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I’ll start first by confessing that I am not, by nature, a glutton. While I love food – and could even fall on the side of a gourmand – I typically have enough self-control to restrain from giving myself completely over to my baser instinct for salt, sugar and fat. Alas, it is MN State Fair time, and all bets are off. Tomorrow I can feel guilt and possibly even suffer the physical effects of my indulgence, but let today be a blissful day of earthly delights.

I have a little ritual when I visit the fair. Typically all the buildup and travel has me jonesin’ for a fried food fix. As the day for me is all about instant gratification, I head straight for the mother lode: the fried cheese curds. I dig into a single order ($5.50) and let the hot salty greasy goodness push all my food inhibitions away. My hands become noticeably steadier and I am primed for a day of all the foods the fair has to offer. My next stop is for the refreshment of a Jumbo Fresh Lemonade. It’s another Fair classic, and those 32oz of sweet and tangy goodness ($5) are a perfect way to wash down the cheese curds and prepare my palate for the next treat.

Ok, so I know respecting my palate may seem shocking in this venue but there really are some gourmet treats at the Fair worth preserving your appetite for. A stand called ‘Big Fat Bacon’ may seem like an unlikely place to find said gourmet treats, but if in the past you have passed by this kiosk thinking “bacon on a stick, that’s not very creative,” you need to give it a try immediately. Somehow with a maple glaze caramelized onto the perfectly fried exterior a third pound of extra thick cut bacon becomes a taste treat that elevates this simplest of ideas into something truly exceptional ($3).

You may be looking for something lighter after your first foray into the fried world of the Fair. I recommend another simple pleasure, a succulent piece of fruit from the produce stand of the Midtown Farmer’s Market. I chose a delightful, ripe nectarine ($3) which – though messy – was the perfect respite from fried and processed foods. Another local establishment, “Holy Land Deli,” had Baklava ($2) on offer. I love Baklava, and their version was certainly delightful, but I have to admit it was perhaps a bit too delicate for my State Fair taste buds.

After a quick Pronto Pup, my companions and I wandered for a bit contemplating our next move. We bought some taffy after being mesmerized for 5 minutes by the pulling machine. Either that machine is really fascinating, or we were just getting burned from the crush of the crowds and needed a break. I’m not such a big fan of the taffy, so instead I bought myself a wonderful frozen key lime pie on a stick ($4) and nursed it on the surprisingly jerky gondola ride. This was perhaps not the best choice for my now tender stomach, but I soldiered on.

Looking for something a bit off the beaten path? Head for ‘Ole and Lena’s’ (What could be more Minnesotan!) for Hot Dish on a Stick. It looks like no more than an enlarged and slightly misshapen corn dog, but it is in fact meatballs in the Swedish tradition and tater tots battered, fried and served with a mushroom gravy.

I would like to pretend I’m done listing my food consumption for the day, but there was also a traditional frozen apple cider popsicle ($1), something called ‘Australian Battered Potatos’ which look enticing but I assure you are not necessary unless you are carb loading for a marathon and prefer something blander than the amazing fresh cut potato fries available in numerous locations throughout the grounds. And the pice de’ la resistance, a Grilled Marshmallow Chocolate and Banana Sandwich from Moe and Joe’s Coffee. It was gooey, sweet delightful and WAY over the top – a perfect end to my State Fair food frenzy. I could not have eaten another bite.

There is no wrong way to eat at the fair, whether you stick to the old standbys or seek out each year’s new and innovative tastes you will not be disappointed. I like to think the Fair brings out the best and the worst eater in all of us. For me, the State Fair is a yearly excuse to overindulge and delight in the pleasures of simple food. Nevertheless, every year I find something that reminds me that food ( whether low or high) remains endlessly complex and fascinating and that eating, even sometimes to excess, is still one of the most enduring pleasures in life.