Fried fair fare: mac & cheese, pecan pie

We have a verdict about what's hot, new, greasy and cheap

RALEIGH -- The palate-burning question that surrounds every N.C. State Fair is: What is this year's quantum leap in the culinary science of deep-frying ?

The answer for 2008 is macaroni and cheese and pecan pie. But that's not the only edible excitement. Consuming our way through the fairgrounds, we discovered a new twist on corn dogs and a concessionaire offering serious food bargains, a nice treat for those trying to keep costs down.

The deep-fried macaroni and cheese got mixed reviews from fairgoers.

Aaron Anzaldua, 28, of Coates liked the version served at the Chef's D'lites stand. "It's like macaroni and cheese when you bake it in the oven and you get the top part and you get the crust," Anzaldua says. "It's like a little bite-sized thing of crust."

Shawn Maclaga, 35, of Raleigh was less than impressed: "It was mushy and a little bland. The inside was not exciting."

The pecan pie got a favorable review from Sheila Roberts of Dunn. "This is very good," she said after her first bite sprinkled powdered sugar on her chin.

We were surprised to stumble upon reasonably priced fair food across from the waterfall outside Dorton Arena.

"Everyone has just fallen on hard times," explains Jimmy Bridges, secretary/treasurer of The North Raleigh Optimist Club. "We decided to reduce our prices to $1 per item." That's right, $1 for a hot dog, a corn dog, french fries or a beverage.

When it costs $7 for adult admission to the fair, a dollar for a bottled water is a bargain.

Catering to your tastes, budgets

Bargain victuals at Optimist Club trailer

Corn dogs, hot dogs, french fries, soda and bottled water

DETAILS: In these tough economic times, the North Raleigh Optimist Club decided to give fairgoers a break. They reduced their prices to $1 for everything they sell. By far, they are the food bargain of the fairgrounds. Proceeds from their sales are donated to a boys and girls home and children's cancer research.

LOCATION: Their trailer is located across from the waterfall outside Dorton Arena.

PRICES: $1

Mac & cheese the Chef's D'lites way

Deep-fried macaroni and cheese

DETAILS: Chef Vincent Thomas serves up these crunchy cubes with a spicy tomato sauce on the side. This version is for the macaroni and cheese fan who likes the crunchy bits of the baked version.

LOCATION: Chef's D'lites trailer across from the women's bathroom on the path toward the Sam G. Rand grandstand.

PRICE: $5

Hot, cheesy and wrapped in corn meal

Three twists on a corn dog

DETAILS: Dave Orlandi, a vendor from Massachusetts, offers something for corn dog aficionados. Instead of a mere hot dog encased in a cornmeal batter, Orlandi offers a cheeseburger; sausage and cheese; and jalapeno, cheese and sausage.

LOCATION: Poppie's Fresh Onion Rings stand; two trailers near Gate 10 with blue picnic tables between them. They also sell Italian ice and, of course, onion rings.

PRICE: $4

Alan Rubin's on a roll

Deep-friend macaroni and cheese and deep-fried pecan pie

DETAILS: State Fair food innovator Alan Rubin does it again. His stand is reliable for having the new thing at the fair. His macaroni and cheese is for the fan of the Kraft version. These fried triangles have more cheese flavor and seem right out of the blue Kraft box. The pecan pie is the best new deep-fried indulgence at this year's fair. Don't expect a steaming center; ours was a tad cool on the inside.

LOCATION: Rubin's red and white stand is located to the left of the entrance of the Sam G. Rand grandstand.

PRICES: $4 for the mac and cheese, $5 for the deep-fried pecan pie