What to eat at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair: elephant ears, fried vegetables and more

SOUTH BEND — Tina Colglazier has been serving up sizzling hot elephant ears at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair every year for 34 years as part of her husband’s family business.

“A lot of people don’t put butter on them anymore, but we still think that’s the right way to do it,” Colglazier said.

The Colglaziers’ doughy desserts come in two varieties — an $8 elephant ear with either cinnamon or powdered sugar or a $10 elephant ear with a choice of either a cherry or apple preserve as a topping.

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More fried food

Elephant ears are one of the many fried foods on offer at the county fair. Other options include the following:

■ Corn dogs

■ Fried Oreo cookies

■ Fresh-battered mozzarella sticks

■ Funnel cake

■ Cheese and curly French fries

Get ready: Everything you need to know about the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair

If you’re looking for something a little more nutritious but don’t want to miss out on the fried food, Dr. Vegetable sells fried broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms and zucchini.

Lunch and dinner options

For heartier fare, sample sirloin tips or a steak dinner at the food truck operated by the Mishawaka restaurant Nedderman's Sirloin Tips & Steak Place . They sell roasted potatoes and mushrooms as sides with the meat.

Puerto Vallarta , a restaurant with outposts in Mishawaka, South Bend and Plymouth, had a truck selling classic Mexican tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, tamales and nachos. Each of these comes with a choice of different meats, including grilled steak, chicken tinga, ground beef and Mexican sausage. If you like fusion food, they also sell "Doriburritos,” a burrito with crushed, spicy Dorito chips as part of the rice, beans and meat filling and a “hot Cheetos burrito” as well.

Refreshing drinks

The fair offers many types of cold drinks to bear the summer heat. There’s classic lemonade and slushies with flavors including mango, raspberry, pina colada, cherry, lime and strawberry.

Some fairgoers, such as Jessica Bishop from Niles, cooled down with a boba drink. She got a strawberry boba with rose tapioca pearls at the bottom. Other flavors include mango juice with tapioca pearls that pop in your mouth, vanilla milk tea, mango passion fruit smoothies and chai milk tea with tapioca pearls.

There’s also iced mochas, lattes and flavored coffee drinks if you need a jolt of energy.

Don't forget dessert

For desserts, enjoy frozen bananas, chocolate-dipped strawberries, root beer floats and chocolate covered cheesecake. There are also county fair classics, such as pineapple dole whip soft serve and caramel apples topped with sprinkles, M&Ms and other treats.

The St. Joseph County 4-H Fair

■ Where: St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds, 5117 S. Ironwood Road, South Bend

■ When: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through July 6.

■ Cost: Free from 7 to 9 a.m.; $5 through close; free for ages 8 and younger and police officers, firefighters, EMTs and active military members.

■ For more information: Call 574-291-4870 or visit 4hfair.com .

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What to eat at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair: elephant ears, fried vegetables and more