Take a Cavity-Inducing Bite 31 Photos
Whether they're deep-fried or bacon-covered, these classic confections are worth the glucose spike.
Most-Awesome Foodstuffs Known to Mankind 11 Photos
It’s no secret that carnivals feature some of the unhealthiest, and most-awesome, foodstuffs known to mankind. But even these festive funtopias occasionally go too far. Here are some of the wackiest and strangest foods that'll have you tossing your triple-fried cookies all over that dang Gravitron.
Get Carnifull 13 Photos
You don't have to head to a carnival to eat your favorite fair foods. Try making these 12 delicious — and mostly deep-fried — delights at home, ferris wheels optional.
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Going Deeper into the Fryer
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See Episode GuidePepper Popper Party
Noah Cappe challenges carnival concessionaires across America to feature everyone's favorite spicy bar snack in their offerings. From hot dogs and burgers to pizza and onion rings, even a dessert, these pepper popper creations are on fire!
Six Degrees of Bacon
Noah Cappe goes hog-wild with fantastic porky delights! Pork is as delicious as it is versatile, which allows these amazing carnival cooks to get creative. Whether it's grilled, smoked or even incorporated into dessert, it's time to pig out.
Uncut Grape Gems
Noah Cappe visits the Washington County Fair in Utah for the Twisted Pickle Roll -- a deep-fried pickle sushi dream come true -- and has a little dessert in the desert with the Cooke Dough Dog. Then, he's off to the Clark County Fair in Nevada for Pretzel French Toast and the spicy Cheesy Carne Brick. Finally, Noah heads to the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee for their Southern Fried Softshell Sandwich, the Fiery Fiesta Funnel Cake and Grape Gems, a candy-coated fruity treat!
Steaks on a Plantain
Noah Cappe starts his midway culinary adventure in Prospect, Pennsylvania, at the Big Butler Fair with the massively monstrous Challenge Burrito and the Crabby Patty Melt, in which a crab cake is stuffed into a grilled cheese. Then, it's off to the State Fair Meadowlands in New Jersey, where Noah samples Jibaritos, a Puerto Rican steak and plantain sandwich, and taste tests the State Fair Funnelwich -- a mashup of funnel cake and French toast. Plus, Noah visits the Macoupin County Fair in Carlinville, Illinois, where the menu includes the Breakfast Shoe -- a morning take on the classic Illinois sandwich -- the BBQ-stuffed Fat Sammy and cereal-coated doughnuts called Cereal Bombs.
From Heatwave to Heartland
Pleasanton, Calif., is home to the Alameda County Fair, and some mouthwatering Carnival Eats. Noah Cappe gets his hands on the Caliente Curls and Chile Relleno Dog, and meets fried-food royalty who prepares his world famous Mac and Cheese Bacon Burger. Next, Noah arrives in Iowa for a stomping good time with Reverend Tom and his Cowboy Beans: The Sunnyside Burger looks on the bright side, while the Tropical Tantalizer tickles taste buds.
Cheese Please!
Noah Cappe is back for seconds of his seven favorite melty, ooey-gooey carnival treats. From the savory Truffled Grilled Cheese at the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the Mac Ball Burger at the Kentucky State Fair, to surprising sweet treats like the Cannoli Calzone at the Long Island Fun Fest and the Apple Pie Cheesecake at the Wilson County Fair, Noah crisscrosses America and discovers that everything is better with cheddar!
Return of the Mac
Noah Cappe digs in to seven uniquely ooey-gooey versions of the classic American casserole: mac and cheese. Whether it's stacked in a sandwich, layered in a hot dog, rolled into a taco or topped with lobster or edible gold flakes, these mac and cheese creations will have you craving carnival eats!
Super Sundaes
Sundaes are one of Noah Cappe's favorite treats any day of the week, and he's ready to try them all! From the all-American Burst o' Freedom in Indiana and the sensational Deep Fried Banana Split Sundae in North Carolina, to meaty treats like the BBQ Split and the Chili Mac Attack Sundae in Florida, these carnival concessionaires have gone a step beyond to create these inventive and delicious treats.
Fully Loaded
Festivals and fairs are the places to pile the yumminess HIGH and host Noah Cappe has found the best examples around. There are savory treats like BBQ Baked Potatoes, fries topped with lobster and a double decker Colossal Grilled Cheese, plus a decadent dessert that combines an ice cream sundae with mini funnel cakes to create a tower of taste.
Super Sandwiches
From monster subs to high-stacked clubs, Noah Cappe bites into the best sandwiches on the midway. He even dives into the debate about what really makes a sandwich with two unexpected sweets. Packed with meats, cheeses and even pasta, these massive treats are fork-free carnival eats.
The Hills Have Fries
Noah Cappe feels the brotherly love at the RiverRink Festival in Philadelphia with the Ultimate Crab Fries, a classic Philly street eat, and the Brewed Awakening Shake, where French toast and bacon meet a milkshake in the best way possible. Noah also checks out the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach for the Pizza Supreme Blossom and the riveting Rosie's Sweet Potato Ribbon Pie. Then, Noah gets dealt a great hand at the Great American Foodie Fest in Las Vegas. On offer is the Quattro Queso Taco, where crispy cheese makes the best taco shell, the Jamaican-inspired Dutty Fries and the truly divine Lobster 'n Waffles.
From Livestock to Lemons
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one of the biggest events in Texas. With over 2.5 million visitors a year, it's the perfect place for carnival concessionaires to perfect their offerings. Host Noah Cappe gets a lesson in the meat that makes Texas famous, sampling the Texas Chili Burger and the Big Texas Barbecue Baked Potato. Then he tries a local legend's tamale recipe before rounding off the day with Strawberry Waffle Bombs. Next, he arrives at Lemonade Days in Dunwoody, Georgia to discover a new breakfast concept called Rise & Shine Pizza. A Sushi Burrito is an East-West fusion food that tickles his taste buds while The Funnel Cake Dog proves that even the wackiest carnival concoctions can be a success.
Feast and Fries
At the Paris Fair in Ontario, Canada, Noah Cappe gets regal with Her Majesty's Feast, ponders a Meat Pie Poutine, gets down and dirty with the Dirtburger and bites off more than he can chew with the gigantic Maddy Moo's Wrap Attack. At the Washington County Fair in New York, he taps into Sugar Shack Cotton Candy, bites into Bleu Ribbon Fries and eats himself into knots with the Twisted S'More.
Carnival Classics Gone Wild
Noah Cappe crosses America in search of classic carnival snacks gone wild! From a pumped-up corn dog at Indiana's Porter County Fair and a funnel cake-blooming onion mashup at Alabama's Greater Gulf State Fair, to a crazy candy apple at Florida's Pasco County Fair and a cotton candy burrito at the Tennessee State Fair, all of these midway masterpieces are daringly delicious.
Bring It Tur-On
Noah Cappe's tummy wins big at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Nevada with sumptuous eats like the Chili Cheese Cake, a delectable cornbread cake swimming in chili, and the Penne alla Cone, a pizza dough cone loaded with penne pasta. While there, he marvels at the size of Nic's Giant Spring Roll and the Ube Cheese Turon -- a carnival take on a Pinoy classic. Later, Noah does Christmas California-style at Winter Fest OC, where he keeps cozy with the Hot Cocoa Pretzel and gets cheesy with the Philly Pizza Taco. Finally, he visits Tallahassee, Fla., for a Shortcake Stuffed Candy Apple.
Portland Rose Festival & Got to be NC Fair
Noah Cappe heads to North Carolina for the Got To Be NC Fest. Local pecans top the Cinnamon Roll Waffles and Noah tries the only Donut Sloppy Joe on offer on the east coast fair circuit. Then it's across the country for the Portland Rose Festival. He devours smoked mac & cheese, a dish so amazing it's got the people of Portland dancing in the streets. Next, the classic American apple pie gets the carnival eats treatment and is transformed into Apple Pie Fries. Beef Tongue Tacos prove that Portland is still keeping it weird.
There's Something About Bloody Mary
It's California carnival season, and Noah Cappe tries new coastal classics at the LA County Fair in Pomona. There's the Berry Crunchy Chicken coated in breakfast cereal, a Shepherd's Pie Waffle Bowl loaded with home-cooked flavors, a legendary Strawberry Puffle Sundae and the fanciest fried treat you’ll see on the midway -- the Caviar Cream Cake. After that, Noah heads to the Midwest for the Macon County Fair in Illinois, where he sinks his teeth into the Bloody Mary Burger and takes on the GarParm Chicken 'n Waffle Fries. Then, it's off to New England for the Vermont Maple Festival, where Noah taps into the Fried Maple Cookies 'n Cream.
From Chowchilla-Madera to Ciao!
In the tiny town of Chowchilla, CA Noah Cappe discovers some carnival eats that deserve to be shared with the world. First up, it's the Deep Pit Barbeque, a meat extravaganza that takes three days to prepare. Noah also enjoys a Funnel Cake Cheeseburger and the Baja Avocado Taco. Across the country in New Jersey, the St. Michael's Italian Festival celebrates the cultural and culinary history of Italian-Americans with Zeppole, a cheesecake known as Cake 'n Bacon and a bad boy of a sandwich: The Hoboken Fat Boy.
Freak Show of Funnel Cakes
Noah Cappe is sampling the craziest and most delicious funnel cakes from across the country. There's a spin on this classic treat to appeal to everyone: A farm-fresh Funnel Cake Sundae in Ohio, a maple syrup-drenched Funnel Fried Bacon in Georgia, funnel cakes featuring pumpkin in Kentucky, apples in Pennsylvania, and nacho cheese and jalapenos in California.
Portland Rose Festival & Got to be NC Fair
Noah Cappe heads to North Carolina for the Got To Be NC Fest. Local pecans top the Cinnamon Roll Waffles and Noah tries the only Donut Sloppy Joe on offer on the east coast fair circuit. Then it's across the country for the Portland Rose Festival. He devours smoked mac & cheese, a dish so amazing it's got the people of Portland dancing in the streets. Next, the classic American apple pie gets the carnival eats treatment and is transformed into Apple Pie Fries. Beef Tongue Tacos prove that Portland is still keeping it weird.
There's Something About Bloody Mary
It's California carnival season, and Noah Cappe tries new coastal classics at the LA County Fair in Pomona. There's the Berry Crunchy Chicken coated in breakfast cereal, a Shepherd's Pie Waffle Bowl loaded with home-cooked flavors, a legendary Strawberry Puffle Sundae and the fanciest fried treat you’ll see on the midway -- the Caviar Cream Cake. After that, Noah heads to the Midwest for the Macon County Fair in Illinois, where he sinks his teeth into the Bloody Mary Burger and takes on the GarParm Chicken 'n Waffle Fries. Then, it's off to New England for the Vermont Maple Festival, where Noah taps into the Fried Maple Cookies 'n Cream.
From Chowchilla-Madera to Ciao!
In the tiny town of Chowchilla, CA Noah Cappe discovers some carnival eats that deserve to be shared with the world. First up, it's the Deep Pit Barbeque, a meat extravaganza that takes three days to prepare. Noah also enjoys a Funnel Cake Cheeseburger and the Baja Avocado Taco. Across the country in New Jersey, the St. Michael's Italian Festival celebrates the cultural and culinary history of Italian-Americans with Zeppole, a cheesecake known as Cake 'n Bacon and a bad boy of a sandwich: The Hoboken Fat Boy.
Freak Show of Funnel Cakes
Noah Cappe is sampling the craziest and most delicious funnel cakes from across the country. There's a spin on this classic treat to appeal to everyone: A farm-fresh Funnel Cake Sundae in Ohio, a maple syrup-drenched Funnel Fried Bacon in Georgia, funnel cakes featuring pumpkin in Kentucky, apples in Pennsylvania, and nacho cheese and jalapenos in California.
Pepper Popper Party
Noah Cappe challenges carnival concessionaires across America to feature everyone's favorite spicy bar snack in their offerings. From hot dogs and burgers to pizza and onion rings, even a dessert, these pepper popper creations are on fire!
Churro Dark Thirty
Noah Cappe hits the Garden State and enjoys the snacks on offer at the State Fair Meadowlands in New Jersey, including the Big Dill Super Stick, a cheesy and brine-y fried treat, the Cheeseburger Mofongo, which takes a classic burger and gives it a Puerto Rican twist, the Curveball, a decadent take on a fried onion that needs to be seen to be believed. For dessert, Noah dines on the sweet and salty Bacon Chocolate Churro. He also makes a stop at the RiverRink Fest Philadelphia for Poppin' Shrimp Cheesesteak and the spicy, cheesy, Fiesta Frank. Finally, Noah visits the Medieval Fair of Norman, Oklahoma, for the royally decadent Prince's Pizza Dippers.
From Derby Day to Down State
Host Noah Cappe is off to the races in Louisville, Ky., at the Kentucky Derby Festival. First he chows down on a custom made pizza, the Kentucky Hot Brown. Then it's time to get a little bit country with Ozark Style Loaded Fries, piled high with pork, baked beans and cheddar cheese. Ending the day are two sweet treats: Festive Funnel Cake made with pumpkin and Kentucky's Fried Cookie Dough. Next he heads to Beaumont, Texas, for the South Texas State Fair where local specialties are The Swamp Thing and Hush Kitties.
