This was awesome and such a fun read! I enjoyed the photos and stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

This full-color cook book is fun and nostalgic The recipes were those from childhood fairs. All the yummy, bad-for-you goodness. There are pictures of each item which I love and directions are easy to follow.
This would be a fun gift for a foodie!

Yummy recipes and gorgeous pictures fill this book of some classic fair foods and introduces some new favorites. The recipes are very doable and inexpensive and I am sure I will be trying most of them soon! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone loves a fair. The rides, the games, but most importantly the food. I can't wait every fall for the Texas State Fair to see what new food are they going to fry this year. Foods on a stick have become very popular as well. This is a collection of recipes that will take you to your local fair. But this isn't your parents fair foods. Some are quite elevated. This cookbook includes drink recipes as well. This one was new to me, biscuits with Italian sausage gravy. All kinds of popcorn recipes, caramel kettle corn, cheese popcorn, and popcorn balls. And have they got donuts. Just wait until you see the deep fried recipes-deep fried butter, deep fried twinkies, fried Greek olives, and fried Coca-Cola! I can't wait to get in the kitchen and try some of these recipes.

This is a fun cookbook! Great recipes that are easy enough to follow and execute.The lay out was perfect and the variety of recipes are fantastic.

Be still my hungry heart!! Oh my! Everything I ever wanted to know about crazy fair foods and how to recreate them in my own kitchen. The start sets the stage correct with some amazing drinks to prime the palate (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic are included). The snacks cover the range from light to heavy and sweet to savory. Of course, it would not be complete without an entire section dedicated to fried foods! The main food section is pretty much what I would expect with all the traditional fare. The desserts are heavenly and full of new and old favorites. I love that these are not difficult to find ingredients and something I can truly recreate without a special degree in cooking or food prep. There are even some options included for a healthier version (if that is even possible with fair food).

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I really enjoyed reading this and it made me miss summer festivals and foods as I sit here snowed in! One thing that I would have liked to have seen would be specific recipes from each state for representation and diversity. Looking forward to trying out some of these recipes!

So many great recipes for weekends to do with the family. Really appreciated this book and we'll use it going forward in the future.

Everyone in my circle looks forwarded to the numerous local and county fairs so they can pig out on their favorite fair food. Mine is corn fritters. George Geary's book has some very good, easy to follow recipes that will allow my friends and family to have their favorites on any occasion. The recipes are simple and use pantry ingredients that most of us have on hand. We've tried about 75% of these recipes so far and have the rest scheduled for trial and demonstration. The next birthday party is going to feature fair foods and lots of smiles and laughter. Try the book then you can make everyday fair food day too.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a fun read with some delicious looking recipes and great photos. I’ll definitely be trying several of these recipes!

A colorful selection of good old-fashioned food that you are advised aren’t healthy, but they are oh so yummy. BBQ, corn dogs, chocolate dipped bacon…my oh my!
As history, these seriously do reflect vendor foods t the fairs of the mid-west. Long live deep fry in the heartland.

A fun book of state and county fair recipes. The author worked for many years at the Los Angeles County Fair, and the recipes in here sound fun and yummy. Chapters are Drinks, Sweet & Savory Snacks, Fried Everything, The Main Event, and Desserts & Treats. Lots of choices in each, and if you have a favorite fried fair food item, there's likely a recipe in here. Fun and special is more the theme of these treats rather than healthy. The book includes some historical fair photos, and photos of some but not all of the recipes (I wish there were more).
Overall, a great book if you enjoy the fair or that style of food, and could be a nice gift or remembrance of family traditions.

Food and recipes from county and state fairs can be fun and pretty wild. This book has recipes from across the country. Some are familiar to me as a frequent visitor to the Minnesota State Fair. Other recipes are new and based on the area of the country that produced them.

This book is a fun read but I would not venture to make most of the items included in it. Deep fried butter? Fried Coca-Cola? Not for me. However, the apple and blueberry recipes sounded tasty. I was also intrigued by the drink recipes as they sounded refreshing for a hot summer day.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and give an honest review.

This cookbook is amazing! So many fair favorites that are easy and will take care of the cravings when it’s not fair season. Recipes are easy to follow and provide detailed directions.

I love this cookbook! Here's why you should get it:
1. There are so many recipes, 120 to be exact.
2. It's bright, colorful, and evokes a since of being at the fair as you flip through the recipes. The photos help with this as well as showing you exactly what the food could look like. (I personally like seeing photos of the food not drawings, so if you do too, this cookbook has it)
3. Many of the recipes have little helpful tips or tips to make an adult or healthier alternative. There's also tips on the best apples to use for different recipes.
4. A separate denotation is made for each recipe's equipment needed. Ingredients are in a list to the left and the equipment used is in the little skillet icon.
Also need to mention that George Geary is very popular in the culinary industry and has worked on many tv shows as a judge AND was a judge for Los Angeles County Fair for many years before becoming their culinary coordinator! George knows his fair foods and now you can too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Santa Monica Press for the ARC of this cookbook! ♥

Come one, come all! Step right up to this book filled with fabulous flavors and fantastic recipes from fairs across the nation!

Some of these recipes definitely came from fairs of a different ilk than the ones I attended. Mixed drinks? At a fair? Where? I imagine THOSE fair booths had lots of people in attendance. My fairs more of the homemade root beer variety.

There were fair favorites like grilled corn. No fair is complete without an ear of that goodness. Recipes were included for other foods I’ve never seen at a fair, like the pork chops.

Then there were notable MIA recipes. Where is the brat with sauerkraut that I bought every year? Or the “Indian Tacos” that were for the other day of fair? Maybe those are regional.

It’s a fun book with some good recipes. I’ve never made kettle corn, but I love it and there is a recipe I need to try.

This cookbook is a delightful culinary journey through the flavors of county and state fairs across the U.S. With 120 recipes, it captures the essence of these beloved events. Each dish is a nostalgic celebration of popular fair foods, making it a must-have for anyone craving a taste of Americana. The easy-to-follow recipes and vibrant photos make this cookbook a joy to explore, bringing the spirit of fairs right into your kitchen.

As a British person I haven't had the experience of visiting an American Fair so it has been great to see all the fair food and try it for myself at home.

Note: Ironically, LinkedIn will not link so I posted it there on its own.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Fair Foods is an illustrated cookbook featuring the recipes of the most popular and offbeat food served at county fairs across the USA.

Packed with 120 original recipes created by award-winning chef, best-selling author, and renowned educator George Geary, Fair Foods includes such county fair classics as Texas Maple Bacon Donuts, The World’s Gooiest Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting, Aztec Hot Chocolate, Witch’s Brew, Caramel Kettle Corn, Fried Sweet Potato Sticks, Ten-Pound Cheesebuns, Cheesecake on a Stick, Chocolate-Encased Bacon, Fried Coca-Cola, Fried Guacamole, Fried Oreo Cookies, BBQ Turkey Legs, Bacon-Wrapped Chicken and Waffles, Blue Ribbon Chili, Pork Chop on a Stick, and Spicy Peanut Butter and Jelly Burgers.

Each page in Fair Foods is lavishly illustrated with both vintage and contemporary photographs of America’s most beloved fair foods, as well as fun and lively images of rides and attractions and nostalgic ephemera. Fair Foods is not only mouthwateringly addictive, it also captures the joy and spirit of America’s greatest county fairs.

This book which is 6 1/2 years old popped up and I was ready to read it ASAP - although I think that i have read it before as it is on our shelves. (Already having it was helpful as I am a very visual reader when it comes to cookbooks and this one had barely any photos in the digital copy.)

Is this healthy food? Heck no ... deep fried butter? deep fried coca cola? No - but it did make me want a Pogo (corn dog) at bedtime last night ... if it was less snowy I would have gone out and bought one. A great book for nostalgia or to try a fun food for a party or get-together - #shortbutsweetreviews

What a fun book and fun food. We all remember a county fair and the fun of the fair and one of the main things is the food you get at these fairs. Always yummy, always a treat and now you can make your own.

The recipes are yummy and fun, easy to use and easy to make. There are a lot of cocktail recipes (I never really had a cocktail at a county fair before!) and some recipes I would not have expected at a local county fair but they are all still good recipes and I like forward to trying them all soon (even some of the cocktails!). I'd give it 3 1/2 stars for the fun and interesting recipes.

Thank you NetGalley and Santa Monica Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.