | From New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
92. Cowboys Nachos, with Pickled Eggs and Pickled Kielbasa | From Dolly’s Honky Tonk | On Industrial Ave.
93. Tater Tots Topped with Lobster | From Yankee Boy/International Lobster House | On West Road and Springfield Road
94. Caramel Apple Snicker Dessert Pizza | From Top The Crust | In The Food Court
95. Crab Rangoon Pizza | From Top The Crust | In The Food Court
96. S’mores Fries | From Friskie Fries | In the Rhode Island Building
97. Cornbread Sundae | From Mooliious | On Springfield Road
98. Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant | The Mick Express | The Young Building
99. Pulled Pork Stuffed Popover | From the New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
100. Bear Attack | From Bear’s BBQ | Outside the Connecticut Building
101. Skippy’s Dare Peanut Butter Bacon Pizza | From Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza | In the Connecticut Building
103. Chicken Tot Pie | From Tots-A-Lot | On New England Ave.
104. Porky Pretzel Bites | From Wurst Haus | On Commonwealth Ave.
105. Pickle Donut | From Fluffy’s | On New England Ave.
106. Buffalo Chicken Poutine | From Poutine Gourmet | On Springfield Road
107. Chicken Pot Pie Stuffed Popover | From New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
108. Tajin Candy Apples | From the Cotton Candy Stand on West Road
Where are the Tums?!
The author of the article above just posted his latest review - his actual experience at this festival of food. There are more pictures. Brace yourselves.
https://www.masslive.com/the-big-e/2024/09/oh-why-did-i-eat-that-this-is-the-year-the-big-e-almost-did-me-in.html?e=e08b92ee59adb111468b1dba5a132594&lctg=62123069a6d89e5b92525d7b&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter_sunday_roundup%202024-09-22&utm_term=Newsletter_sunday_roundup
Bill,
Great post and absolutely great pictures and description of the food at "The Big E". Sounds like great fun and the pics and description reminds me of the old 1970's Palestine, TX "Fair" back at what turned out to be the end times for the local travelling fairs in smaller towns in TX.
However, I must caution you, based on some good data, that, although I am sure all of the food tastes wonderful, it may result in some less than optimal health outcomes for "old guys" (like me).
:-)