Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Company serves up delicious food at their restaurants in Camarillo and Ventura, so I knew where to go to get my fish taco fix at the fair. The drinks are comparable in size to a 7-Eleven Big Gulp, so they’re ideal to sip on for a long time.ĬHEERS-Watermelon/cucumber and horchata aguas frescas.

“I like fried food, too, but this is all light and airy, so then you can fill up on something else.” “It’s so light,” said Lisa Bradford, who was working the booth. Although it is a bit richer than the strawberry and mango frescas, the cinnamon rice milk is noticeably fresh. I would also highly recommend the horchata. It’s a sweet, salty and citrusy combination. A tip: ask for a dribbling of chamoy, a Mexican candy sauce, on the rim of the cup. The strawberry agua fresca, made with strawberries and lemon juice, was my favorite at the fair. Though the beverage has been around for generations, its profile has risen sharply recently due to social media TikTokers call the drink “spa water.” No matter what you call it, nothing compares to an authentic agua fresca. The traditional Mexican drink is made with either fruit, cereal or flowers, blended with sugar and water and then strained and served over ice. The $13 aguas frescas at Cilantro’s Tacos were the best cool-down beverages one could ask for. My first mission, however, was to beat the blazing heat. That’s why I made it my mission to find some hidden gems beyond the typical fare of cotton candy and corn dogs. Deep-fried Oreos are not my go-to snack, and I can’t bring myself to eat a giant turkey leg after stopping by the farm animal exhibits.

Foodie fair