How is this for a meal: A bacon cheeseburger eggroll for the appetizer, a pulled pork chili waffle cone, with a side of Maryland crab mac-and-cheese for the entrée, washed down with a mango pineapple smoothie and topped off with a Trash Can Sundae for dessert? This is just one of hundreds of unique combinations coming to the annual Taste NY Food Truck Competition at the 2019 Great New York State Fair. The competition is sponsored by Aldi.
Forty-three food trucks from across New York State are signed up to compete in the event, which takes place Sunday and Monday, September 1 and 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the New York Experience festival area on the western end of the Fairgrounds. Twenty trucks will compete on Sunday with the remaining 20 plus trucks fighting it out for public votes on Labor Day Monday. Twelve trucks are new to the competition, which also features three returning champions: The Meatball Truck (Rochester), Smokin Pete’s BBQ (Dresden) and Silo Food Truck (Ithaca).
“The competition is one of the most fun events of the Fair. People get to sample all kinds of food they might never have tried otherwise. It showcases the creativity and quality of street food, nearly all of which is made from great New York State agricultural products,” said Fair Director Troy Waffner.
For the competition, truck operators create an entrée in sample sizes. Fairgoers buy the samples for $3 each then vote for their favorites via text using a phone number revealed on the day of the event. The top three vote-getters each day receive Aldi gift cards of $1,000, $500 or $250, courtesy of the grocery company. 
“We are looking forward to tasting all of the chefs’ creations at the State Fair’s Taste NY Food Truck Competition. It’s great to see contestants from so many different regions across New York,” said Aaron Sumida, Tully division vice president for ALDI. “With more than 100 stores statewide, we invite all food truck participants to stop by their local ALDI store for fresh, high-quality ingredients at the lowest prices in town.”
Competitors on day one and their entrees include:
- Skippy’s Ice Cream of Liverpool: Trash Can Sundae
- Nancy’s of Woodstock Artisanal Creamery of Woodstock: Baked Alaska
- Glazed and Confused of Syracuse: Dizzy Pig
- Smoothies Plus of Rochester: Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- Rapidz Restaurant of Massena: Slider
- Come Fry With Me of Rome: Classic Poutine
- The Chef & the Truck (Chef 4 Rent) of Baldwinsville: Pulled Pork Chili Waffle Cone
- WingNutz (Roc City Sammich) of Rochester: Cheesy-Bacon Chicken Bowl
- GV Street Food of Belfast: Fried Spicy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
- Over the Moon Grilled Cheese of Alpine: This Little Piggy
- Potato Skin Express of East Syracuse: Thai Sesame Crunch
- Bob Barkers of Cicero: Bacon Cheddar Dog
- Tonzi’s Catering Company of Auburn: Deep Fried Chicken Riggies
- Pinkies Barbeque and Catering LLC of Binghamton: BBQ Chicken w/ Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Via Napoli Express of Liverpool: TBD
- Roll’n Deep of Rochester: Garbage Roll
- Abbott’s Frozen Custard of Rochester: Chocolate Almond Custard
- Papa Gallo Taco Truck of Fayetteville: Al Pastor Taco
- The Baked Potato Express of Liverpool: Mac and Cheese Baked Potato
- Chef’s Catering of Rochester: TBD
Day two competitors and their entrees include:
- Smokey Legend BBQ of Glen Aubrey: Beef Brisket
- Byblos Street Grill of Syracuse: TBD
- Smokin Pete’s BBQ of Penn Yan: Loaded Pulled Pork Tator Tots
- Sarita’s of Rome: Savory Beef Empanada
- Cue-Dogs of Cicero: Cheese Dog
- The Meatball Truck of Rochester: Meatballs
- Pascarella’s Catering of Liverpool: Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll
- Limp Lizard of Syracuse: Smoked Turkey Slider
- Wolf’s Patio Pizza of Liverpool: Pepperoni Pizza
- PB & J’s Streetside Café of Syracuse: Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Glen Edith Coffee of Rochester: Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
- Silo Food Truck of Ovid: TBD
- Pig Vycious BBQ of Binghamton: The Suben – Beef Brisket Sandwich
- 3.21 Salads of Oswego: Taco Salad
- That’s What’s Up of Liverpool: TBD
- Macarollin of Rochester: Maryland Crab Mac
- Stockyard BBQ of Morrisville: Pulled Pork Slider
- LadyBug Lunchbox of Syracuse: Cajun Chicken Sandwich
- Blueberries and Lace Dessert Truck of Central Square: Brownie
In addition, Liverpool’s Fashion Rescue 911 will be on hand both days with a clothing sales booth. Bands will perform on the Experience Stage in the festival grounds area starting in the early afternoon.
Competitors are required primarily to use food products grown or made in New York for their entrees. The competition supports Taste NY, the State Agriculture Department’s program to promote to consumers food and beverages grown and made in New York State. Fairgoers can purchase excellent products from around the state at the Taste NY store in the Horticulture Building and can try free samples of products at the sampling area next to the store. The Fair continues to require its food and beverage vendors to use New York products whenever possible.
