By: Deanna Ross and Dana Gaertner
While most foods exhibited at the Wisconsin State Fair have a mere stand to commemorate their existence, one delicious item in particular stands above the rest in it’s own pavillion.
The cream puff.
On Tuesday August 6th, 2014, the Cream Puff Pavillion at the Wisconsin State Fair was swarmed with dairy lovers alike.
Shirley Louis could be spotted across the distance with her fresh cream puff and shaking her head as her husband, Gregg Louis, bit into a gigantic brownie.
“I just think that if you’re going to come to the Wisconsin State Fair, you should be getting a cream puff”, Louis said.
Louis is not alone.
On the opposite side of the resting area, Nina Shutter and her friend, Gina Heartfield, were sharing a cream puff.
Unlike Louis and Shutter, who were thoroughly enjoying her cream puff, Heartfield felt it was just a necessary tradition to get out of the way.
“They aren’t the greatest, but it really is mandatory to the experience. That’s why we are sharing,” said Heartfield.
“The State Fair is known for their cream puffs, but I also think they are really good,” said Shutter. “I made her take a few mouthfuls.”
Regardless of why the customers purchase their cream puffs, cream puffs appear to be quite the popular item, just as they were in years previous.
In fact, both Louis and her husband, though they disagree on whether the brownie or the cream puff is superior in taste, agree that the cream puff truly is the most iconic food item at the Wisconsin State Fair.
“Wisconsin is known for their dairy, therefore the cream puff is a profoundly important feature,” said Louis.
Important feature, indeed. This year marks the 90th Anniversary of Original Cream Puffs available to fair goers. In addition, the dominant of most fair promotion items including posters and brochures is a cream puff. The cream puff is such a big ticket item that in 2006 it became a mascot. Cravin’ D. Cream Puff makes appearances outside the fair, including at Bucks games and even Candy Cane Lane.
And, there are numerous of events that take place during the fair that revolve solely around cream puffs, including the Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Contest held today. Participants included local radio hosts Riggs from 103.7 and Ryan Miller from 102.1.
The cream puff is a beloved and traditional part of the Wisconsin State Fair. But according to Louis, there is one problem.
“I wish the cream puffs were bigger”, said Louis. “I like to say, the bigger the better.”
