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Virginia State Fair to Serve Deep-Fried Pepsi |
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Thursday, 27 September 2007 |
Coca-Cola fans will agree there's something inherently wrong with the idea of deep-fried Pepsi.
Foodies will agree there's something inherently wrong with the idea of deep-frying any carbonated drink.
But State Fair of Virginia fans, hardy bunch that they are, will no doubt be lining up three-deep to try the fair's nuttiest, er, newest taste treat.
It's not what you think.
You can't wash down that pepper-and-onion-smothered kielbasa, for example, with a deep-fried Pepsi.
No, the trendiest food on many a midway is more along the lines of a soda-flavored funnel cake. Variations exist, depending on the fair, from disc shapes to fritters to dumplings.
Virginia's version is Pepsi-flavored batter shaped like a turnover, deep-fried and sprinkled with sugar.
Why Pepsi, you ask? Why not deep-fried Coke, as God and Abel Gonzales Jr. intended?
Gonzales is the genius State Fair of Texas vendor who invented deep-fried Coke last year. Matter of fact, his artery-busting creation sold more than 35,000 units at $4.50 each.
Gonzales also invented the fried peanut butter, banana and jelly sandwich in 2005.
"When we heard about deep-fried Coke being such a hit last year, we called Gonzales and asked if he would come [to Virginia] this year," said Susan Mitchell, director of exhibitors, vendors and concessions for the State Fair.
She was talking by cell phone from the golf cart that scoots her around the fairgrounds at Richmond Raceway Complex.
Because the Texas and Virginia fair dates overlap, Gonzales wasn't available. So Mitchell sent an appeal to her vendors.
"The one that came out first was the ever-popular Porky's."
Porky's proprietor, Howard Miller of Indiana, dumped his standard fare - supersized turkey legs and stuffed potatoes for deep-fried Pepsi and fried pies. Apple, cherry, peach and . . . you guessed it, fried PB&J pie.
"It's supposed to be very good," Mitchell said. "I'm sure my children will love it."
The Pepsi and pies will cost $4 each.
Copyright (c) 2007, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. |
