By Sheryl Rowling
DEL MAR, California — As you know, I’m not a food critic – at least not a published one. Yet, I got invited to the San Diego County Fair’s media night last Friday. So, I feel obliged to write about it!
What can a financial person do with this subject? I can tell you that free food is a good deal! But, it really doesn’t come without paying a price!
My husband, Bill, and I walked through the O’Brien gate around 5:30 pm, where we were greeted by friendly bartenders offering drinks. It was, after all, Shabbat; how could we refuse? We looked ahead and saw the long aisles of food booths, with flashing lights and cheery servers. Could it be true – everything for free?
Bill approached the roasted corn-on-the cob stand and was absolutely joyous when he realized he didn’t have to pay. Unlimited fair food was Bill’s idea of heaven on earth! He disappeared into the crowd with the goal of sampling everything.
Being the dainty eater that I am (maybe not so dainty), I decided to tour the landscape and take in this year’s theme: “Game On!” In addition to countless food vendors, the carnies tempted passersby with water gun races, ball tosses and more. A closer look revealed that these too were free. An even closer look noted that, although the games were free, the prizes offered were not giant stuffed animals, but rather Mardi Gras beads. It’s all for fun anyway, right?
Off to the side, I noticed a large group of people surrounding a speaker. It turned out to be a Holocaust Memorial ceremony. It was an interesting juxtaposition, yet felt very meaningful when the message of “Never Again” was recited within a county fair.
Feeling sufficiently inspired, I now decided to attack the food. I did, however, adhere to my self-imposed rules: “Real food first” and “No bacon.” It was easy to follow the first rule; the second rule cut out a substantial number of opportunities, such as bacon wrapped kabobs, bacon beer, bacon cotton candy and bacon donuts. (There were even costumed characters roaming the ground in “Pork Out” t-shirts!) In spite of my numerous constraints, I was more than able to stuff myself with fish tacos, barbecue beef sandwiches, curly fries, fried zucchini, ice cream, funnel cakes, and, of course, cinnamon rolls.
It was a party that even a chazer could love! However, as I said earlier, all this really didn’t come without a price:
Gas to get there: $5
Bottle of Pepto Bismol: $7
The joy of sampling all of the fair food: Priceless
Be sure to check out this year’s fair “Game On!” running from June 8th through July 4th.
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Rowling is a certified public accountant, personal finance specialist, and principal of Rowling & Associates. She may be contacted via sheryl.rowling@sdjewishworld.com