Thanks for coming back to mmm-yoso!!! the blog about food, in all iterations. Today Cathy is blogging. Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are reading. Part one of the 2010 San Diego County Fair can be found here .
Well. The Mister, me and our friend, Ms. T went to the 2010 San Diego County Fair. On Opening Day. At the opening hour (which is 11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m on weekends). It wasn't too crowded because the day was quite cool and overcast. 
Don Diego is dressed differently than when I saw him before the official opening. He looks more like a chef now. This look fits in with the logo of the Fair a bit better. 
When you first walk in, you can see the ferris wheel at the far end of the Midway.
To your left are the various landscape entries.
To the right of the entrance are the various livestock barns.
The Design in Wood exhibits had some beautiful entries this year.
Oh. Then there was the food.
Here is my confession: A few weeks ago, I went to see my doctor for my annual appointment. I was told to not eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the appointment. The prior week was extremely stressful and I worked long hours and ate without thinking about any lab results. On Tuesdays, Popeyes sells their fried chicken 2 pieces for $1.29…I had 4 pieces. With red beans and rice. Large. On Wednesday, I stopped for breakfast at a friend's home. She bought bear claws and jelly donuts from Vons. I had two at her home and took one to go. On Thursday, Arby's $1 menu looked good. Then there was the wine…ANYHOW, I found out that Potassium numbers needed to be *higher* than 3.4 and LDL cholesterol numbers need to be *less* than 100…and that "fasting glucose" is supposed to be between 70 and 99. A higher score is *not* good in most cases. Then, I read the "side effects" disclosure for a recommended cholesterol lowering medication. That scared me. So for about a month now, my diet has been a conscious consumption of food so I can pass thenext bloodletting.
It was simple- lower sodium intake so as to increase potassium levels and eating more fiber and less fat. I am eating nothing artificial or overly processed. Fresh fruit and vegetables at *every* meal or snack. No magic.
My cravings have changed. Most of the Fair Foods had not much appeal for me. Especially the"new" ones. I never much craved sweets anyhow. What I did eat and photograph was just a taste of most of what I will show you. 
So. I was very happy with this simple gingerbread cookie from the Gingerbread house, which makes "The World's Best Hot Chocolate"- photo in my previous post.
The hot dog on a stick, covered in hash browns or sweet potato shreds, held no interest for me. Nor did pizza on a stick.
Nor did the rolled tacos, sold at one of at least ten "taco shop" carts on the Fairgrounds.
However, this booth looked good.
The grilled asparagus was excellent. The lemony mayonnaise sauce was a nice compliment. ($6)
This booth has a cute design.
However, another booth dips a slab of vanilla ice cream in chocolate and then peanuts…satisfying cravings for many people (also a bargain at $3.50).
We always enjoy the fresh made pesto at Pignotti's.
The cheese tortellini topped with this sauce was excellent, as always ($6.50).
Three of us did share a blooming onion (~$6)
We also shared the garlic battered mushrooms (~$6)- the mushrooms were very fresh large ones. The batter did compliment them, and with the batter peeled off, the mushrooms were very large and still firm, fresh, white. 
We finally found this cart down the "Cinnamon Roll" aisle off the Midway, all the way to the walkway that crosses the horse track to the Youth area of the fairgrounds. I looked at the items ordered by others… 
Ended up ordering the "Cheese Crisps" ($8). Because the "Garlic Dippers" and the "Cinnamon Crisps" were kind of the same thing- frozen butter, placed inside a tortilla and then the tortilla deep fried. The garlic one was topped with parmesan and had marinara for dipping and the cinnamon one had some churros and whipped cream. I just didn't want either. The Cheese Crisp costs a bit more than either of the butter selections and basically is a quesedilla cut into strips then deep fried- then topped with a good marinara sauce. (Oh, I had the chocolate dipped bacon last year and loved it; crispy, salty bacon covered in chocolate then frozen and ready to grab and go in a small take out box. There are quite a few small carts which sell water bottles and have a freezer selling the chocolate bacon.). It was good.
The three of us did share the one item I have been buying at this Fair every year since we moved to San Diego. Two cream puffs- one with vanilla whipped cream, the other with a cocoa infused whipped cream and a coffee. The shells are baked in the booth, fresh, crispy and wonderful.
We didn't buy any gadgets or ride any rides. However, I will be going back later this week.
I never found the chocolate dipped pickle cart…and maybe I'll try a fried pop tart. Maybe.
San Diego Fair Website Read this to find out ways to get discounted entrance tickets, free parking and other discounts. Open June 11-July 5, Closed Mondays in June.