This afternoon, my older sister, the one who lies in Indiana, called. “We’re going to the Indiana State Fair,” she said. This year, she said, the food to try is chocolate-covered bacon. “Everyone says that it’s one of those things that sounds gross at first, but when you try it, it’s really good.”
I’ll bet it is really good — you can’t go wrong combining sugar, fat, and salt. I did a little Web research on this new food phenomenon. According to Wikipedia’s entry, chocolate-covered bacon dates back to at least 2005. But last year chocolate-covered bacon was the big hit at the Minnesota State Fair under the name “Pig Lickers,” which means that this year it is appearing at all the best state fairs across the nation. Biggest thing since deep-fried Pepsi.
Given the realities of Bay Area culture, I’ll bet I won’t find any chocolate-covered bacon around here (although I might be able to find vegan bacon-substitute covered in low-fat fair-trade chocolate). Well, I may have to drive up to the California State Fair in Sacramento, just so’s I can buy me some Pig Lickers.
Just because it’s a fad, doesn’t mean you have to try it. Most fair food is a health risk. I hardly know you and I like you enough to encourage you to indulge in locally grown vegetables instead of Pig Lickers. I think you can live your whole life without knowing the taste of these (and deep fried twinkies also) It just sounds so yucky!
Myra @ 1 — Actually, I have no intention of trying chocolate-covered bacon. Sometimes my New England sense of humor is so dry, it sounds like I’m serious even though I have my tongue planted firmly in my cheek. Believe you me, in all seriousness, I would not drive two and a half hours to Sacramento, fight the inevitable traffic that comes with a state fair, just so I could try the latest food fad.
For the record, I have never had deep-fried Pepsi, either. Nor do I care for fried dough, cotton candy, or most any typical food found at state and county fairs. Last time I went to a fair, I ate deep-fried vegetables.
Hi Dan – We postponed our fair visit to Wednesday (good horse event in the evening as well as, oddly enough, pig races earlier!). If I can arrange it, i’ll send some choc. covered bacon to you! And I’ll post a report… – J
Funny typo: “My sister who lies in Indiana.”