Since 1958, Turkey To Go, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association’s (MTGA) restaurant at the Minnesota State Fair, has had a strong presence at the Minnesota State Fair and is a can’t-miss destination for many fairgoers. The reason is simple: Turkey To Go’s favorite turkey menu options honor the timeless classic protein that turkey is, and make it a perennial State Fair favorite. In fact, in 2012, Turkey To Go was named the very first “People’s Choice for Best Fair Food or Beverage” voted on by fairgoers.
While the classic Turkey To Go menu remains a constant year after year, the flavors are still bold and delicious. The Giant Juicy Turkey Sandwich is an all-time favorite that debuted in 1999 and has garnered Turkey To Go a wide variety of media coverage reaching beyond the Great Minnesota Get-Together from food bloggers and national culinary talent alike:
- “The large, squishy-soft bun is loaded with tender, flavorful turkey that’s been shredded and chopped. This is great for when you’re looking for something that’s filling and not fried,” said Brenda, author at A Farmgirl’s Dabbles blog. “I like to eat it with some BBQ sauce, but the sandwich has so much flavor you really don’t need it.”
- "The hot pulled, baked turkey is dressed many ways, but I take mine plain - with spoonfuls of the cooking liquid thrown on by request,” said Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods. “[The Giant Juicy Turkey Sandwich is] sloppy and perfect.”
Complimenting the Giant Juicy Turkey Sandwich are Slow-Roasted Turkey Drumsticks and the Tasty Turkey Sunrise Sandwich, debuted in 2015. Rounding out the menu is Turkey To Go by the pound, the perfect way to take part of the State Fair experience home!
One of purposes served by Turkey To Go is getting people to think of turkey beyond the classic Thanksgiving meal and incorporate a variety of cuts and recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Minnesota’s proud turkey farm families have a driving passion for promoting and serving nutritious, convenient, on-the-go turkey products to fairgoers.
"Minnesota's turkey companies have developed more than 2,000 different turkey products for consumer enjoyment, said Lara Durben, MTGA interim executive director. “That type of innovation and the knowledge and expertise of our multi-generational turkey farm families have led to Minnesota's growth over the last 80 years to the number one turkey-producing state in the nation."
Turkey To Go is owned by the MTGA with day-to-day operations handled by The Turkey Guys, Drew Levin and Daniel Perkins. While MTGA handles much of the behind-the-scenes details of the operation prior to and during the State Fair, The Turkey Guys bring in their staff to run the concession stand, including cooking and serving turkey to hungry fairgoers. What’s clear from day one of the State Fair is that everyone involved in Turkey To Go loves turkey!
Lastly, MTGA is proud to announce that a portion of every sale at Turkey To Go will be donated to Hunger Solutions Minnesota, an organization that is dedicated to ending hunger. This is the twelfth straight year of continuing this tradition of giving back.
