Margarita Wars is coming – Get your tickets here!

21 thrilling photos of this year's Florida State Fair foods

By CL Staff on Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 9:59 pm

Florida State Fair foods are a notorious combination of outrageous and dreamy. Luckily for us, this year's bill of grub doesn't disappoint. Check out what kind of over-the-top feast you can expect from the annual Tampa event, which runs Feb. 7 through 18.

Photos by Florida State Fair http://www.floridastatefair.com/

Tags:

Scroll down to view images

Cuban Pizza
Pizza Emporium tops its Dijonnaise base with a mozzarella and Swiss blend  plus roast pork, ham and pickles  to present an oh-so-Tampa pie.

Florida State Fair

Cuban Pizza

Pizza Emporium tops its Dijonnaise base with a mozzarella and Swiss blend — plus roast pork, ham and pickles — to present an oh-so-Tampa pie.

Coconut Cream Doughnut
One of the most fiercely loved vendors is Peachey's Baking Co. Coconut cream only enhances this old-fashioned Amish treat.

Florida State Fair

Coconut Cream Doughnut

One of the most fiercely loved vendors is Peachey's Baking Co. Coconut cream only enhances this old-fashioned Amish treat.

Gourmet Cookie Dough
The Happy Dough's adventurous take on edible cookie dough: "sparkly sugar cookie." How perfect is this food trend for the occasion?

Florida State Fair

Gourmet Cookie Dough

The Happy Dough's adventurous take on edible cookie dough: "sparkly sugar cookie." How perfect is this food trend for the occasion?

Black Cherry Burger
Carousel Foods uses cherries, basil, shallots and garlic to construct one big patty stacked with two slices of bacon, Gouda and cherry-orange relish on a toasted brioche bun.

Florida State Fair

Black Cherry Burger

Carousel Foods uses cherries, basil, shallots and garlic to construct one big patty stacked with two slices of bacon, Gouda and cherry-orange relish on a toasted brioche bun.

Fried Gourmet Cookie Dough
Another indulgent option at The Happy Dough is deep-fried edible cookie dough. We can almost taste the ooey, gooey center that awaits inside these crisp, warm orbs.

Florida State Fair

Fried Gourmet Cookie Dough

Another indulgent option at The Happy Dough is deep-fried edible cookie dough. We can almost taste the ooey, gooey center that awaits inside these crisp, warm orbs.

Cuban Pizza
Pizza Emporium tops its Dijonnaise base with a mozzarella and Swiss blend  plus roast pork, ham and pickles  to present an oh-so-Tampa pie.

Florida State Fair

Cuban Pizza

Pizza Emporium tops its Dijonnaise base with a mozzarella and Swiss blend — plus roast pork, ham and pickles — to present an oh-so-Tampa pie.

Classic Loaded Potato Bowl
A down-home medley of seasoned potatoes, crispy bacon, Cheddar and herb sour cream from Ma's Irish Kitchen.

Florida State Fair

Classic Loaded Potato Bowl

A down-home medley of seasoned potatoes, crispy bacon, Cheddar and herb sour cream from Ma's Irish Kitchen.

Spicy Loaded Potato Bowl
This spin on the Ma's Irish Kitchen classic finishes Cajun potatoes with grilled chicken, bell peppers and spicy ranch.

Florida State Fair

Spicy Loaded Potato Bowl

This spin on the Ma's Irish Kitchen classic finishes Cajun potatoes with grilled chicken, bell peppers and spicy ranch.

Pork Rind Nachos
Apparently, these nachos are low carb. Carousel Foods gloriously smothers pork rinds with barbecue pork, jalapeños, shredded cheese and tomatoes to pull 'em off.

Florida State Fair

Pork Rind Nachos

Apparently, these nachos are low carb. Carousel Foods gloriously smothers pork rinds with barbecue pork, jalapeños, shredded cheese and tomatoes to pull 'em off.

The Bird's Nest
What happens when Lock and Dam Eatery wraps two large scallops in angel hair pasta, then tops the deep-fried cluster of delicousness with lobster cream sauce.

Florida State Fair

The Bird's Nest

What happens when Lock and Dam Eatery wraps two large scallops in angel hair pasta, then tops the deep-fried cluster of delicousness with lobster cream sauce.

Green Loaded Potato Bowl
Fitting that we saved the "healthiest" choice for last, isn't it? Ma's Irish Kitchen is behind this bowl of garlic and herb potatoes paired with seasonal veggies and parsley pesto.

Florida State Fair

Green Loaded Potato Bowl

Fitting that we saved the "healthiest" choice for last, isn't it? Ma's Irish Kitchen is behind this bowl of garlic and herb potatoes paired with seasonal veggies and parsley pesto.

Caramelized Onion and Pulled Pork Barbecue Grilled Cheese
Um, wow. Expect pulled pork barbecue, caramelized onions and freshly sliced Cheddar between two slices of bread from this Giddy Piggy sandwich.

Florida State Fair

Caramelized Onion and Pulled Pork Barbecue Grilled Cheese

Um, wow. Expect pulled pork barbecue, caramelized onions and freshly sliced Cheddar between two slices of bread from this Giddy Piggy sandwich.

Ma's Irish Kitchen specializes in loaded bowls on bowls.

Florida State Fair

Ma's Irish Kitchen specializes in loaded bowls on bowls.

Taco Grilled Cheese
You're encouraged to dip The Giddy Piggy's sandwich mashup of Mexican-style cheese, taco meat, salsa and shredded lettuce into sour cream.

Florida State Fair

Taco Grilled Cheese

You're encouraged to dip The Giddy Piggy's sandwich mashup of Mexican-style cheese, taco meat, salsa and shredded lettuce into sour cream.

Red Beans and Rice Funnel Cake
Yup, you read that right. The Best Around combines spice, red beans and rice with this fair favorite's batter. After it's fried, onions, peppers, smoked sausage and more beans are added on top.

Florida State Fair

Red Beans and Rice Funnel Cake

Yup, you read that right. The Best Around combines spice, red beans and rice with this fair favorite's batter. After it's fried, onions, peppers, smoked sausage and more beans are added on top.

Buffaloaded Mac and Cheese Quesadilla
Bryan's Concessions stuffs the 'dilla with shredded buffalo chicken and queso mac and cheese. The whole thing is finished with bacon and crushed Doritos.

Florida State Fair

Buffaloaded Mac and Cheese Quesadilla

Bryan's Concessions stuffs the 'dilla with shredded buffalo chicken and queso mac and cheese. The whole thing is finished with bacon and crushed Doritos.

Rainbow Grilled Cheese
The Giddy Piggy's fourth grilled cheese option offers a colorful blend of mozzarella, Gouda and provolone.

Florida State Fair

Rainbow Grilled Cheese

The Giddy Piggy's fourth grilled cheese option offers a colorful blend of mozzarella, Gouda and provolone.

Giant Mozzarella Stick
As if we needed to elaborate on the three words above, Angela's Pizza fries this half pound of mozz until golden brown. The stick-impaled log of cheesy heaven is served with marinara or buttermilk ranch.

Florida State Fair

Giant Mozzarella Stick

As if we needed to elaborate on the three words above, Angela's Pizza fries this half pound of mozz until golden brown. The stick-impaled log of cheesy heaven is served with marinara or buttermilk ranch.

Italian Nachos
Fried pita chips topped with shrimp, tomatoes, banana peppers, chives and lobster cream sauce make up the Lock and Dam Eatery creation.

Florida State Fair

Italian Nachos

Fried pita chips topped with shrimp, tomatoes, banana peppers, chives and lobster cream sauce make up the Lock and Dam Eatery creation.

Join the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club

At a time when local-based reporting is critical, support from our readers is essential to our future.