The Arizona State Fair's New Foods Include a PB&J Corn Dog and Fries Fried in Beef Tallow

The Arizona State Fair is back in Phoenix, and the new food lineup is exactly the beautiful chaos you want from fair food. Leading the charge: the PB&J Corn Dog from Big Dogs, a hand-dipped corn dog drizzled with creamy Reese's peanut butter and raspberry jelly. Two childhood classics, fused into one sweet-and-salty Frankenstein. I have questions, but none of them are "no."

Then there are the Dutch Fries, which are fries battered and fried in beef tallow, tossed in European butter and Parmesan, topped with black truffle mayo and Italian parsley. That is not fair food, that is a menu item that wandered off a fine dining menu and ended up at the fairgrounds, and I am not complaining. There is also a prickly pear funnel cake, a caramel apple sip and crunch that layers slushy and popcorn, and bacon wrapped churros with dulce de leche dipping sauce.

Here is the part that matters: today, October 2, is the first $5 Foodie Friday, with tasting portions of iconic foods every Friday in October. The Fair Food Face Off, a chef competition for bragging rights, debuts Sunday, October 4. If you are anywhere near Phoenix, this is your assignment. Fair food season waits for no one.