For the adventurous eater, making a trip to the Florida Strawberry Festival pays off.
There are many more food options than the classic strawberry shortcake, and the decision between cake or a biscuit isn’t as wild as one can get. Every year, the Plant City Times & Observer staff rounds up a list of the most unique eats the festival has to offer, and this year features some intriguing newcomers to go with returning favorites.
BURSTING WITH FLAVOR
One of the newest food additions should strike up anyone’s sugar craving.
Deep-fried strawberry cheese bursts, which can be gotten from the Best Around stand, is simple, yet effective: take some cream cheese and strawberry filling, ball it up, stick it in a deep fryer and serve with some powdered sugar. The Best Around’s stand is located near the grandstand entrance, on the west side.
AS SOUTHERN AS IT GETS
Are hamburger buns overrated?
Anyone who thinks so has yet another reason to visit Carousel. Last year’s Hush Puppy Burger, which the Plant City Times & Observer staff immediately wanted to try, is back again. There’s nothing fancy about this burger — the buns are simply replaced with hush puppy patties.
ALOHA
One of the most interesting returning food items is
Carousel’s Hawaiian Burger, which is a must-have for any fans of Hawaiian pizza.
Customers can get their pineapple topping chopped or glazed onto the burger, which also includes a slice of ham and is topped with a cherry. As an added bonus, the buns have been replaced by glazed doughnuts — making this a fresh take on the burger.
ONE FESTIVE BURGER
As Plant City gets caught up in the Strawberry Festival spirit, so too does this cheeseburger from Carousel.
The Strawberry Shortcake Burger is, well, a cheese-covered patty sandwiched between strawberry shortcake. But, in true Plant City fashion, customers can choose between having cake or biscuits for buns. The Carousel stand is located in the East Independent area.
A “BERRY” SWEET DOUGHNUT
The Amish doughnut is a staple of the Florida Strawberry Festival, but that’s not all the Amish Baking Co. has to offer.
Filled with creamy chocolate, the Sweetheart is served with toppings of whipped cream, chocolate fudge and chopped strawberries, garnished with a whole strawberry on top. For anyone with a sweet tooth, this concoction is a must-try.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
There are several places to get barbecue at the festival, but only one will serve it to you in the form of a burger.
Barbecue fans will dig the Lions Club’s Brisket Burger. A third of a pound of beef brisket is sandwiched between hamburger buns and topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onions. The Lions Club will sell this burger and other food at its station by the Arthur Boring building.
ORIE-OH!
It wouldn’t be a fair without
funnel cake, but guests don’t have to settle for the same old stuff.
The Best Around brought back the Orie, which is best described as a giant Oreo cookie built for funnel cake fans. Two funnel cake “cookies” sandwich a layer of cream cheese for a final product closer to the size of a fist than an Oreo. It comes in chocolate, strawberry and “chocoberry” flavors.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com. All photos courtesy of the Florida Strawberry Festival.