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Concessionaires serve up extraordinary fare
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Angela Faris of Jamestown makes fresh noodles at the Granny Franer’s Homemade Noodles stand at the fair.
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
CANFIELD
Each year, hundreds of concessionaires flock to and fill the Canfield Fair’s 178 acres of midway.
Most are return visitors. But George Roman III, the fair board director who has managed concessions for the past 25 years, said he tries to ensure a balance of tried-and-true favorites and new options.
As a result, it’s practically a different fair every year, Roman added. He noted that over the years there have been “some off-the-wall things” such as chocolate-covered bacon, but that everything is good.
“It just depends on what you want to eat each day,” said Roman, whose favorite fair food is hot sausage.
Among the new additions this year is Granny Franer’s Homemade Noodles on Canfield Drive. The 17-year-old business is based in southwestern Ohio — or, more specifically, in Medway, which is part of Clark County.
Bill and Angela Faris run the stand, where homemade noodles are prepared with a number of different toppings. Bill explained that the dough is made by hand and also that the noodles are cut right at the stand.
Their preparing “everything every day fresh” is something that helps to set them apart from other concessionaires, Bill added.
Popular menu items include chicken and noodles, beef and noodles, and haluski (cabbage and noodles). So far, haluski has been a favorite with fairgoers, Bill said, but all items have been well received. Plus, the people have been great.
Bill added that he was drawn to the Canfield Fair because of its size and its longevity, and that he’s already thinking about the company’s returning for a second year.
“If the board is supportive, then we’ll be back,” he said.
Also new is Southern Pride Smoked Bar-B-Que, which is based in Slippery Rock, Pa., and has locations on both Kohler and Green drives. Their offerings — such as baby back ribs, pulled pork and smoked pulled turkey — are smoked on site.
While working at the Kohler Drive stand, Willie Richards admitted that the food is so good, he doesn’t get tired of eating it during the entire length of the fair. What makes Southern Pride Smoked Bar-B-Que so unique, he added, is that “everything comes fresh out of the smoker” — and that the stand itself lacks a deep fryer.
It’s probably the “healthier alternative” to some other options, he said.
Though Wednesday — the 168th Canfield Fair’s opening day — was slow, business has picked up. Richards said he definitely hopes to come back next year.
“People seem to really like us,” Richards noted.
One of those people is Wilbert Drayton, a Mill Creek MetroParks police officer. Drayton was finishing off an order of ribs, chicken and pulled pork as he explained just how good the food was. He plans to stop by the stand every day during the fair — and even bring some home to his wife.
“I’ll be seeing him [again] during the fair,” Drayton said, gesturing to Richards.
Last year, the Cheese Shack was one of the fair’s newcomers.
In that first year, the business had just one trailer but now boasts three, including one on Bishop Drive, said Kristi Witter. She added that the Canfield Fair’s size was attractive, and that business both this year and last has been “very good.”
The Cheese Shack sells deep-fried Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds and deep-fried pickles. Employees often give out samples, Witter said, noting that every sample is usually followed by an order.
And as for what sets the stand apart from other Canfield Fair food offerings?
“The fact that nobody’s really ever heard of a cheese curd,” Witter said.