How is this for a meal: A bacon cheeseburger eggroll for the appetizer, a pulled pork chili waffle cone, with a side of Maryland crab mac-and-cheese for the entrée, washed down with a mango pineapple smoothie and topped off with a Trash Can Sundae for dessert? This is just one of hundreds of unique combinations coming to the annual Taste NY Food Truck Competition at the 2019 Great New York State Fair. The competition is sponsored by ALDI.

Forty food trucks from across New York State are signed up to compete in the event, which takes place Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the New York Experience festival area on the western end of the Fairgrounds. Twenty trucks will compete on Sunday with the remaining 20 plus trucks fighting it out for public votes on Labor Day Monday. Twelve trucks are new to the competition, which also features three returning champions: The Meatball Truck (Rochester), Smokin Pete’s BBQ (Dresden) and Silo Food Truck (Ithaca).

“The competition is one of the most fun events of the Fair. People get to sample all kinds of food they might never have tried otherwise. It showcases the creativity and quality of street food, nearly all of which is made from great New York State agricultural products,” said Fair Director Troy Waffner.

For the competition, truck operators create an entrée in sample sizes. Fairgoers buy the samples for $3 each then vote for their favorites via text using a phone number revealed on the day of the event. The top three vote-getters each day receive Aldi gift cards of $1,000, $500 or $250, courtesy of the grocery company.

“We are looking forward to tasting all of the chefs’ creations at the State Fair’s Taste NY Food Truck Competition. It’s great to see contestants from so many different regions across New York,” said Aaron Sumida, Tully Division Vice President for ALDI. “With more than 100 stores statewide, we invite all food truck participants to stop by their local ALDI store for fresh, high-quality ingredients at the lowest prices in town.”

Competitors on day one and their entrees include:

Skippy's Ice Cream of Liverpool: Trash Can Sundae

Nancy's of Woodstock Artisanal Creamery of Woodstock: Baked Alaska

Glazed and Confused of Syracuse: Dizzy Pig

Smoothies Plus of Rochester: Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Rapidz Restaurant of Massena: Slider

Come Fry With Me of Rome: Classic Poutine

The Chef & the Truck (Chef 4 Rent) of Baldwinsville: Pulled Pork Chili Waffle Cone

WingNutz (Roc City Sammich) of Rochester: Cheesy-Bacon Chicken Bowl

GV Street Food of Belfast: Fried Spicy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich

Over the Moon Grilled Cheese of Alpine: This Little Piggy

Potato Skin Express of East Syracuse: Thai Sesame Crunch

Bob Barkers of Cicero: Bacon Cheddar Dog

Tonzi's Catering Company of Auburn: Deep Fried Chicken Riggies

Pinkies Barbeque and Catering LLC of Binghamton: BBQ Chicken w/ Strawberry Spinach Salad

Via Napoli Express of Liverpool: TBD

Roll'n Deep of Rochester: Garbage Roll

Abbott's Frozen Custard of Rochester: Chocolate Almond Custard

Papa Gallo Taco Truck of Fayetteville: Al Pastor Taco

The Baked Potato Express of Liverpool: Mac and Cheese Baked Potato

Chef's Catering of Rochester: TBD

Day two competitors and their entrees include:

Smokey Legend BBQ of Glen Aubrey: Beef Brisket

Byblos Street Grill of Syracuse: TBD

Smokin Pete's BBQ of Penn Yan: Loaded Pulled Pork Tator Tots

Sarita's of Rome: Savory Beef Empanada

Cue-Dogs of Cicero: Cheese Dog

The Meatball Truck of Rochester: Meatballs

Pascarella's Catering of Liverpool: Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll

Limp Lizard of Syracuse: Smoked Turkey Slider

Wolf's Patio Pizza of Liverpool: Pepperoni Pizza

PB & J's Streetside Café of Syracuse: Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Glen Edith Coffee of Rochester: Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Silo Food Truck of Ovid: TBD

Pig Vycious BBQ of Binghamton: The Suben - Beef Brisket Sandwich

3.21 Salads of Oswego: Taco Salad

That's What's Up of Liverpool: TBD

Macarollin of Rochester: Maryland Crab Mac

Stockyard BBQ of Morrisville: Pulled Pork Slider

LadyBug Lunchbox of Syracuse: Cajun Chicken Sandwich

Blueberries and Lace Dessert Truck of Central Square: Brownie

In addition, Liverpool’s Fashion Rescue 911 will be on hand both days with a clothing sales booth. Bands will perform on the Experience Stage in the festival grounds area starting in the early afternoon.

Competitors are required primarily to use food products grown or made in New York for their entrees. The competition supports Taste NY, the State Agriculture Department’s program to promote to consumers food and beverages grown and made in New York State. Fairgoers can purchase excellent products from around the state at the Taste NY store in the Horticulture Building and can try free samples of products at the sampling area next to the store. The Fair continues to require its food and beverage vendors to use New York products whenever possible.

About ALDI U.S.

A leader in the grocery retailing industry since 1976, ALDI operates more than 1,800 U.S. stores in 35 states. More than 40 million customers each month benefit from the simple, streamlined approach ALDI brings to retailing. ALDI sells frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which meet or exceed national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI has been one of America’s favorite grocery retailers, and for the eighth consecutive year, the Value Leader for grocery shoppers, according to a 2018 survey of U.S. consumers by Market Force Information®*. ALDI also backs up its products with a Twice as Nice Guarantee: replacing the product AND offering a full refund. For more information about ALDI, visit aldi.us.

*According to annual surveys of U.S. consumers conducted from 2011 to 2018 by Market Force Information®

About Taste NY

The Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition since it was created in 2013. The program, which was created by Governor Cuomo and is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at a variety of venues throughout the State and at large public events, such as the Great New York State Fair and the Barclays Tournament at Bethpage State Park. It has also helped the farms and companies participating in the program to reach more customers, increase online sales, and, in many cases, expand the processing capacity of their business. Taste NY’s food and beverage businesses also support the State’s farmers by using New York grown and produced ingredients in their products.

New York products sold under Taste NY branding are available in more than 70 locations throughout the State as well as the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Founded in 1841, the Great New York State Fair is America’s third largest state fair. The Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment and is a key piece of Governor Cuomo’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. Fair attendance is up more than 40% since the beginning of more than $120 million in investments, with 1.27 million people attending the Fair in 2018. The 2019 Fair runs from August 21 to September 2. Information about the Fair can be found here.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available here. Find the Great New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair on Twitter, and enjoy photos from the Fair on Flickr. New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.

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