Parte Dos: When things got a bit too fried... (Texas State Fair Fiasco)

Mia woke up very excited one morning. The weather had finally cooled down, and the festive air in Dallas was electrifying; she could barely contain her joy. "Camila! It's the Texas State Fair this month... I haven't been in years! Let's go..."

Mia and mini-Camila jumped in the car, and drove through Downtown towards the Fairgrounds. Mia smiled, this was easier than she remembered. However, easy it was not. As soon as they crossed the highway, evil parking signs started diverting traffic away from the free street-parking Mia was trying to get to.

She tried maneuvering around the park in search of the firehouse where one could always find parking, but kept getting diverted further and further from the fairgrounds. When she realized she had crossed the highway in the other direction, she pulled over and groaned "What are we going to do? I have no idea how to get there anymore"...

"Look!" Camila said. "We can see the (most giant) Ferris wheel! Drive towards it... I'm sure we can figure this out!"

Texas Star: Ferris Wheel!

With renewed gusto, Mia pulled back into traffic and zigged and zagged towards the Ferris wheel. Before they knew it, the girls were parked (for free!) and entering the Fair. It was a food-drive Wednesday, and since they had brought three cans of food to donate, they were able to get in for only $2 (instead of $15)! Already feeling exhausted, Mia aimed for the food stands.

But it was overwhelming! Upon getting to the food, Mia realized she had forgotten how shamelessly Texas loves fried food:  



Fried EVERYTHING!

"Oh no! I can't handle this just yet..." Mia sighed, still stressed out from all the driving. "Let's try to find something a little less fried to start off with."

The girls looked at one another. They knew EXACTLY what to go in search of: CORN!

It was no secret that the girls both loved corn. They annoyed their friends regularly with discussions of corn and how great they both thought it was. But even these two corn-aficionados were not prepared for the miracle of GIANT Texas State Fair corn!

Giant Corn: New Random Road Trip Destination?

"I think this is the biggest cob of corn I've ever seen!" Camila exclaimed. "I hope we will be able to conquer it."

The corn was sweet, and tasted slightly like a freak genetics experiments, but was incredibly tasty eaten with butter, salt, and pepper.

"Done! I can't believe I ate a whole one!" Mia said, stuffed. "Back to the fried foods we go!"

Victory!

The girls slowly wandered back through games and rides. They stopped by the livestock auctions, and saw a pig race. Eventually they got to the fried foods and, after long and careful consideration, decided on Fried Cookie Dough. While not as exciting as deep fried pickles or beer, they figured it would be a good desert to end their day with.

Deep-Fried Cookie Dough: Amazing!

And they were right! The Cookie Dough was incredibly tasty, a delicious mix of crispy and gooey doughs, and the chocolate syrup and powdered sugar topped it off perfectly. Exhausted after an eventful, delectable, and filling day at the fair, and with even more appreciation for the wonders of deep-frying, the girls headed back home to rest up for their next great adventure.

Adventure 1- Mini-Mia and Camila Venture to La Petit France

In the Idyllic land of Ithaca, Mia and Camila lived with a very lovely lassie by the name of Amanda. She was a delightful girl and all three of them were very good friends. Camila and Amanda lived together in a dorm and lo and behold it even turns out that Amanda went to school with Camila’s cousin 1,000 miles away! Mia and Amanda were both architecture students and stayed up many late nights building models and working on projects. All three of them lived with four other folks in a lovely brown and white house known as “The Oreo House.” Recently, Amanda landed a job in the land of crepes, esc argot, Madeline, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre. It was only yesterday that she got on a plane and traversed over the sea to take up residency in Paris.

“Mademoiselle Mini Mia, how do you feel about French food?” Camila asks her cut out friend.

“Who doesn’t love a croissant?” Mini- Mia says.

“Then we shall journey to La Petit France.”

“Oi, oi” Mini-Mia proclaims, “a La Petit France it should be”.

Camila places Mini-Mia in her bag and takes the bus to West Hartford, where she casually strolls into the pastry shop, throws her bags down on two plush chairs (they are of course the ones closest to the computer plug) and goes forward to order. She orders a combo meal (it’s all in honor of Amanda’s new move); St. Michel Sandwich, chocolate croissant, and a coffee and carries it over to her seat. Then it’s time.

How do I pull Mia out of my bag, put her on the table, take a picture, and, AND, how do I not look completely ridiculous doing so?

Carefully she reaches into her bag, grabs black & white Mia and her stand before placing her on the table to join in this French-delight of a meal.

Voila! Picture captured and now we shall enjoy.

Mini B&W Mia at La Petit France. No worries, she may be a little colorless now, but one day she will be like Dorothy and gain some pigment and a colorful dress. 

Oh yes, the food is remarkable. The croissant is ever so flaky. The chocolate divine. The goat cheese in the sandwich is so tasty. Oh, and the baguette is homemade.

“I do declare, this place should get a 5 stars out of 5 stars rating” states the marvelous Mini-Mia.

“Why I certainly agree, that’s what I hope (fingers crossed) the rating of Amanda’s adventure abroad will be.”

Howdy!

Once upon a time there were two girls called Camila and Mia. They lived together in Ithaca, New York, fried food and ate together, travelled together, and overall had a swell time.

camila                                                mia                    

Alack, alas! The good times did not last. A few years later, Camila moved to Connecticut, and Mia went to Texas. They did not have the resources to see each other as often as they would have liked, nor to eat together, or travel. The girls were sad. But what could be done?

"We should get a hot-air balloon and travel the world!" Camila said.

"If only we could. I miss our food adventures," Mia sighed.

"Wait! Next time I go out, I'm going to bring you along..."

"But how?"

"You'll see..."

...and so the cut-out project was born. The Culinary Hot-Air Balloon will follow the (cut-out) girls as they explore their surroundings, eat, travel, etc. A smorgasbord of unprecedented and most exciting adventures... from friend to friend, and across the whole wide world. Oh, the places they'll go!