This past weekend, Ellie and I decided to cast away our supposed food snobbery and travel down to the Middletown Carnival on Washington Street, only to discover a world of sugar and grease laden goodness—Ellie and I just had to sample it all. Although this little indulgence in the culinary expertise of Carnie Land later landed Ellie and I with a couple of gut-wrenching stomachaches, it was well worth it. As your loyal, omnivorous freshman foodies, we are writing to tell you of the delights that were had just down the street from our Wesleyan bubble.
WARNING: All of the following foods should be consumed AFTER one has ridden all the Carnie rides. Eating them before could result in disastrous consequences.
Upon arriving at the Middletown Carnival, Ellie and I felt a little bit like we had stepped into the Twilight Zone. Great gusts of dusty wind persistently invaded our eyes, and we were bombarded with the smells of heaving machinery, crackling grease, and Italian-style sausage.
The first time around, we picked out which vendors looked a) the least likely to give us food poisoning and b) had the biggest supply of powdered sugar, cinnamon and other vital sweeteners. We decided on fried dough as our first dish. Most of us know fried dough as a funnel cake or an elephant ear, but Middletown’s carnival bluntly lets consumers know what they are in for: big hunks of dough—and yes, we do mean hunks—rolled out flat and then tossed into a large vat of boiling oil. While the smell of this deep-fried goodness is second to none, and the thought of clogged arteries is sure to put a smirk on any munchers face, nothing beats the taste of the hot, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth greasy goodness of deep-fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Other toppings, which were all free, included chocolate, pizza sauce, caramel and warm apples with cinnamon.
Next, Ellie and our fellow meat-loving friend veered off toward the sausage and grinder tent, while yours truly sampled the humble vegetarian offerings of the carnival (cotton candy). Although not exactly reminiscent of anything in the soy bean family, I can honestly say that the blue cotton candy was one of the greatest munchies at the carnival. Ellie, on the other hand, enjoyed a giant, spicy Italian sausage with all the fixings. She enthusiastically reported that it was “just what she was looking for.” Alas, by this time Ellie and I were both feeling a tad queasy, and decided to satisfy our stomachs with a hearty meal from Five Guys. Thus ended one of the most physically unhealthy, yet spiritually fulfilling days of our lives.
So next time you are contemplating whether to munch on that bit of fried dough, or are torturously staring at a glimmering caramel apple, just remember the wise words of our idol and fellow southern madam, Paula Deen: “Just add another stick of butter y’all!”
Peace of mind and greasy food,
The Freshmen Foodies
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