Your Favorite Twins as Minnesota State Fair Foods

Aug 28

A Twins playoff race and the Minnesota State Fair. They go together like Minnie and Paul. The Mississippi and the St. Croix. Losing and the city of Cleveland.

What if you aligned your favorite Twins players with some of your favorite State Fair foods? Well, you don’t have to, because we did.

Royce Lewis - Deep Fried Ranch

The fresh face. The star. The one they’re all coming to see.

I was skeptical about this year’s No. 1 new food, the Deep Fried Ranch. Would it be runny? No, the cream cheese base and wonton wrapper make it firm.

There’s no skepticism over Royce Lewis, future MVP candidate and the best overall active player on the Twins.

I said active because…

Carlos Correa - Pickle Dog

The pickle dog isn’t your typical fair fare. It’s not on a stick, nor is it fried. If I had to pick one Minnesota State Fair food for all-time, it would be the pickle dog. A quartered pickle wrapped in cream cheese and then pastrami. I could do this at home, but it’s better among friends. Don’t sleep on the Reuben dog either.

The thing about the Pickle Dog is…it’s great, but only sold at one stand just southwest of the Grandstand. No huge line.

A little hard to find…like Carlos Correa in the second half of 2024.

Carlos Santana - Pronto Pup

Do you know that when you google Carlos Santana, you get the answer of 77 years old?

Ok, so not that Carlos Santana.

But the Twins’ 38-year-old leader Carlos Santana has been around so long that he played with Mark Grudzielanek his rookie year. The latter will turn 45 next summer.

Similarly, the Pronto Pop is a classic. Tried and true. Liked and respected among youngesters and veterans.

Matt Wallner - Meatball Sundae

The local kid, the local dining hall.

Head on over to the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall for the Minnesota treat, the Meatball Sundae. No ice cream here, sorry, just a giant scoop of mashed potatoes topped by an old fashioned meatball.

Willi Castro - Walking Shepherd’s Pie

The only thing Willi Castro likes doing more than walking is striking out.

Willi would love the Walking Shepherd’s Pie, the this-year-only savory treat at Mancini’s.

Mancini’s is one of my first stops ever at The Fair for a “Saint Paul Guy”. Good live music, and a couple yearly specialties.

Jhoan Duran - Frozen Spicy Pineapple Margarita

The flamethrower with the best MLB entrance since Mariano Rivera.

I’m at the age where I’ve got to watch the spice. Too old for Tabasco. But Tajin seasoning? Give it to me with everything.

This year’s frozen spicy pineapple margarita is made with Habanero bitters and rimmed with Tajin.

Hope Duran “saves” me one.

The rest of the Twins bullpen - Sweet Martha’s Cookies

I love Sweet Martha’s like the next guy - for the first half dozen or so hot cookies they put on top. After that, you’re on your own eating aging cookies for days.

Similar to the Twins bullpen, which often looks good for an inning or two before an absolute implosion at the most inopportune time.