Minnesota State Fair to be Featured on ABC's "The View"
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ST. PAUL, MINN. (06/29/2011)(readMedia)-- The Great Minnesota Get-Together is set to be featured on an upcoming episode of ABC's "The View" scheduled to air at 10 a.m. CST Monday, July 4 on local affiliate stations.
The View's producers contacted the State Fair's marketing staff in mid-June in hopes of showcasing a favorite State Fair food unique to Minnesota. After bouncing around several ideas including Pronto Pups, Sweet Martha's Cookies and Corn Roast among others, The View's production staff chose Giggles' Campfire Grill's famous walleye cakes and new northwoods salad on-a-stick (cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella served over a bed of chilled Minnesota wild rice). "They liked the idea of featuring walleye because it's the state fish, a Minnesota delicacy and something fair guests find delicious," said State Fair Marketing & Communications Manager Brienna Schuette.
Tim "Giggles" Weiss, who also owns The Original Gabe's By The Park in St. Paul and is an investor in Smalley's 87 Club in Minneapolis, and his executive chef flew to New York City for a Tuesday, June 21 taping. "The bright lights and crowded streets of Manhattan reminded me of a busy State Fair Saturday," Weiss said of the experience. "What an honor to represent the Minnesota State Fair concessionaire family."
During the taping, Marc Summers of the Food Network's "Unwrapped" and "Ultimate Recipe Showdown," tasted both the walleye cakes and salad along with "The View" host Sherri Shepperd and Executive Producer Bill Geddie. "The walleye cakes were a hit with Whoopi Goldberg too, who stole one before the cameras started rolling," a glowing Weiss said.
Giggles' Campfire Grill will celebrate 12 years specializing in fish, game fare and "made from scratch" menu items at the 2011 Great Minnesota Get-Together.
The 2011 Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 25 through Labor Day, Sept. 5. Visit www.mnstatefair.org for more information.