When it comes to food, The Big E is, well, pretty darn big. Every year, it rises from the magical asphalt of West Springfield, like a Fryolator phoenix peddling everything from massive milkshakes to fried lasagna.
Just how wide and wild are the options at The Big E?
We’re here to give a magic carpet ride through a whole new world of crazy fair foods. We’ve got fried Kool-Aid near Gate 9A. On West Road, there’s the hidden spectacle of the DoughCo. On the Avenue of States, the Turducken Sandwich is waiting for you to unlock its mysteries. At the State Buildings themselves, some say the line for the Maine Baked Potato still hasn’t cleared out from last year.
To celebrate the 107th year of The Big E, here are 107 foods you can find at the fair this year. With that said, 107 is a lot. So we’re going to break it down into sections.
Fried Oreo’s from Tootsie’s at The Big E (File Photo)
Deep-Fried Foods: If You Can Dream It, You Can Fry It
When you think of state fairs, you think of oddball deep-fried foods. It started with Twinkies and Oreos. But now we’re deep-frying everything from butter to whoopie pies.
The Big E offers no shortage of deep-fried frivolities. Although, not everything is as delicious (or horrifying) as you’d imagine. For example, the Fried Butter is actually really good, especially if you load it up with cinnamon sugar. Meanwhile, the Fried Brownie from Chick-fil-A? You’re better off skipping that one.
As always, you can’t go wrong with a deep-fried Oreo.
1. Deep-Fried Oreos | Available throughout the fair
2. Fried Fluffernutter | From the Coffee Break | In the Food Court
3. Fried Mac & Cheese Balls w/ Bacon | From E.B.’s Food For Fun | In The Food Court
4. Giant Mozzarella Stick | From Angela’s Pizza | On Commonwealth Ave.
5. Deep Fried Whoopie Pie | From Sugar Shakers | On New England Ave.
6. Fried Jelly Beans | From Marion’s Fried Foods | On New England Ave.
7. Deep-Fried BBQ Brisket Mac Taco from Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos (East Road)
8. Fried Lasagna | From Chicken Express | In the Food Court
9. Fried Snickers | From Tootsie’s | Near the Court of Honor Stage
Fried Butter from Marion’s Fried Foods on New England Ave. (MassLive Photo)
10. Fried Butter | From Marion’s Fried Foods | On New England Ave.
11. Deep-Fried Pumpkin Pie Bites | From The Coffee Break | In The Food Court
12. Deep-fried Cheesecake & Strawberries | From Poppie’s | Throughout the fair
13. Fried Shepherd’s Pie | From E.B.’s Food For Fun | In The Food Court
14. Clam Fritter Doughnut | From The Clam Box | In The Food Court
15. Deep-Fried Apple Pie | From The Coffee Break | In the Food Court
16. Deep-fried S’mores | From Clemenza’s | On Industrial Ave.
17. Tempura Plate | From the Veggie Patch | On Commonwealth Ave.
Fried Kool-Aid from Marion’s Fried Food | On New England Ave. at The Big E. (MassLive Photo)
18. Fried Kool-Aid | At Marion’s Fried Dough | On New England Ave.
19. Apple Bacon Fritters from Bakery on Brewer | Located in The Front Porch
20. Fried Banana Balls | From Pop ‘n Fresh Fried Dough | On West Road
21. Blooming Onion | From The Big Cheese | On New England Ave.
22. Fried Twinkies | Fried Cheesecake Trailer | Commonwealth Ave.
23. Fried Veggie Platter | From the Veggie Patch | On Commonwealth Ave.
24. Nacho Balls with Cheese | At the Same Adams Beer Garden | On the Avenue of States
25. Deep Fried Holy Cannoli Sundae | From The Coffee Break | In The Food Court
Big E Cream Puff from The Place 2 Be (Nick O’Malley, MassLive)
Classic Big E Foods
There are some foods that have become institutions at The Big E. For starters, we’ve got the Cream Puff, which is produced on-site in The Big E’s own bakery.
We’ve also got fairground mainstays like fried dough and cheese curdsBut The Big E also has some foods that have gained a cult following. That Baked Potato at the Maine Building? It has a separate tent to accommodate the lines that grow every year. There are also multiple spots to grab lobster rolls and kettle corn.
26. Big E Cream Puff | From the Big E Bakery | At the New England Food Center & Food Court
27. Maine Baked Potato | In the Maine Building
28. Lobster Rolls | In the Massachusetts Building, Rhode Island Building, Maine Building
29. Fried Cheese Curds | Available throughout the fair
30. Big E-clair | From the Big E Bakery | At the New England Food Center & Food Court
31. Kettle Corn | Available throughout the fair
The “Biggie” Waffle Burger from White Hut. A look at the new foods at The Big E 2021 (Nick O’Malley, MassLive)
Crazy Burgers and Sandwiches
If you’re going to a state fair, you’re probably not planning on sitting down to eat with a fork and knife. Fortunately, The Big E is here with some of the most bizarre foods ever placed between two slices of bread — or in some cases, between two doughnuts.
32. “Biggie” Waffle Burger | From White Hut | In the Food Court
33. Craz-E Burger | EZ Cafe | Outside the Young Building
34. Bacon Waffle Burger from Macken’s Specialty Sliders (Outside the Massachusetts Building)
35. Spicy PB&J Burger | From SoulFully Vegan | At The Front Porch
36. Turducken Sandwich | At the New England Craft Beer Pub | On The Avenue of States
37. Craz-E Breakfast Sandwich | From the EZ Cafe | On New England Ave.
The Craz-E Chicken Sandwich from the Craz-E Burger Cafe on New England Ave. (Nick O’Malley)
38. Craz-E Chicken Sandwich | From Craz-E Burger Cafe | On New England Ave.
39. Flatliner Burger From West Springfield Lions Club | On West Road
40. The 18-inch “German Giant” Bratwurst Sandwich | From The Wurst Haus | On Commonwealth Avenue
41. Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese | From Granville Country Store | On Industrial Ave.
42. Waffle Burger | From White Hut | In the Food Court
43. Rattlesnake/Pheasant Sausage | From Yankee Boy/International Lobster House | On West Road
44. Coolin’ on the Ranch Triple Decker Grilled Cheese | From Harpoon Beer Hall | Located on New England Ave.
45. Kangaroo Burger | At the Yankee Boy/International Lobster House
46. Polish “Bomb” | From New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
The Blueberry Pierogi Sundae from Moo-licious at The Big E (Republican File Photo)
Sweet, Decadent Desserts
Even with fall just around the corner, it can get pretty hot at The Big E. Whenever that’s the case, you’re never far from an easy option to cool down. When the weather says it’s 85 but it feels like 95, don’t hesitate to grab a crazy milkshake or a doughnut filled with ice cream. Sometimes you’ve got to eat to beat the heat.
47. Blueberry Pierogi Sundae | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
48. Maple Bacon Waffle Sundae | From Amy’s Sweet Treats | On Commonwealth Ave.
49. Dessert Ball | From Storrowton Tavern | On Commonwealth of States
50. S’macarons | From Vermont Marshmallow Company | Vermont Building
51. Ice Cream Cake Ball | From Storrowton Tavern | On the Avenue of States
52. Moo-nut | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
53. Oreo Pancake Milkshake | From The Place 2 Be | In the Front Porch
54. Classic Whoopie Pies | From Koffee Cup Bakery | In the Massachusetts Building
55. The Holy Cow | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road
56. Cotton Candy Milkshake | From The Place 2 Be | In the Front Porch
57. Morning Rooster Milkshake | From The Place 2 Be | In the Front Porch
Beer-a-Misu from the New England Craft Beer Pub at The Big E. (Republican File Photo)
58. Beer-a-Misu | From the New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
59. Baklava Sundae | Sam’s New York System | In the Rhode Island Building
60. Mini Donuts | Hot & Fresh Mini Donuts | On East Road
61. Special Ice Cream Flavors | From Ben & Jerry’s | In the Vermont Building
62. Lobster Tail (Pastry) | From Pasticceria Italia | In the Young Building
63. Blue Razzle Chocolate Banana | From Veggie Patch Fruit Smoothie | On Commonwealth Ave.
64. Apple Pie w/ Ice Cream | From the Cold Hollow Cider Mill | In the Vermont Building
65. Cannoli Donut | From Cannoli King | In the Food Court
66. Bread Pudding | From Noujaim’s Mediterranean Foods | In the Young Building
67. Ice Cream Sandwiches | From Wright’s Dairy Farm | In the Rhode Island Building
9/13/2019 – West Springfield – The Big E 2019 officially kicked off on Friday. Here are the fair’s signature turkey legs. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)
Various Vessels: On the Bone, on a Stick, in Something Edible?
Forks? Knives? Who needs those? You’re at a state fair. Who has time to sit down and eat? You could be spending your time walking around and looking at camels and spending too long looking at the hot tubs for sale.
The Big E has evolved beyond the plate to accommodate plenty of mobile eating options. You’ve got plenty of foods on a stick. But you’ve also got a number of options where you can simply eat what the food is served in. (No, paper plates don’t count.)
68. Giant Smoked Turkey Leg | From the Pork Palace | On Commonwealth Ave.
69. Bacon Mac & Cheese in a Cone | From Agawam Lion’s Club | On West Road
70. Dessert in a Cone | From Agawam Lion’s Club | On West Road
71. Waffle Dog on a Stick | From Tripp’s Farmhouse Cafe | Inside the Maine Building
72. Chicken Pot Pie in a Bread Bowl | From Storrowton Tavern | Located on the Avenue of States
73. Milk and a Bucket Full of Chocolate Chip Cookies | From Stella’s Milk & Cookies | On New England Ave.
Waffle Chicken Bites at The Big E.
74. Waffle Chicken Bites in a Waffle Cone | From Deep South Food Company | On Industrial Ave.
75. Chicken-on-a-Stick | From Chan’s Original Chicken-on-a-Stick | New England Ave.
76. Frozen Cheesecake on a Stick | From Veggie Patch Smoothies | On Commonwealth Ave.
77. Blackened Chicken Mac & Cheese in a Bread Bowl | From Storrowton Tavern | On the Avenue of States
78. Clam chowder in a Bread Bowl | From Kenyon Corn Meal Co. | In the Rhode Island Building
79. Salmon On A Stick | From Sebastian’s Smokehouse | In the Maine Building
Pickle Pizza — topped with pickles, white garlic sauce, ranch dressing and mozzarella cheese — can be found ay Angela’s Pizza on Commonwealth Ave. at the Big E. (Will Katcher/MassLive).
Crazy Combinations: Who Thought of This? And Why Does it Work?
Who would have thought that pickles would pair with so many things? But that’s the way it goes at The Big E, which is sort of a mad scientist experiment for wild food combinations.
Remember, if it sounds crazy, there’s a chance it might actually be good. Give it a try. At the very least, you’ll have a fun story.
80. Pickle Pizza | From Angela’s Pizza | On Commonwealth Ave.
81. BBQ Sundae | From Porky’s | On Commonwealth Ave.
82. DoughCo | From Anna’s Fried Dough | On East Road
83. Bacon-Wrapped Dilly Dilly Dog from The Meatball Factory | On West Road
84. Dill Pickle Cupcake | From Lu Ann’s Bakery | At The Front Porch
85. Ferrindino Maple Bacon Hot Dog | From Ferrindino Maple | At the Better Living Center/Springfield Road
86. Thanksgiving Nachos | From New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
87. Caramel Apple Snicker Dessert Pizza | From Top The Crust | In The Food Court
S’mores Fries from Friskie Fries in the Rhode Island Building at The Big E (Nick O’Malley)
88. S’mores Fries | From Friskie Fries | In the Rhode Island Building
89. Pulled Pork Stuffed Popover | From the New England Craft Beer Pub | On the Avenue of States
90. Bear Attack | From Bear’s BBQ | Outside the Connecticut Building
91. Garbage Bowl | From White Hut | In the Food Court
92. Skippy’s Dare Peanut Butter Bacon Pizza | From Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza | In the Connecticut Building
93. Bacon S’mores | In the Vermont Building and New Hampshire Building
94. Chicken Tot Pie | From Tots-A-Lot | On New England Ave.
95. Porky Pretzel Bites | From Wurst Haus | On Commonwealth Ave.
96. Pickle Donut | From Fluffy’s | On New England Ave.
97. Dorito Gyro | From Big Kahuna | On West Road
Disco Fries from White Hute in The Food Court. Here’s a look at The Big E’s new foods for 2023. (Nick O’Malley, MassLive)
New Spins and Old Favorites
This is sort of a “Miscellaneous” section for all the foods that are just subtle tweaks on old favorites — or simply fun specialties that get a chance to shine at the fair.
98. Disco Fries | From White Hut | In The Food Court
99. Maple Cotton Candy | From the New Hampshire Building
100. Maple Cream Puff | From the Big E Bakery | Multiple Locations
101. Chicken Maple Bacon Waffles | From The Deep South Food Company | On Industrial Ave
102. Hot Wiener | From Sam’s NY System | In the Rhode Island Building
103. Blueberry Pie & Ice Cream | In the Maine Building
104. Lobster Mac & Cheese | From Zac’s Mac Attack | In the New Hampshire building
105. Pulled Pork Baked Potato | From Danny’s Little Taste of Texas Smoke House Grill | Between the New Hampshire and Connecticut Buildings
106. Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich | From Chick-fil-A | On Springfield Road
107. “New England Style” Chopped Cheese | From Harpoon Beer Hall | On New England Ave.
