Midwest
Deep-fried ranch a big hit at Minnesota State Fair: 'I wanted to hate it'
With the Minnesota State Fair in full swing, one particular food item has proven to be a hit: deep-fried ranch.
Served at Lulu’s Public House, the deep-fried ranch has drawn lines hundreds of people deep, as customers – perhaps out of curiosity – wait for the fair dish that has gotten everyone talking.
Described by the Minnesota State Fair as “ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep-fried and dusted with ranch powder,” deep-fried ranch is accompanied by “a side of hot honey sauce crafted with Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce.”
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A sign on Lulu’s Public House indicates the item is made of Hidden Valley Ranch and ranch flavorings.
“People in Minnesota love their ranch dressing,” Charlie Burrows, co-owner of Lulu’s, told Fox News Digital in an email in July, noting that “diners will ask for a side of ranch with almost everything.”
Deep-fried ranch, shown up close at right, has become one of the most talked-about items at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. (Jacqueline Hanson; Minnesota State Fair)
Burrows worked on the concept of deep-frying ranch dressing for more than a year and a half, he told Fox News Digital in July.
Despite the unusual nature of the dish, Burrows predicted that people were going to love it, saying he was “really excited.”
“We wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think it tasted great,” he said.
As it turns out, Burrows was correct. He told Fox News Digital that just two days after the fair opened on Aug. 22, he had to place an order for 150% of what he’d originally planned.
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The item has been described by Lulu’s marketing team this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” But Burrows told Fox News Digital that he likened his dish to a fried ravioli tossed in panko breadcrumbs.
The dish has been tasted – and enjoyed – by ordinary fair-goers as well as politicians and celebrities.
Deep-fried ranch dressing was described this way: It’s as if “Hidden Valley Ranch and a cheese wonton had a baby.” (Minnesota State Fair)
Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, a native of Minnesota, posted a video recap of her trip to the fair on Aug. 26, when she tried various food items.
Her first taste of deep-fried ranch left her wide-eyed and saying, “Oh my God.”
One of her security guards can be heard in the background saying, “Deep-fried ranch was awesome.”
“What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Country singer Blake Shelton also enjoyed deep-fried ranch, even giving it a shoutout during his Sunday night concert at the fairgrounds.
“I ate it and it’s awesome,” Shelton said. “I mean, look at – What is wrong with us? I loved it.”
Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, at left, and country music superstar Blake Shelton, right, count themselves as fans of deep-fried ranch. (Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images; Minnesota State Fair; Getty Images)
Shelton added that a person has “gotta be a hillbilly” to like something like that.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who had previously referred to ranch as “the Midwest’s most sacred condiment,” also sampled deep-fried ranch.
“It’s really good,” she said. “The hot honey makes it.”
“Ranch is a condiment for pretty much everything, but this might be its best execution yet,” she said.
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Kelly Morrison, a congressional candidate for Minnesota’s 3rd District, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “LuLu’s deep-fried ranch dressing was even better than advertised,” along with a picture of herself holding a half-eaten triangle.
Minnesota State Fair-goers sample the deep-fried ranch, which will be available until the fair closes. (Jacqueline Hanson)
“Chef Reactions,” a TikTok food creator with more than 3 million followers, also found himself among deep-fried ranch’s fans – even if a bit unwillingly.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
“I just had deep-fried ranch and I must begrudgingly admit it was not bad at all. I wanted to hate it. But I don’t,” he said in an Aug. 23 post on X.
The Minnesota State Fair runs through Labor Day.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse
A Milwaukee County judge on Thursday, Feb. 26, criticized the smell of marijuana inside the courthouse during a sentencing hearing, calling it inappropriate and illegal as visitors described the odor as common.
Minneapolis, MN
Family of Minneapolis brothers killed by cousin says their deaths were preventable:
A Minneapolis family is struggling to make sense of a tragedy that has left them heartbroken.
Family tells WCCO 14-year-old Xavier Barnett and 23-year-old Akwame Stewart were killed Monday.
The brothers were very different, but equally loved. Barnett was a good student and athlete. Stewart was a painter, creative and thoughtful. Two brothers, loved and full of promise, gone.
Police say the accused shooter is their cousin, 23-year-old Eddie Duncan.
Court records show Duncan was released on bail Monday on charges of fleeing law enforcement and possession of a gun modified with an “auto sear switch.”
Court records also show Duncan was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, but not until next month, on March 24.
Deasia Freeman, Barnett and Stewart’s sister, says this loss could have been prevented.
“They all failed us. We got two innocent lives gone for no reason. Didn’t do nothing to nobody,” Freeman said.
Family members say the system and Duncan’s family let them down.
Freeman says Duncan’s family saw the warning signs and still bailed him out
“If you knew this man was thinking like this, y’all should have kept him in there and he should not even have bail,” she said.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office says they noted Duncan was a public safety risk and asked for a high bail, much higher than a typical request.
“In Minnesota, there is a constitutional right to bail, and the bail amount is set by the Court. Our office noted a public safety risk with Mr. Duncan and asked the judge to set bail at $70,000, or $35,000 with conditions; both of which are higher than we would typically request in this scenario. The judge set bail in that amount. Mr. Duncan posted $35,000 bail with conditions of release, as is allowed under the Minnesota Constitution, and was released from custody. Our thoughts are with all those impacted by yesterday’s violence. This was a terrible tragedy for this family and our community,” a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.
For Freeman and her family, the hardest part isn’t just the legal process but living each day without their brothers.
Even in the heartbreak, she says the memories of the good days, the laughter and love they shared will carry them through.
“I wish I could get just one more phone call from them asking me where I’m at,” Freeman said as tears rolled down her face.
Court records confirm Duncan left the scene of the crime and fled to nearby Brooklyn Center. There, a search warrant says Duncan “fired a gun at officers, striking two squads,” when police arrived. That’s when officers returned fire, shooting and killing him.
Three officers have been placed on critical incident leave as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension leads the investigation into Duncan’s fatal shooting.
Indianapolis, IN
Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades
What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?
The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.
In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.
So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?
Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.
- Treatment of Families: B
- Home Game Field: D
- Food/Dining Area: B
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
- Locker Room: C+
- Training Room: B
- Training Staff: B+
- Weight Room: B
- Strength Coaches: A
- Position Coaches: B
- Offensive Coordinator: B
- Defensive Coordinator: B+
- Special Teams Coordinator: B+
- Team Travel: B-
- Head Coach: A-
- General Manager: A
- Team Ownership: A
Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.
Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.
The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.
Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.
The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.
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