New food at the Kentucky State Fair is a deep-fried, decadent treat

When you think of the Kentucky State Fair, fried food probably immediately comes to mind.

At fairs like this one, which runs through Sunday at the Kentucky Exposition Center, it’s hard not to enjoy the smell of funnel cakes and elephant ears, two of the original fried treats that are always found near a Ferris wheel.

The number of fried foods, be it chicken, mac and cheese or peanut butter cups, has exploded in recent years.

This is clearly visible from the colorful signs at International Catering’s anchor stand in the food court of the south wing.

Among the 50 or so menu items, the vendor offers deep-fried versions of Oreos, Twinkies and Snickers. No matter what mood you’re in, there’s something to order, with dishes like 12-inch hot dogs, spicy Cheetos topped with cheese, meatballs on a stick, spaghetti, lobster rolls, chicken and dumplings, fish tacos and sweet corn.

“The thing about food is, no matter where you go, you’re going to eat,” Mike Doran, owner of International Catering, told the Courier Journal.

Over the last 50+ years of the show, the vendor has usually added one or two new items to the long list of options.

The Kentucky Clucker, a chicken sandwich with pickles, pimento cheese and hot sauce, debuted in 2023.

This year, Doran’s booth will be serving the “Smoke Show,” a smoked meatloaf sandwich with pepper jack cheese, mayonnaise and fried pickles, all served on a brioche bun.

And he kept the fun of fried food going with fried marshmallows.

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After the sugar flakes have been dipped in a deep fryer, they are generously sprinkled with more powdered sugar and drizzled with lots of chocolate. Guests receive a nice portion, including three doughy and somewhat chaotically arranged marshmallows.

Our verdict? Delicious.

You can pair it with a beer, frozen lemonade or International Catering’s specialty cocktail, a Creamsicle Bourbon Slushie.

In honor of the Kentucky State Fair’s 120th anniversary, the Courier Journal featured the decadent s’mores-inspired dish in the latest installment of our video series called “The Best Thing I Ate This Week.” You can join in each week by visiting Instagram.com/courierjournal.

Reach food and restaurant reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].

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