Ep 8. Fry Harder

In season 5, episode 8 of Carnival Eats, titled "Fry Harder," the show takes viewers on an exciting culinary journey through some of North America's most eclectic and delicious fair food offerings. Host Noah Cappe travels to a variety of state and county fairs and carnival events to explore the fascinating and often surprising culinary creations on offer.

The episode opens with Noah visiting the infamous Fry Frenzy stand at the Great Texas Mosquito Festival in Clute, Texas. Here, he discovers a unique twist on classic carnival fare with the stand's deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich. The sandwich is wrapped in bacon and then coated in a crispy batter before being deep-fried to perfection, creating a heavenly, gooey, and crunchy indulgence.

Next, Noah travels to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, where he samples an array of exciting carnival foods. He tries the Big Cheesy, a grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with bacon, macaroni, and cheese and topped with hot sauce. Noah also visits the Totally Fried stand, where he tries the Fried Mexican Firecracker, a spicy Mexican-inspired fried dish, and the Fried Ice Cream Sundae, a sweet and creamy delight.

Later in the episode, Noah explores the sweet and savory side of carnival fare at the Big E fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts. He visits the Fry Guys stand, where he tries their famous Chicken and Waffle Fries, a decadent combination of crispy fried chicken tenders served on top of seasoned waffle fries. He also visits the Bacon Box stand, where he samples the Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger, a juicy burger patty topped with creamy mac and cheese and salty bacon.

Noah concludes his culinary journey by sampling some of the most unusual and creative carnival fare at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. He starts things off with the Deep-Fried Scorpion, a daring and adventurous snack that comes with a warning. Noah also tries the Deep-Fried Thanksgiving, a dish that combines turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all rolled into a ball and deep-fried to perfection. Finally, Noah visits the Pineapple Whip stand, where he gets a taste of their signature treat, a refreshing and sweet soft-serve ice cream made from fresh pineapple.

Throughout the episode, Noah meets with the creative and passionate vendors behind the unique and often bizarre carnival food creations. He learns about their inspiration behind their dishes and their techniques for creating some of the most creative and daring fair foods on the market.

Overall, season 5, episode 8 of Carnival Eats brings viewers on a mouth-watering journey through some of the most exciting and unusual fair food offerings in North America. From spicy and savory to sweet and indulgent, there is something for everyone to enjoy.