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Happy National Cotton Candy Day!

cotton candy

Abstract cotton candy. Photo: Mkrigsman, Flickr.

Happy National Cotton Candy Day!

Long a staple at circuses, amusement parks and county fairs across the country, cotton candy is beloved as a whimsical and edible piece of childhood nostalgia. Though the concept of spun sugar dates back to the 1700s, cotton candy as we know it dates back to the early 1900s, when it first came to be known as "fairy floss."

Although its debut is debated -- some argue the Ringling Brothers take credit for it, while others claim the sugary treat was first showcased at St. Louis' 1904 World's Fair -- one thing is certain: Tennesseans John Wharton and William Morrison patented an early cotton-candy machine in 1899, "in which a revolvable or rotating pan or vessel containing candy or melted sugar causes the said candy or melted sugar to form into masses of thread-like or silk-like filaments by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the vessel." The devices haven't changed much -- and cotton candy is still a delightful confection to modern audiences of all ages, currently being served at popular restaurants like Landmarc and BLT Fish today.

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State Fair Food Quiz

This state fair food quiz will test you on all your favorites, like cotton candy, fried twinkies, corn dogs, funnel cake and more.

State Fair Trivia

At its public debut at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, cotton candy was sold as:

  • Fairy Floss
  • Cotton Fluff
  • Candy Cloud
  • Sugar Pillow

Which one of these deep-fried fair treats uses unleavened batter?

  • Fried dough
  • Funnel cake
  • Elephant ear
  • Zeppole

In the 1700s, colonial kettle corn was originally sweetened with:

  • Cane sugar
  • Honey & molasses
  • Corn syrup
  • Maple syrup

'Bout how many grams of delicious, batter-dipped fat are in a deep-fried Twinkie?

  • 18
  • 26
  • 34
  • 40

Springfield, Ill.'s Cozy Dog Drive-In introduced this item as the original corn dog handle:

  • Popsicle stick
  • Chopstick
  • Toothpick
  • Cocktail fork

Which state's fair recently became the first to ban trans-fat cooking oils?

  • Indiana
  • California
  • New York
  • Maryland

Snow Cone King Sammie Bert introduced his handmade shaved ice concoction at the Texas State Fair in:

  • 1903
  • 1919
  • 1922
  • 1926

Saltwater taffy was invented at this tourist hotspot during the 1880s:

  • Ocean City, Md.
  • Myrtle Beach, S.C.
  • Long Beach, Calif.
  • Atlantic City, N.J.

If you're gobbling down hot-dish-on-a-stick, you're most likely at the fair in the great state of:

  • Wisconsin
  • Minnesota
  • Iowa
  • Nebraska

Abel Gonzales Jr. attracted media attention in 2006 when he deep-fried this delicacy for the State Fair of Texas:

  • Coca-Cola
  • Mayonnaise
  • Kool-Aid pickles
  • Fudgesicle

What is a Donkey Tail?

  • A cheese-filled sausage wrapped in a tortilla, deep-fried
  • Deep-fried beef jerky
  • A deep-fried donkey tail on a stick
  • A hot dog rolled in bacon, deep fried

Butter sculptures are a famous staple of state fairs. What is their origin?

  • They were edible centerpieces to be eaten with bread and crackers
  • State fair artists used butter because it was cheaper than clay
  • A carnie made a sculpture out of leftover butter, and a tradition was born
  • The sculptures helped to publicize the dairy industry

What is the architecture of Spaghetti and Meatballs on a Stick?

  • Meatballs are pierced with uncooked spaghetti then deep fried
  • Spaghetti strands are rolled into a meatball then fried
  • Meatballs are wrapped in spaghetti then fried
  • Spaghetti and meatballs are piled on a piece of garlic bread, then fried

What is a Cool Dog?

  • A frozen hot dog eaten like a popsicle
  • Cold hush puppies on a stick
  • A sponge cake "bun" filled with ice cream and toppings
  • A popsicle with a Twinkie "bun"

At the 2007 Texas state fair, Mike Levy introduced which deep fried drink?

  • Latte
  • Coke
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Milkshake

What is a Koolickle?

  • Pickle juice popsicles
  • Pickles topped with ice cream
  • Kool-Aid brined pickles
  • Popsicles made from Kool-Aid

According to surveys, food is the primary reason people visit state fairs.

  • True
  • False

What is a walking taco?

  • A taco filled with frogs legs
  • Taco fillings poured into a bag of chips
  • A deep-fried taco with fillings that can't fall out
  • A taco filled with pigs' feet

"Fair" is derived from the Latin word for "food".

  • True
  • False

What is a "Baltimore Lemon Stick"?

  • An oversized lemon sugar stick lollipop
  • A lemon with a peppermint stick stuck in it
  • Wedges of lemon on a stick, rolled in sugar
  • A skewer used to hold a lemon, so it can be eaten like a corn on the cob

Filed under: Quizzes

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Hump Day Happy Hour: Cotton Candy Kiss

cotton candy kissThough I am not one for sticky sweet drinks that are more like "cake-tails" rather than cocktails, I couldn't help but think that the Cotton Candy Kiss would make for a great after dinner drink on Valentine's Day.

The cocktail is from BOA Steakhouse, so if you happen to live in Los Angeles or are planning a trip to Vegas any time soon, you can try one at their bar for $12. Otherwise, get your hands on some tequila, Cointreau, lime and cranberry juices.

Combine 2 oz silver tequila, 1 oz Cointreau, ½ tsp fresh lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice in a Boston shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini glass. The recipe from BOA says to "garnish with cherry cotton candy, because the kid in you deserves something yummy," but I think I'd be okay without that.

[via: Stylelist]

Filed under: Drink Recipes, Chefs & Restaurants, How To, Restaurants

Slashfood Ate (8): Best boardwalk bites

A trip down to the shore is one of the best things you can do in the summer. The air is cooler than it is inland and tangy with salt. The people all seem to have smiles on their faces, playing in the water or simply relaxing on a towel in the sand. But even more attractive than the sand and surf is a boardwalk, if you're lucky enough to find a beach that has one. Boardwalks range in size from a few shops to small carnivals, with rides and games. The best thing about them is always the food. They offer both sweet and savory - none of it healthy and all of it delicious. The Travel Channel has a list of the best boardwalks, but here are some of the summer favorites you should be able to find at almost any of them.

1. Salt water taffy - Legend has it that this treat got its name when a candy store in Atlantic City was flooded with ocean water, but it was probably just a gimmick to sell the chewy candy.
2. Fudge - Fudge goes right alongside taffy in boardwalk candy stores. It's a staple of tourist areas, inexpensive and indulgent, and it holds up better than a chocolate bar in the sun.

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Filed under: Spirit of Summer, Lists, Slashfood Ate, Ingredients

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