Foodie at the Fair: Chester’s Gators and Taters
HARRINGTON, Del. – After 14 years at the Delaware State Fair, Chester’s Gators and Taters has become a staple for all things fried, fair-like, and fun.
“The fair is about experiences,”
Chester’s owner, Cameron Murray, says his team serves customers at fairs across 15 states, from New York to Florida, each year. The Delaware State Fair, though, has a special place in Murray’s heart.
“Everywhere we go, we meet locals, and we get to have fun, get to know the community and get invloved,” Murray said. “We do some charity events at different fairs. It’s a special time for us, just like it is for everbody that comes and sees us.”
Fried and Flavorful
And, Murray’s team has perfected the “wow” factor.
“To me, the fair is about experiences. So, people come out, and every single year we go back to the test kitchen and we try to bring out a new item,” said Muray.
This year, Chester’s is introducing fair foodies to sweet and spicy cheese puff fried pickles. Say that five times fast! “We already have fried pickles, and we wanted to do a twist on it,” Murray said.
After a dip in the deep fryer, the pickles get dressed up: nacho cheese, crushed up cheese puffs, and sweet and spicy sauce.
“It’s not a secret that I’m a big pickle fan,” said Foodie Friday Host Hannah Cechini, before diving in. “Anything that has pickles in it, I’m usually on board. And, if it’s fried pickles, I’m there… I really like the breading that’s on the outisde of the pickles. It’s really crispy and crunchy. The pickles are very juicy.”
And with this eating experience, Foodie Photog Mike is a new fried pickle fan. “Right off the bat, the pickle flavor is a great counterpoint to all the cheese that’s going on,” he said.
Top Notch Toppings
Not to be too cheesy, but Mike is right; the toppings are top-notch.
“I think the guys at Chester’s have really balanced this well,” said Foodie Photog Mike. “I do think you’re going to want a tall glass of lemonade, or a tall glas of iced tea, to really fulfill your experience, because you’re going to want to eat most of this, but you need to hydrate.”
“There’s a lot of cheese going on here,” Hannah added. “It’s like if you took fried pickles, and turned them into nachos, and threw crushed up cheese puffs on top… Really tasty. I think you might need a nap after you eat this, but a well-deserved nap.”
Chester’s Gators and Taters
Chester’s Gators and Taters is located across from the food court at the Fair. You can contact them on Facebook. If you go to check them out at the Fair, tell the team that you saw them on Foodie Friday.
