There's nothing subtle about Fair Food. Like everything else on the midway, the food vendors compete for your attention on the most basic level: neon lights, flashing colors, flying flags. Similarly, the ingredients appeal to our most basic of taste instincts- sweet, fat, salt- sometimes all three at once. Fair Food is fast food on steroids.

On the midway, if an Oreo is good, than a deep-fried Oreo must be better; if fried dough is good, than fried dough with bavarian creme must be better. Its a very American idea: more is more.

It struck me as ironic that the offerings of these vendors stood in such stark contrast to the activities in the other half of the fair where produce and animals are judged. There, prizes may be awarded for the nicest tomato or the finest calf. This is where food really comes from.

But we go to the fair to have fun. We suspend our disbelief for the day, or those hours, and pretend that a drink that glows in the dark has something to do with food.