12 Days of Delight: Discovering the Minnesota State Fair’s Creative Bites

August in Minnesota is one of those bittersweet times: the end of summer is nearing, and the most anticipated time of summer is finally here. Arguably the finest in the country (not a chance, Texas), the Minnesota State Fair is a 12-day celebration showcasing what makes this state so uniquely great. One of the best things about the fair is the ever-growing variety—each person has a different favorite part they look forward to. 

Local food writer and cooking instructor Patrice Johnson has two second homes: ASI and the Minnesota State Fair. “You can go to the state fair every day, every year for your entire life, and still not do everything, see everything, and meet everyone,” she explains.

For years, Patrice has shared delicious and fun Nordic-inspired foods through fair demos and recipe contests. As seen in her cookbooks and Nordic Table classes at ASI, Patrice brings a historian’s perspective and a deep respect for traditional recipes to her unique creations. 

 “I think it’s really fun to modernize traditional recipes, to show people that food does not exist in a vacuum,” said Patrice. “Anytime you serve traditional food or modernize it, you’re always telling a story.”  

Interested in the idea of aebleskiver with cheese curds, lefse pizza with spam, or deep-fried herring? Pick up Patrice’s latest cookbook, Land of 10,000 Plates: Stories and Recipes from Minnesota, from the ASI Museum Store.  

Join Patrice this fall in her upcoming demos:

Intro to the Nordic Table 
Thu, September 11, 6–8 pm 

Sweet, Savory, and Salty Licorice 
Thu, October 23, 6-8 pm