My Five Favorite Amusement Park Foods

By Joanna O'Leary Thu., May 19 2011 at 5:00 PM

sorrellsenterprises.com

DippinDots.

This summer I'm heading back to the east coast. My "To Visit" list includes small-town diners, Civil War battlegrounds, and amusement parks. Knoebels Grove, Hershey Park, Six Flags: these were the beloved family vacation destinations of my youth. Even though I refused to get on a roller coaster until age 14, I loved them for their squeaky carousels, rickety water slides, and slightly suspect but nevertheless delicious snacks. Here are my five favorite amusement park foods.

5. DippinDots. Texture, not flavor, was and is the basis of my attraction to this treat. As a child, I never questioned why "The Ice Cream of the Future" had its debut in central Pennsylvania, and today I still enjoy the novelty of consuming hundreds of frozen beads of cookies and cream.

4. Funnel Cake. A light dusting of powdered sugar and a large dollop of faux strawberry topping is how I like to eat my funnel cake. On particularly hoggish days, I might top it off with a scoop of vanilla, though with the addition of ice cream one sacrifices fried crisp in favor of sweet dairy-drenched dough. Sigh.

Mookieluv

Kettle corn.

3. Giant Turkey Legs. It took me almost 30 years, but now I can finally eat one of these things in one sitting. I enjoy turkey legs as much for their portability as for their taste, and I like to gnaw on them while wandering in between rides. If only I owned a large mountain dog so I could gift him the bone.

2. Frozen Lemonade. I don't remember drinking much water as a child as I preferred to "hydrate" myself with large quantities of sugary beverages. My drink of choice at amusement parks was (barely) frozen lemonade. I loved the super-sweet, vaguely citrusy flavor. My mother consoled herself that at least it wasn't coke.

1. Kettle Corn. Really, I hear you saying? Realize, however, that my parents purposefully refrained from telling me I could purchase this item in stores. For the greater part of my childhood I was convinced that this amalgamation of butter, sugar and crunch was a one-of-kind treat only available at Hershey Park.

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Tags:

amusement parks, frozen lemonade, funnel cake, turkey legs

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SirRon

Can't wait for EOW's Top 5 Condiments: Mustard, Ketchup, Hot Sauce, Mayo, and (BOOM!!!) Sriracha.

Joanna

You're missing soy sauce :-P.

SirRon

Good point. But then what item drops off? Since this is my list, it can't be ketchup. I can't live without it.

SirRon

Chris, you just sucked the BOOM out of my list. I'm too Louisiana to give up hot pepper sauces, but my list can't be: "and #1, BOOM, Crystal." I'm thinking it has to be mustard or mayo. That way, in the comment section, people will go all crazy about how you can't have a sandwich or a hot dog without it. Pure money.

chris garza

"Sriracha" by default. You already have "hot sauce" on the list, and by definition Sriracha is considered a "hot sauce". You can live without it.

Ever had a hot dog without mustard, ketchup or mayo? Utter Shiite.....

TQro

Kettle corn is my #1 too. I refuse to eat the grocery store/big box store varieties... It just doesn't taste the same as the freshly popped variety found at carnivals and amusement parks. There is something nostalgic about watching the big wooden paddle go round and round in the big copper pot, the popping, and the smell of the corn.

scotter

At Knoebel's Amusement Park in central Pennsylvania, they fresh bake rectangular waffles, then immediately sandwich a brick of neapolitan, vanilla or chocolate ice cream between them. Last time I was there, they were $2 each. Warm, crispy, chewy waffles with cold creamy ice cream. Yummo!

Joanna

That sounds wonderful - how did I miss that?

scotter

Here's a picture of one. http://www.flickr.com/photos/j...

Stacy

I'm with you on the turkey legs. It's the whole reason I even go to the Renaissance Festival. Well that, and the fried alligator. I'm clearly a vegetarian.