The Orange County Fair 2012 kicks off Friday, and when it comes to the food, this year’s showstoppers are huge slabs of hand-held, pig-centric meats.

“Everything is big and bacon-y,” fair spokeswoman Robin Wachner said.

New vendor Biggy’s Meat Market is going natural when it comes to the food-on-a-stick craze. The booth is selling The Big Rib, a two-pound beef rib on a 17-inch bone. The Bacon A-Fair booth, formerly known as the Deep Fried Butter Stand, will be hawking a bacon-wrapped, two-pound turkey leg called The Cave Man Club.

“We wrap it with a full pound of thick cut bacon,” fair vendor Mike Peterson said.

Peterson debuted The Cave Man Club last month at the San Diego County Fair. He said demand for the $20 turkey leg, which can be shared by a family of four, contributed to record-breaking sales.

***OC Fair Food Photos***

“Our sales quadrupled from last year’s at Del Mar (SD Fair),” Peterson said. “We plan to do the same in Orange County.”

Also on tap at Peterson’s rechristened bacon booth: deep-fried beer-battered bacon-wrapped hot dogs (served with nacho cheese) and the “Smokey Porkabello,” a Portobello mushroom stuffed with Gouda cheese and wrapped in bacon on a 14-inch skewer.

Chicken Charlie, run by legendary fair food vendor Charlie Boghosian, is deep frying cereal, Spam and peanut butter and jelly this year. Boghosian is also launching a new, dare we say, healthier booth. The Pineapple Express stand features cored pineapples filled with shrimp cocktail, fruit and grilled shrimp or chicken.

The fair runs until Aug. 12, and is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Here’s a closer look at what’s on tap food-wise at the fair:

Chocolate exhibit: The Fair’s “Chocolate Unwrapped: Beans, Bars & Bon Bons” exhibit will showcase everything there is to know about chocolate, located at the Exhibit Promenade section of the fair. Fairgoers will discover how chocolate is made, starting with a full-size cocoa tree replica. As part of the exhibit, Irvine-based Xan Confections will demonstrate confection-making daily.

Culinary demonstrations by top local chefs: The lineup includes Jenny Ross of 118 Degrees in Costa Mesa (raw foods), Chef Alan Greeley of The Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa (European-Asian-Caribbean), Chef Haley Nguyen of Xanh Bistro in Fountain Valley (Vietnamese), Chef Zov Karamardian of Zov’s Bistro & Bakery (Mediterranean) and Chef Rachel Klemek of Blackmarket Bakery in Irvine.

Pie-eating contest: For those who have the stomach for it, Knott’s Berry Farm will host a pie-eating contest nightly.

Celebrity chef series: On July 26, Food Network’s Robert Irvine will do a cooking demo at The Hangar auditorium. Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani, who operates restaurants in Southern California, will make an appearance Aug. 2 at The Hangar. Both shows start at 1 p.m. and are free with fair admission. CLICK HERE for more info.

$2 Taste of Fair Food: Every Friday from noon to 4 p.m., fairgoers can try a variety of foods for $2 per sample. Fun-sized samples include fried Oreos, a chocolate covered bacon-wrapped Oreo, chocolate-dipped cheesecake, chocolate dipped marshmallows on a stick, gelato, cotton candy and more. Each Friday the $2 sample menu changes. CLICK HERE for more information on the sample foods available each Friday.

Food Truck Fare at the OC Fair: Find gourmet fare within the Fair as the popular Food Truck Fare returns this year. The trucks will serve food every Thursday from noon to 10 p.m. during the Fair. Access is free with admission. Prices vary per truck. CLICK HERE to see the food truck schedules.

OC Fair Chowdown: On July 19 and July 26 food trucks will face off during a culinary competition. On Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, it is pro chef vs. home cooks. The Register’s food blogger, Nancy Luna, will judge the July 26 event.

Girl Scout freebie: The first 100 fairgoers through the main gate get free Girl Scout cookies on July 27.

Culinary Contests: Local amateur bakers and cooks can showcase their talents at various contests. Each of these contests will be judged and awarded live every Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Promenade Stage. Entry registration forms for these contests are available in the Exhibit Promenade or online at ocfair.com/competitions under “Culinary Arts” and are due the Wednesday before each contest. Competition categories include cookies, chili, wings, salsa, cupcakes and comfort food. CLICK HERE for more info.

Read more fair coverage at ocregister.com/ocfair

Want to win tickets to the OC Fair?: Check out the last two photos in our Fair Food Photo Gallery. Name the deep fried foods. Email the answers to nluna@ocregister.com.

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com