From fair to food truck: Vendors prepare State Fair menu for main course

From giant turkey legs, to brisket waffle bites and gored out pineapples for smoothies, vendors at the North Carolina State Fair pulled out all the stops to fill the stomachs of North Carolinians.

The fair is on its last day Sunday, but there some local food trucks will be serving up some fair cooking going forward.

Moose Juice had a frozen slushy with a slice of cheesecake as a new item on the menu at the fair, but they weren't the only ones adding dessert to a refreshing drink.

Tropical Delights, a food truck that specializes in smoothies and soft serve, also introduced a smoothie with a slice of cheesecake in it.

At first, Wendy Burnette, who co-owns Tropical Delights, was only planning to serve it at the fair. State fair goers, however, made her and her husband consider making it a permanent addition.

"My husband is always looking for something new," Burnette said. "I thought he was going just leave it at the fair, but people have been asking for it, so it's part of our permanent menu."

Cool Runnings Jamaican, another food truck vendor that operates in the Triangle, had a similar reaction from their signature fair dish: The Jamaican Jerk BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl.

The dish, which ranked second on WRAL's foods to be the most excited about at the fair.

The idea was cooked up, no pun intended, by one of her sons from a homemade macaroni and cheese recipe.

"It's had such an outpouring that we're going to keep it," said Andrea Millington, one of the operators of the food truck.

The fair even brought out a Chopped champion from the Queen City.

Anthony Denning, who won $10,000 on the hit cooking show in an episode revolving around cheese, said some of the vendors have inspired him think about dishes he may add to his menu at "Another!? Food Truck."

"The andouille sausage corndog was really good," Denning said. "Believe or not, the sausage, egg and cheese biscuit at the front, I've been eating those every morning."

As we close on the fair Sunday, there are a few places we can recommend you can seek out if you're looking for that fair flavor.

Funnel Cake:

• Funnel Me Crazy
  • 7072 NC-751 Suite 105, Durham, NC 27707
  • Hours:
    • Monday - Thursday: Closed
    • Wednesday-Thursday: Noon-9 p.m.
    • Friday-Saturday: Noon-10 p.m.
    • Sunday: 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Hot Dogs:

• Sup Dogs
  • 107 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
  • Hours:
    • Monday: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
    • Tuesday-Wednesday: 11 a.m. to midnight
    • Thursday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
    • Sunday: 11 a.m. to midnight

Pizza:

• Oakwood Pizza Box
  • 610 N Person St, Raleigh, NC 27604
  • Hours:
    • Monday-Tuesday: Closed
    • Wednesday-Thursday: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
    • Friday-Sunday: Noon-3 p.m., 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

Ice Cream:

• Howling Cow Ice Cream
  • 100 Dairy Ln, Raleigh, NC 27603
  • Hours:
    • Sunday-Saturday: noon-7 p.m.

Biscuits and breakfast:

• State Farmer's Market Restaurant
  • 1240 Farmers Market Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603
  • Hours:
    • Monday-Saturday 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
    • Sunday: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Pulled Pork BBQ

• Allen & Son Bar-B-Que
  • 5650 US-15, Pittsboro, NC 27312
    • Hours: Monday: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
    • Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
    • Saturday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Sunday: Closed