Various vendors at the New York State Fair provide portable, easy-to-carry meals suited for walking the grounds. Stix & Things sells skewered exotic meats like alligator and kangaroo near the Agricultural Museum, with alligator described as tender and well-seasoned and kangaroo offering a steak-like bite that becomes gamey. Sarita's in the Pan-African Village serves beef-and-cheese and buffalo chicken empanadas that balance crisp shells with flavorful fillings and travel well. Prices vary by vendor and item, and offerings include both familiar comfort foods and adventurous, out-of-market meats for fairgoers seeking variety.
Alligator on a stick Who: Stix & Things Where: Near the Agricultural Museum How much: $14 (cash), $14.45 (card) What's it like: If you told me this was a chicken kabob, I would have believed you. These alligator bites sourced from Louisiana had a great taste and were tender and well-seasoned. The stand itself features many different types of meat, including shark, kangaroo, elk, chicken and steak.
What's it like: If you're dragging me to the fair, I'm sampling the out-of-market fare. Kangaroo on a stick, imported from Australia, fits the bill. Here's the honest-to-god truth: The first bite hits you like a Montreal-seasoned steak. Then it starts getting weird. Somewhere mid-bite the tasting notes transition to like a gamey, seafood adjacent. It's not quite scallop, but close.
Buffalo chicken empanadas Who: Sarita's Where: Pan-African Village How much: $6 What's it like: For the picky eater, this is effectively buffalo chicken dip inside a deep-fried shell. It's not on a stick, but it's walkable and on a cool, damp day, it was the comfort food I was seeking. It's not spicy, so you won't need to douse it in ranch or bleu cheese.
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