Geno’s 7 Gotta Try Foods at the 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival
The Florida Strawberry Festival is that annual last lethal blow to your New Year’s resolutions. Before you head to Plant City, you have some work to do. Plan ahead on what you’re going to pig out on at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Only amateurs stroll in and buy the first thing that they see. If you’re only making one trip to Plant City this year, you need to coordinate a full day of hunting for these best food picks. Space them out and don’t stray from your game plan or you’ll run out of room fast.
These gems from Parkesdale Farm Market are a must. But resist the urge to eat them when you’re at the festival!
#7: Strawberry Cookies
Get these LAST! Buy a bag on your way out. I’m going to warn you. These are addictive. Do NOT buy them while you’re wandering around the festival or you’ll eat the whole bag. You won’t have any room for the next 9 gotta have foods. But the soft chewy texture and sweet flavor of strawberry… you can’t beat these cookies. They’re iconic. But again… save them for the next day. If you tear the bag open, you will have to go buy another bag.
We love the sweet stuff at the Florida Strawberry Festival, but the noodles are a nice change of pace for your taste buds to give them a break from all the sugar.
#6: Island Noodles
This is one of those “If ya know, ya know” picks. You wouldn’t think noodles would be on your shopping list when you go to the fair. But the Island Noodles are a very underrated offering. I’ve only spotted these once and tried them after a listener recommendation. You’re going to have enough sugar today… this is a good way to start. Get something a little salty and savory before you overdose on sweets. I’m hoping someone can verify these haven’t disappeared from the Florida Strawberry Festival. I haven’t seen them in a while. Update! I’m told they are still at the Festival. Look for Island Noodles west of the main stage before the rides.
Look for the blue and white sign for the best fries around. They’ve been at it since 1938 and practice makes perfect. But when you ask them the secret, they’ll just tell you they keep it simple.
#5: Fiske Fries
We eat french fries all the time with our daily drive thru lives, so why fries? Fiske french fries are legendary for a reason. They are never frozen. Homemade makes a big difference. They have a great deep flavor and are a fun finger food to munch on and share. At least that’s what I hear. I’m not big on sharing my food.
The glaze dripping off the doughnuts is hypnotizing.
#4: Amish Doughnuts
Amish doughnuts were the first food I fell in love with at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Simple but oh so good. Just watching the glaze drip off the doughnuts is hypnotizing. If you don’t make it to Plant City this year, you’ll usually find the family selling the doughnuts at the Florida State Fair in Tampa as well. Peachey’s is based out of Sarasota. By the way, their pretzels are a fantastic choice too if you don’t have a sweet tooth.
#3: Fried Cheese Curds
Seek these out. I’m telling you right now you won’t regret it. I LOVE cheese curds. If you’ve ever been to Canada, they’re so fresh they sell them at room temperature where they have the nickname “squeaky cheese” because they squeak when you bite in to them. So so good. But those ones in Montreal that I love are just plain raw cheese. They deep fry these suckers. Be sure to get the dipping sauce too. We’re not going for healthy here.
Clearly I’m a whipped cream fan. I put more on than any normal person would so that’s why I like to make my own.
#2: Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry shortcake at #2? Yes. I know. It’s sacrilegious. A trip to Plant City without having strawberry shortcake is just plain wrong. And it’s a must. But #1 is #1 for a reason. We’ll get to that in a second. You’re going to have a lot of options for strawberry shortcake. After all, it’s the star of the show at the Florida Strawberry Festival. My personal pick is the Saint Clement’s tent. Ask for it by name. There, you make your OWN shortcake. You pick – biscuit or cake… how much topping do you want. Customizing your strawberry shortcake ensures you’ll get it the way you like it. If you want 1 strawberry and a half gallon of whipped cream, knock yourself out!
Probably my favorite thing I’ve ever eaten at the Florida Strawberry Festival over the years. But I’ve got some bad news.
#1: Funnel Bacon on a Stick
I’ve got terrible news for you. You came all this way and got to #1. Now I have to break the news to you. This Hall of Fame Fair Food has been sadly retired. “Mama Jane” Harris created this several years ago for the Florida Strawberry Festival. She normally creates something new every year, but this was so good, my listeners and I forced her to bring it back for 5 straight years.
Look at all that glorious bacon! Mama Jane would take a piece of bacon and slides it on to a skewer stick. She then dipped it in her secret funnel cake recipe batter and fried it to a beautiful golden brown. She then topped it with powdered sugar and your choice of either chocolate, caramel or maple butter glaze. She didn’t give the choice the first time I tried it… she put the maple butter glaze on. And that’s when I learned to trust the expert. It’s probably my favorite food anywhere. It’s breakfast on a stick. A mix of salty and sweet that can’t be beat.
I am far from Mama Jane’s biggest funnel bacon on a stick celebrity fan. Country music stars have raved about it. It’s even been featured on Carnival Eats. But enough already, I can’t leave you at #1 with something you can’t even order.
This year, Mama Jane has something for those who love Almond Joy candy bars. Mama has nailed the flavor with her new Almond Joy Funnel Cake. It’s got the chocolate, almonds and coconut flavor you love in the candy bar. Mama said she’s a big fan of the candy bar – it’s one of her favorites, so this one was all her idea. It’s a traditional flavor with the coconut and almond topping and drizzled chocolate.
If you’re not an Almond Joy fan, Mama Jane will also have her usual elephant ears and other funnel cakes too, like strawberry cheesecake, red velvet or the turtle with the chocolate and caramel. You can find Mama’s truck near the main stage.
A few years ago, since she makes all the great stuff that we love ever year in Plant City, I had Mama Jane give me a tour of the foods SHE likes to enjoy when she’s off the clock and is wandering around the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Before You Visit the Florida Strawberry Festival: 10 Pro Tips
