Funnel Cakes

Concession Obsession

The second part in a continuing feature on my favorite concession food: foods you can buy from concession trailers, carts, or counters. I can’t walk by a street vendor or mobile kitchen, without buying a snack.

<<previous Concession Obsession: History of the Hot Dog Cart

Funnel Cake

Photo: fantes.com

Funnel cakes are made by pouring batter through a funnel into hot oil in a circular pattern and deep frying it until golden-brown (wikipedia).

Funnel of Love

Funnel cakes require special equipment, such as this funnel cake pitcher from fantes.com. They also provide a funnel cake recipe if you want to try to make your own – great for a carnival-themed birthday party or fundraising event at your school or church! I had fun looking around the fantes.com website – the Fante’s Kitchen Wares Shop of Philadelphia was established in 1906.

Let’s Go Dutch

Actually, these Funnel Cakes turn out to be quite controversial – the origin of the recipe is disputed, but probably comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch. Teriskitchen.com provides a home recipe that will make about 4 funnel cakes. Did you know that the Pennsylvania Dutch were actually Germans? Teri refers her readers to Bop’s Pennsylvania Dutch Vorld Vide Vep Paitch for more information, including lessons in their dialect. Just checked it out, and it’s pretty funny – love the 1980′s newbie website look (I’m guessing it’s intentional).

And Earn Scout Badges at the Same Time

Funnel cake virgins, get thee to Virginia! You can try funnel cakes at Hartwood Days in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Historic Hartwood, along the Civil War trail, holds a community celebration on Patriot’s Day (mid-September). Along with funnel cakes, you can enjoy a salt fish breakfast and interact with living history (a roman soldier, a medieval knight, or German solder). You can even earn your crime prevention boy scout or nursing girl scout badge!

Funny Funnel

Visit boingboing.net to see a rather unfortunate funnel cake sign (only for those of you with strong stomachs!). I’m still craving funnel cake after writing this article. I prefer mine with raspberries on top. The last funnel cake I enjoyed was at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Funnel Cake VS Elephant Ears

Video instructions thanks to Aimee from 4H, interviewing the experts at the local fair’s Funnel Cake Elephant Ear concessions.

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