Cooking Channel filming in West Palm Beach at the South Florida Fair
With more than four dozen vendors serving up hundreds of highly creative culinary delights, the South Florida Fair is a beacon of light for fair food aficionados.
Now the latest bearers of the fair food flame, the team behind the Cooking Channel’s hit show “Carnival Eats” have answered the call. Led by host Noah Cappe, the show has been at the fairgrounds since Sunday filming and sampling treats midway through.
Created in Canada in 2014, the show is currently the longest-running food show on television, according to “Carnival Eats” producer Paul Naiman.
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Focusing on the exciting and hard-working vendors who work at fairs and carnivals in North America, the program gives them a voice and allows the world to see a different, light-hearted but incredibly creative side of the culinary world, Naiman said.
They’re not your average food industry guys, he said: They range from regular Joes to race car drivers and even ER surgeons.
With the exposure of the show, some of these vendors have grown from one-man operations to mini-empires. Naiman said many have told them “you put us on the map.”
He said that the “Carnival Eats” team enjoys working with vendors and that they are incredibly unique. Not only in their creativity and work ethic, but also in their sense of community. Naiman said they all know each other well and will drop everything to help a fellow vendor.
Though he couldn’t divulge the specific foods that were going to be featured at the South Florida Fair (the episode will air in July 2023), he did mention stopping by Guaca Go, Rosie’s Nachos, and Carnival Concessions.
Naiman said this is actually the second time they’ve been to the South Florida Fair. The show visits between 30 and 35 fairs each season and this is its fourth stop so far in 2023.
South Florida Fair 2023
Where: 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach
When: until January 29
Hours: noon to 10 pm Monday through Thursday; 10 am to 10 pm MLK Day and Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 10 am to 8 pm closing day
Cost: 10 and under free; 11 years and older at the door $15 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and $20 on Saturday and Sunday; Tuesday $2. The entrance fee does not include rides or parking. Travel wristbands $25 at the door Monday through Friday, $40 at the door Saturday and Sunday. Parking $10 general, $20 premium.
Information: 561-793-0333; 800-640-FAIR; feriadelsurdeflorida.com
Note: On Friday and Saturday nights, all those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult when entering the fairgrounds. Proof of age will be required for the accompanying adult. In addition to gate admission, all visitors ages 6-17 must purchase a ride wristband before entering the fair.
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected] Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.