For the last 7 years, 70,000 festival fanatics have been eating their way through the best food Raleigh and its surrounding areas have to offer. Here, Anthony tried his hand at ax-throwing in the lumberjack challenge and sampled more than a few of the carnival eats. "All of the food has been crazy good — or just plain crazy," he said.
This giant creation starts off with crunchy ribbon fries, then jalapeno mac and cheese is added on top. But it doesn't stop there: The whole thing is smothered in homemade gator chili that simmers for four hours.
Froggenstein — The Great Carolina Food Bizarre
The bizarre foods tent at this festival is home to some of the weirdest dishes around, but Anthony dove headfirst when it came to trying the deep-fried frog's legs. They're served with Ribbit Juice (pickle juice), which adds a little tang.
The Belt Buster — Tropical Island Concessions
"It is truly a heart attack on a stick," Anthony said of this over-the-top dessert. It's a caramel-filled chocolate cookie inside a cream-filled pastry that is wrapped in bacon on a stick. It is dipped in funnel cake batter and deep-fried, then topped with powdered sugar, homemade icing and crumbled chocolate cookies.
Bacon-Wrapped Pig Wings — Granny's Country Kitchen
While they're not technically pig wings, you definitely eat them like they are. It's actually a pig shank that's tossed in a dry rub, then smoked. After that, it's wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. In case that's not enough flavor, it's served with a side of moonshine habanero sauce.
Fried Chicken Gizzards and Okra — Angela's Seafood Hut
It takes some love to make chicken gizzards delectable, but this place seems to have cracked the code. "They're not fried too hard; they're tender and they're seasoned to perfection," Anthony said.
United Nations Sandwich — Baguettaboutit
This place's unique sandwich ensures you can always eat with one hand. A baguette is hollowed out as it's baked on a spike, then the fillings are added. The United Nations sandwich is a mixture of Italian sausage and South American chimichurri stuffed inside a French baguette.
Redneck Egg Rolls — Backyard Bistro
Chef Joe Lumbrazo was professionally trained in New York City before he hit the festival circuit, and it shines through in his unique food. Made from all local ingredients, his Redneck Egg Rolls are stuffed with collard greens and pork butt before being fried. "It's the perfect blend of textures," Anthony said.
Want More Carnival Cravings?
Get all of the inside info on which festivals Anthony went to and what food he ate.
