THE HOT FIVE The State Fair ends Monday, your last opportunity to enjoy these Great Minnesota Pig-Out standouts.
EUROPEAN ROASTED NUTS
Man, does this stand smell great. Cinnamon-roasted almonds, pecans and cashews, served in an easy-to-carry cone and sold in small ($3.50), medium ($6) and ginormous ($10) sizes.
Cosgrove St. and Wright Av.
MOON BEAM COFFEE
At the fair, the rule of thumb is to expect the unexpected. Case in point: a rich sipping chocolate ($2.50) that's seasoned with cayenne, cinnamon and cardamom (which gives each taste a little zing down the back of the throat) and topped with steamed milk.
Underwood St. and Carnes Av.
REAL S'MORES
You gotta love this: They're not on a stick, and they're not battered and deep-fried. Nope, just a campfire classic made with Hershey's chocolate, warm marshmallows and a pair of graham cracker squares. Even better: It's a two-buck snack.
Dan Patch Av. and Underwood St.
RICE KRISTIE Bars
Kristi Stratton and Gail Sullivan spend their fair days cranking out pans of the beloved Rice Krispies bar ($4 for the original recipe and $4.50 for variations using Froot Loops, Cocoa Krispies, M&M's and Reese's Pieces), and they're a gooey, buttery, marvelous mess. Huge, too, just six to a 9- by 13-inch pan. And get this: Soda is just a buck.
