(Map image courtesy The Big E)

By Nick O'Malley | nomalley@masslive.com

The Big E is back, and so is all the ridiculous food. And unless you've been keeping track of every new addition to the fair, it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of it all.

Fortunately, this is where the 2017 Big E Eater's Guide comes in. We've mapped out all of the crazy, traditional and sought-out foods worth trying throughout the fair.

Want the Craz-E Burger? Check out the New England Ave. section. Beer-a-Misu? That's on the Avenue of States. Deep-fried Martini? Not sure why you'd want that, but you can check out the Young Building section for more info.

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Guide to The Big E

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The Big E is, well, pretty big. It's a little bit of a maze when it comes to figuring out all of the roads -- and which building is which. It's especially tricky trying to figure out which road/building has food, and which one is an empty alley or filled with farm animals.

When it comes to getting food at the fair, there are 8 roads, the food court and four "building" areas to know.

Areas 1-to-6 are the biggest outdoor hubs for food, 7-to-9 are side streets, 10-12 have indoor vendors and the state buildings (13) are a whole other subsection by themselves:

New England Ave. Avenue of States Food Court Commonwealth Ave East Road West Road Springfield Road Industrial Ave. Hampden Ave. Young Building Better Living Center New England Center State Buildings

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1. New England Ave.

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This is this first street you'll hit coming through Gate 9A, which is where most folks park in the main lot. Good news: New England Ave. has one of the biggest collections of food vendors at the fair, and many signature items like Fried Oreos, the Craz-E Burger and a lot of the other wacky fried foods.

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New England Ave. - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Tots-A-Lot - Chicken Tot Pie, Loaded Tots, Gourmet Tots

E-Z Cafe - Craz-E Burger, Craz-E Breakfast Sandwich

Sugar Shakers - Deep-Fried Whoopie Pie, Funnel Cake

Marion's Fried Dough - Fried Kool-Aid, Fried Jelly Beans, Fried Butter

Tony's Square Donuts - Samoa Girl Scout Cookie Donuts

Tootsie's Fried Dough - Fried Oreos, Dough Nuggets

The Big Cheese - Blooming Onion, Cheese Curds

Marion's Fried Foods - Fried Jelly Beans, Fried Kool-Aid, Fried Butter

Piche's Beignets - Beignets (w/ Chocolate Sauce)

Butcher Boys - London Broil Sandwich

Osborn Mushroom Farm - Corn Poppers, Fried Veggie Platter, Curly Fries

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New England Ave. - One food you can't miss

Fried Oreos | Available Throughout the Fair

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Fried Oreos from Tootsie's Fried Dough

A tried and true state fair classic, Fried Oreos are the baseline for ridiculous high-calorie stunt food. Sure, they've been done before, but that's because they're tasty and you can't get them anywhere else.

Oreos and batter don't seem like a natural mix, but the batter and oils mix well to create a sweet, chewy texture that mixes well with the sweetness of the cookie.

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2. Commonwealth Ave.

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Stretching from the Avenue of States to the front of the fair, Commonwealth Ave. rivals New England Ave. as one of the biggest collections of food vendors at the fair. Keep an eye out for the meaty goods at the Pork Palace and the new German fare at The Wurst Haus.

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Commonwealth Ave. - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Pork Palace - BBQ Sundae, Pulled Pork, Giant Turkey Legs, Maple Waffle Breakfast Sandwich, BBQ Brisket Sundae

The Wurst Haus - 18-inch Bratwurst, Beer Boot, Giant Bavarian Pretzel

Amy's Sweet Treats - Maple Bacon Waffle Sundae, Ice Cream, Belgian Waffle Sandwich

Angela's Pizza - Giant Mozzarella Stick

Captain Nemo's - Hot Diggid-E Dog

Millie's Pierogi - Millie's Masterpiece, Pierogi

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Commonwealth Ave. - One food you can't miss

BBQ Sundae | From the Pork Palace | On Commonwealth Ave.

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BBQ Sundae from The Pork Palace

There are a few different versions of this concept at the fair, but the Pork Palace's version is especially solid. Each layer is another peek into the wonders of barbecue, and kicks up another notch when you start to mix them together.

Keep an eye out for the BBQ Brisket Sundae, new this year, at The Pork Palace as well.

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3. The Avenue of States

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Located deep in the fair, the Avenue of States has some of the best food finds at The Big E. The Beer-a-Misu and Turducken Sandwich from the Craft Beer Pub remain must-have items. Meanwhile Storrowton Tavern is the one haven away from the hustle and bustle from the fair where you can get a classy dinner -- including an awesome Ice Cream Cake Ball.

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The Avenue of States - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

New England Craft Beer Pub - Beer-a-Misu, Turducken Sandwich, Lobster Mac & Cheese

Storrowton Tavern - Ice Cream Cake Ball, Dessert Ball, Full Lunch/Dinner Menu

Storrowton Soup Shack - Soups, Chowder, Bread Bowls

Sam Adams Beer Garden - Nacho Balls w/ Cheese, El Diablo Chorizo Burger, Mac & Cheese Burger

Meatball Factory - Turkey Legs, Big E Rib, Meatball Sub

Kettle Korn Express (Storrowton Village) - Kettle Corn

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The Avenue of States - One food you can't miss

Turducken Sandwich | At the New England Craft Beer Pub | On The Avenue of States

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Turducken Sandwich from the New England Craft Beer Pub

This is the rare combination of an outlandish food concept (Turducken of all things), and re-envisioning it as something cool, new and -- most importantly -- delicious.

It's a patty of chicken, turkey, duck confit and sausage cornbread that gets a nice sear on the griddle, then slapped into a grilled cheese with some cranberry aioli spread.

It's a revolutionary hybrid of a Thanksgiving sandwich and a grilled cheese. It's not just a novelty food, it's legitimately delicious.

• I ate The Big E's new Turducken Sandwich so you don't have to

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4. The Food Court

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Mall food courts give the concept a bad name. This food court is awesome, with most vendors serving food both inside and outside. Many of the fair's craziest fried foods quietly reside on these menus.

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The Food Court - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Hofbrauhaus - Burger Bomb

Hofbrau Joe's Clam Box - Fried Shrimp Tacos, Fresh Seafood

Frigo's - 1-pound Meatball

EB's Food For Fun - Fried Fluffernutter, Fried Shepherd's Pie, Mac & Cheese Balls

The Coffee Break - Fried Pumpkin Pie Bites, Fried PB&J, Fried Samoas

Chicken Express - Fried Lasagna

White Hut - The Garbage Bowl, Waffle Burger, Hamburgers

The Ultimate BBQ - 3 Pigs in a Bun, Choco-Baco Frenzy, Ultimate Cowboy Nachos

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The Food Court - One food you can't miss

Fried Mac & Cheese Balls w/ Bacon | From E.B.'s Food For Fun | In The Food Court

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Fried Mac & Cheese Balls w/ Bacon from EB's

EB's has a wide variety of off-beat fried foods, but the Mac & Cheese Balls are the best ones of the bunch. They're simple little croquette-style balls of mac & cheese that are draped with even more gooey cheese and bacon. They've got just the right crunch, and a ton of cheesey, savory flavor.

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5. East Road

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Just outside the fuzzy confines of the Mallary Complex and the Young Building, East Road is usually less packed than many of the main roads, and offers a solid array of vendors, plus easy access to the Midway and the rest of the fair.

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East Road - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Fried Fruit - Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Bombs

Anna's Fried Dough - Fried Dough, 'Doughco'

Jim's Butcher Block - Pot Roast Sundae, Pot Roast Sandwich, Roast Beef on Kimmelweck Roll

Scirrotto's Cinnamon Rolls - Cinnamon Rolls, Pulled Pork Corn Muffins, Blueberry Shortcake

North American Midway - Funnel Cake

Hot & Fresh Mini Donuts - Mini Donuts

KB Foods - Chocolate Covered Fries, Bacon & Chocolate Covered Fries

Utter Delights - Soft Serve, Ice Cream Floats

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East Road - One food you can't miss

DoughCo | Anna's Fried Dough | On East Road

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Doughco from Anna's Fried Dough

While fried dough isn't the first thing that comes to mind for Tex-Mex, this crazy combination works surprisingly well. The key here is the light, chewy fried dough that acts is a carb-cloud that bouys all of the ingredients on top.

It turns out that fried dough is pretty versatile when not covered in powdered sugar.

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6. West Road

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Continue down East Road past the Coliseum and you'll hit West Road. Similar to East Road, but bigger and with more food options. This is where the Bacon Mac & Cheese Cones live (right around the corner from the Avenue of States).

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West Road - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Agawam Lion's Club - Dessert-in-a-Cone, Dinner-in-a-Cone, Ribs, Chicken Dinners

West Springfield Lion's Club - Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Reubens, Flatliner Burger

Rondeau's Ice Cream - Ice Cream Cones, Sundaes & Shakes

Chan's Concessions - Chicken-on-a-Stick, Noodles, Egg Rolls

Opa Opa Saloon - Local Draft Beer

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House - Kangaroo/Camel/Alligator Burgers, Rattlesnake/Pheasant Sausage

Pig Park BBQ - Pig Bowls, Pulled Pork Nachos, Brisket, Ribs

Pop n' Fresh Fried Dough - Fried Dough w/ Maple Syrup & Bacon, Fried Banana Balls, Pumpkin Pie Funnel Cake

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West Road - One food you can't miss

Bacon Mac & Cheese Cones | From the Agawam Lions Club | On West Road

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Bacon Mac n' Cheese-in-a-Cone from Agawam Lion's Club

There are multiple cone choices (both for dessert and dinner) but the biggest star remains the bacon mac & cheese version. It's the perfect compination of cheesy carbs, savory bacon and an edible container.

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7. Springfield Road

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Take a quick right after entering through Gate 9A and you'll end up here. Otherwise, Springfield Road is easy to miss, off to the side from much of the buzz of the fair. This area's not to be overlooked, though. It's got some of the most underrated food spots at The Big E.

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Springfield Road - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Bud & Burger Pub - Big Tast-E Burger, Draft Beers, Burgers w/ Budweiser Rub

Moo-licious - Moo-nut, Smash-a-pie, Blueberry Pierogi Sundae

Poutine Gourmet - Classic Poutine

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House - Camel/Kangaroo/Alligator Burger, Lobster Dinners, Lobster Roll

Xena's Cafe - Pretzels, Bratwurst, Nachos, Beer

Rudy's Pizza - Pizza, Stromboli

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Springfield Road - One food you can't miss

Moo-nut | From Moo-licious | On Springfield Road

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Moo-Nut from Moo-Licious

It's big ol' doughnut filled with ice cream and topped with your choice of sundae ingredients. It's exactly as good as it sounds. (Go for the chocolate ice cream with peanut butter cup toppings.)

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8. Industrial Ave.

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This is the road that runs along Memorial Drive (outside the fair) but is easy to miss. It houses some of the biggest vendor tents at the fair, like the new Deep South Food Company and the Big E Martini Bar.

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Industrial Ave. - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Deep South Food Company - Fried Chicken & Waffles, Po Boy Sandwich, Muffuletta Sandwich, Waffle Chicken Bites

Tootsie's Fried Dough - Fried Oreos, Funnel Cake

Big E Martini Bar - Cocktails

Shock Top - Beer

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Industrial Ave. - One food you can't miss

Waffle Chicken Bites | From Deep South Company | On Industrial Ave.

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Waffle Chicken Bites from Deep South Company

(NOTE: The portion sizes at the fair will be bigger than what's pictured above)

At first glance, it's just another spin on chicken and waffles. However, there are a couple wrinkes that make it pop. First, the popcorn chicken is covered in waffle batter (genius). Then, it's served with a maple mustard dipping sauce (delicious).

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9. Hampden Ave.

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As opposed to most streets, Hampden Ave. is filled mostly with crafts vendors. However, there are still a couple key food stops here to keep an eye out for.

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Hampden Ave. - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Cinnamon Saloon - Cinnamon Rolls

Omar's Coffee - Coffee, Drinks

Dr. Vegetable - Fried Veggies, Blooming Onion, Fried Pickles

West Springfield Firehouse Restaurant - Breakfast Sandwiches, Deli Sandwiches, Chowder, Burgers, Hot Dogs

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Hampden Ave. - One food you can't miss

Cinnamon Rolls | From The Cinnamon Saloon | On Hampden Ave

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Cinnamon Buns from the Cinnamon Saloon

Sure, it's not as wacky as some of the other fair foods, but there are few substitutes for a well-made cinnamon roll.

It's not just the taste either. It's the smell. If you walk down Hampden Ave., you're sure to get swepped up in the wonderful cinnamon aroma wafting across the street. Pour on the icing and submit to its cinnamon allure.

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10. Young Building

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One of the big hubs of commercial vendors, the Young Building also has some solid places to eat interspersed between sales for items made from alpaca fur and jewelry from Ireland.

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Young Building - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:



Burgundy Brooke Cafe - Meat Pie, Bread Pudding, Homemade Breads, Sweet Pepper Bacon, Slushies

V-One Craft Cocktail Bar - Deep-Fried Martini

Heroes and Legends Cafe - 50s-style diner, Burgers, Pizza

Falafel Fresh - Traditional Falafel, Burgers, Fries

West Side Grille - Burgers, Fries, Pizza

Spencer Trappist Beer Experience - Traditional Trappist Beers

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Young Building - One food you CAN miss (if you want

Deep-fried Martini | At the V-One Craft Cocktail Bar | In the Young Building

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Deep-Fried Martini from V-One Craft Cocktail Bar

One of the weirdest foods released in recent years, the Deep-Fried Martini is a marvel of state fair technology. Few have ever described it as "good." But it is an "experience."

There are multiple variations, including Apple Martini and "Chocolate Highness" varieties. New this year: Deep Fried Pina Colada.

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11. Better Living Center

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Looking to buy a new vacuum cleaner, stockpot or mattress? This is your place. It also has a couple places to buy some food from some hidden gems.

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Better Living Center - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Cerrato's - Chocolate Covered Cannoli, Italian Pastries

Omar's Coffee - Brownie Sundae, Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae

Carol's Concessions - Pretzels, Popcorn, Caramel/Candy Apples

Granville Country Store - Mac n' Cheese Grilled Cheese

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Better Living Center - One food you can't miss

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Mac 'n Cheese Grilled Cheese from Granville Country Store

Last year, we asked MassLive readers what food to try during a Facebook Live tour of the fair. They choose this hidden gem, one of the few things we'd yet to sample from the fair.

Oh, is it ever worth discovering. It's big, but not overly heavy. The big, thick Texas toast makes for the perfect giant grilled cheese apparatus, which has a delightful crispiness on the outside. The mac & cheese works well as a grilled cheese filling, especially if you choose to mix in bacon and jalapenos to add a little bit of extra kick to the mix.

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12. New England Center

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Food-wise, all you need to know about here is the Big E Cream Puff Bakery. Otherwise, this building is used for events and commercial vendors.

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New England Center - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Big E Cream Puff Bakery - Big Cream Puff, Big E-clair

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New England Center - One food you can't miss

Big E Cream Puff | From the Big E Bakery | At the New England Food Center & Food Court

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Big E Cream Puff from Big E Cream Puff Bakery

There's not much for options in this building. Fortunately, the cream puff is one of The Big E's signature items, a big dense, heavenly puff of rich butteriness and sweetness. The preferred method of eating is to twist the two halves apart, and to share with a friend.

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13. The State Buildings

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Along the Avenue of State lie the six state buildings, each of which house a wide array of vendors from their respective state. Don't overlook them as replica buildings tucked in the back. There are some amazing food finds inside (and outside) each of the buildings.

• Check out our full breakdown (and ranking) of the six buildings here

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The State Buildings - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Maine Building - Maine Baked Potato

New Hampshire Building - Lobster Mac & Cheese (Zac's Mac Attack)

Massachusetts Building - Cider Donuts

Vermont Building - BiggiE Cookie (Cookie Love)

Connecticut Building - Chocolate-covered everything (Rosie-Blake's Chocolates)

RI/MA/ME Buildings - Lobster Rolls

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The State Buildings - One food you can't miss

Baked Potatoes | From the Maine Building (Left) and Connecticut Building (Right)

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Baked Potato - From Maine or Connecticut

Loaded baked potatoes are a weird sort of rite of passage at The Big E. They're not as flashy or as some of the other crazy food, but they still get a lot of recognition.

The most famous potato is from the Maine Building, and carries such notariety that it has a separate building just to deal with the lines.

That potato on the left is really good. You know what else is really good? The one on the right from Danny's Little Taste of Texas between the New Hampshire and Connecticut Buildings -- and comes with less of a wait.

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2017 New Foods

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Every year, The Big E debuts a new lineup of of new foods, and 2017 looks like another year of wacky new creations. We got to try out some of them before the fair. Some others, though, remain shrouded in mystery (and probably batter).

• Big E 2017: I tried the crazy new foods so you don't have to, here's what to try (and what to avoid)

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New Foods - Vendors

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Vendors/Foods to watch for:

Carol's Concessions - Gourmet Caramel Apples

West Springfield Lion's Club - Flatliner Burger

Storrowton Soup Shack - Soups, Chowder, Bread Bowls

Tots-A-Lot - Chicken Tot Pie, Loaded Tots, Gourmet Tots

Pork Palace - BBQ Brisket Sundae

The Coffee Break - Deep-Fried Cannoli

Amy's Sweet Treats - Belgian Waffle Sandwich

Fried Fruit - Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Bombs

Deep South Food Company - Waffle Chicken Bites

Hofbrauhaus - Burger Bomb





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New Foods - One food we're most looking forward to<

"Waffle Bombs" - Chocolate-Covered Strawberries, dipped in chocolate, with Belgium Waffle batter, deep-fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar!!!) Posted by Waffle Bombs on Saturday, August 5, 2017

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Bombs from Fried Fruit

We've yet to actually try these or see these in person. As of now, they're a mystery wrapped inside an enigma dipped in chocolate and fried in waffle batter.

But in terms of ridiculous ideas that seem like they could actually taste pretty good, this ranks pretty high on the list. It's one of the foods we'll have our eyes on when the fair opens.