Tabletop Media Group + WRAL Out and About Collaborate to Host NC State Fair-Inspired Foods at Restaurants in October
Kristen and Quinn, here! If you’re like us, you’re super bummed the NC State Fair is canceled this year. So, we’ve decided to put our heads together with other creatives and we’re super excited about a new collaboration with WRAL Out and About. We’ve teamed up with editor Kathy Hanrahan to launch 19 NC State Fair-inspired foods and cocktails for the 10 day period when the fair would have been operating (Oct. 15-25, 2020). Our Tabletop Media Group clients will be debuting fun specials and we hope you’ll visit these restaurants to try them all! Plus, follow WRAL Out and About’s “Cook Like the Pros” video series to watch our clients make their fair foods and drinks, with one video launching each day.
Smoked Brisket Cheddar Fries, Cheerwine Funnel Cake, Deep-Fried Elvis Bites, Monkey Business Cocktail and Candy Apple Dream Cocktail
Robinson Ferry in Warrenton, NC is offering a variety of NC State Fair-inspired specials. Chef-Owner Ryan Grimm and his team will be serving Smoked Brisket Cheddar Fries, Cheerwine Funnel Cake and Deep-Fried Elvis Bites, which include bananas, bacon, and chocolate chips deep fried in an egg roll wrapped and served with peanut dipping sauce.
The restaurant is also debuting two craft cocktails: Monkey Business (Creme de Banana, Godiva Chocolate, Half & Half, chocolate syrup rim; served with fried banana cubes) and the Candy Apple Dream (Vanilla Vodka, Apple Pucker Schnapps, Buttershots Schnapps, cranberry juice, caramel rim; served with cotton candy and candy apple slices dipped in caramel and nuts).
Churro Ice Cream
This quaint ice cream shop in downtown Warrenton, NC will be selling Churro Ice Cream for their NC State Fair feature. This special ice cream flavor includes a creamy vanilla base with cinnamon and white chocolate, and churros throughout.
Japanese Fried Chicken (JFC) with Fried Ramen Mac-n-Cheese
What’s better than mac-n-cheese? Fried RAMEN mac-n-cheese! Tonbo will be offering Fried Chicken and Ramen Mac-n-Cheese. This delicious dish includes a Japanese fried chicken quarter served with panko-coated deep-fried ramen mac-n-cheese, Asian slaw and shishito tartar sauce.
Fried Sushi on a Stick
What says fair food more than food on a stick? Kanki’s NC State Fair-inspired special is Fried Sushi on a Stick. This unique play on a traditional sushi roll includes spicy tuna and avocado, tempura batter fried and served with spicy mayo and sweet soy sauce all on a stick.
Dole Whip Cocktail
This North Hills' restaurant will be serving a Dole Whip Cocktail. STIR’s beverage director Che Ramos has created this refreshing, plantation pineapple rum-based cocktail with John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum Liqueur - to add some spice, sweetness and almond - and pineapple juice, served over shaved ice with grated nutmeg on top, and a pineapple wedge garnish.
Fried Arancini, Fried Tiramisu, and Poutine alla Amatriciana
What do you get when you combine fine dining Italian with fair food? An unforgettable menu! Executive Chef Adam Rose and the Il Palio team will be offering some fun options. For starters, try the fried arancini with house-made pimento cheese and house-made NC pepper jelly, along with the Poutine alla Amatriciana, which includes crispy French fries, braised guanciali, tomato gravy, red chili flake, mozzarella cheese curds and grana padano. Don’t skip out on dessert! Fried house-made tiramisu is the perfect end to a great meal.
Sicilian Pizza Rolls and Cinnamon Rolls
Visit Rookie’s in RTP and Wake Forest, NC for the sports bar’s special NC State Fair-inspired dishes! Rookie’s will be serving two fair-inspired dishes: The Sicilian Pizza Roll, which includes pepperoni, salami, bacon, cheese blend, feta, and spices rolled in house-made dough and baked, then served with marinara sauce. For a sweet treat, try the Cinnamon Rolls - cinnamon, sugar, and butter rolled in house-made dough and baked, served with your choice of icing or chocolate.
Crispy Garlic Chicken Sandwich
Crispy chicken and garlic? Say no more! Sassool will be serving their Crispy Garlic Chicken Sandwich throughout the 10 day promotion at both their North Raleigh and Cary, NC locations. The sandwich includes crispy garlic chicken, Sassool's cabbage slaw, sliced roasted potatoes and whipped garlic aioli, hugged between a locally made potato bun.
Roman Carnival Doughnuts
Chef-Owner Teddy Diggs’ Roman Carnival Doughnuts are not to be missed! Coronato, a Roman-style pizzeria in Carrboro, NC, will be serving their made-from-scratch, pillowy soft dough balls during this special promotion. Reminiscent of the American doughnut holes, Coronato’s version will offer two options: a dusting of cinnamon sugar or dunked in a bath of royal icing and topped with rainbow sprinkles.
Zipper Roll, ko.rn Dog, and Fried Ice Cream
kō•än in Cary, NC will be serving a few NC State Fair-inspired dishes including their special Zipper Roll with crab salad, cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo, wasabi mayo, eel sauce, tempura fried. We’re super excited to try Executive Chef Drew Smith’s fun creation he’s coined the “ko.rn dog,” a house made hot dog, gochu-chup, NC honey mustard and pickled onion. For a sweet ending, kō•än will be offering fried ice cream.
Smoked Turkey Leg and Fried Strawberries
No need to be sad about not getting your turkey leg this year at the NC State Fair because Whiskey Kitchen has you covered! For their fair-inspired menu additions, they’ve chosen an in-house smoked turkey leg: brined and smoked turkey leg with a spiced Cheerwine and bourbon glaze, and frozen strawberries: funnel cake battered, fried, frozen strawberries dusted with powdered sugar.
Roasted Chick Peas and Asafeer
Sweet and savory goodness is what you’ll find with Asali’s fair features! They will be serving crunchy and seasoned roasted chick peas served warm. In addition to the chick peas, Asali will also be serving Asafeer: homemade soft pancakes filled with custard cream and topped with coconut, pistachios, and cinnamon.
For photos available for download, please visit this Google Folder. For any press inquiries, please email quinn@tabletopmediagroup.com.