Mason Jar Kitchen & Bar
They call it the Great Eagan Get-Together here, and they are pulling out all the fair stops: hand-battered Spam fries with chipotle aioli; Pork Belly Trinity, with the fair-favorite prepared three ways, bourbon and brown sugar, maple and red chili, and honey and pepper; the Minnesota Snack Pack has fried chicken tenders, Spam fries and cheese curds with a trio of sauces; duck confit flatbread, with duck, wild rice, kale and mozzarella topped with sage oil; and the Farmstead Burger, topped with white cheddar, cheese curds and jalapeño-raspberry sauce.
1565 Cliff Road, Eagan, 651-340-7809, masonjar.kitchen
My Burger
A fan favorite has returned to the local burger chain through the State Fair. The State Fair Burger is a quarter-pound beef patty topped with Big Fat Bacon, cheese curds, fried pickles, My Burger special sauce and topped with a mini corn dog, all served with fries. Fun fact: The Abdo family, who owns My Burger, also runs the Big Fat Bacon stand at the fair.
Eight metro locations, find them at myburgerusa.com
Mara
Chef Gavin Kaysen's Mara at the Four Seasons is paying tribute to the Great Minnesota Get-Together with a brunch on Aug. 20. Kaysen and chef Thony Yang devised fair-themed dishes that include Chermoula Chicken and Waffles, Aleppo Honey Butter-Fried Cheese Curds, sweet corn with feta mousse and shawarma spice, a chicken shawarma "pronto pup," lamb skewers, wild rice falafel and honey-caramelized bacon with za'atar. On the sweet side, chef Eddy Dhenin is featuring three flavors of croffle beignets and gelato and ice cream in waffle cones. Cost is $65 per person; reservations available online.
245 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., mararestaurantandbar.com
Eat Street Crossing
Through the run of the fair, the Twin Cities' newest food hall will be offering themed food and drink specials. The lineup hasn't been announced yet, but we have it on good authority (social media) that Bebe Zito's curd burger is back.
2819 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., eatstreetcrossing.com