A fan lets the music take her away. Former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page played Chevy Court at the New York State Fair on Wednesday. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Geddes, N.Y. — Another Opening Day has come and gone, and we’re left with assurance that the State Fair can, indeed, be normal again.

Some 49,112 passed through the gates on a glorious Wednesday. That’s pretty good, considering it took us nine days to break the 50,000 mark last year.

Yesterday, we challenged our digestive systems with deep-fried things. We rode and ranked Midway rides. We sipped over-the-top boozy drinks. We made faces at the animals as they made faces at us.

All told, the Fair seemed like the Fair again. So let’s keep this carnival going. On to Day Two.

I write about food for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, I rely on readers to tell me what’s good in Central New York. That’s exactly what I’m counting on during the State Fair. I’m taking your suggestions and highlighting the best food and drinks here. If you find something that makes your belly smile, text me (315-382-1984) and I’ll give it a shot. I might even join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab. As Bluto from “Animal House” said: “Grab a brew. Don’t cost nothin’.” I’ve already got a decent-sized list started, and a few readers took me up on that offer.

Five shots of New York State booze for $20 at the New York State Fair with Charlie Miller (left), and readers Donnie Buttaccio, Kevin Sexton, Dan Etoll and Kevin Sexton. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

OK, let’s set today’s picnic table:

Lunch: One of the most popular handheld foods at the huge Erie County Fair was the Polish taco from Babcia’s Pierogis ($12). If it’s good enough for Buffalo crowds, it’s certainly going to go over well here. You can find these at Babcia’s stand inside the Eatery Building.

Linda Lund came up with this European variation of our favorite Mexican dish. She chops Polish sausage finely enough that it resembles ground beef and mixes it with ground crispy bacon for the first layer atop a grilled naan bread. The cooler vegetable layer is sweet and sour cabbage, sauerkraut and caramelized onions. It’s finished with horseradish sauce and Weber’s mustard. It’s then quickly wrapped into aluminum foil.

Some of the best advice I’ve been given at the Fair so far: “Eat this from one end while the other end is still in the foil. Otherwise, you’re going to ruin that white shirt.” Thanks to that guy, I didn’t have to do laundry Wednesday.

Sean Hennessey, the interim State Fair director, tried one for the first time on Tuesday. “Fabulous,” he said. “I love it!” He clearly has good taste.

Wash the Polish taco down with Empire Brewing Co.’s Deep Purple, an ale made with concord grapes. This 16-ounce celebration in a can is $7 today at the Beer Garden.

A Polish taco from Babcia's Pierogis at The New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Drink of the day: The Tiki Turtle stand in the Colonnade serves creative sandwiches and lively cocktails. This year’s newest drink is the Tiki Torture. We can credit bartender Lana Emmi’s daughter, Carley, for this jazzy juice.

It’s $14 because it’s big, and it’s potent. Lana dumps two shots of vodka, a shot of peach schnapps and a shot of coconut rum into a cocktail shaker full of ice. She adds 2 ounces of orange juice and a couple ounces of sour mix and some grenadine. After a few good jiggles, she pours it into a color-changing cup. She serves it with a straw wrapped in a tiny tiki umbrella.

Whatever you do, keep the cup. You get $2 off on refills. Hey now!

Lana Emmi shows off the Tiki Torture drink at the Tiki Turtle stand in the Colonnade at The New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

>> Detailed daily schedule for Thursday, Aug. 25

>> The Prodigals, 1 p.m. at Chevy Court

>> David Nail, 2 p.m. at Chevy Park

>> Great White, 6 p.m. at Chevy Court

>> The Art of Rap Featuring Ice-T, 8 p.m. at Chevy Park

Tickets: Admission each day is $3 at the gate. Children under 12 are free every day, and those 65 and older get free admission. The Fair does not accept cash at the gates. Buy tickets in advance on etix or use a a credit card at a nearby kiosk.

Hours: Door open at 9 a.m. each day. The buildings are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. The Midway shuts down at 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

Parking: The parking lots surrounding the fairgrounds can accommodate more than 23,000 vehicles. Parking is $5 (advance sales or EZ-Pass) for all lots. They will not accept cash. (Click here for parking map and directions.)

Other rules: You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks. No pets are allowed, unless they are working dogs or in a competition. All bags, backpacks, coolers, purses and fanny packs are permitted but subject to search upon entry. You cannot bring firearms or other weapons, signs, roller blades, skate boards or bicycles onto the grounds. Visitors are required to wear a shirt and footwear.

State Fair newsletter: Stay up-to-date on all New York State Fair news, food, music, schedules and more with our free newsletter. Get it in your inbox all 13 days. Sign up here.

Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drink and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at cmiller@syracuse.com. You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram. Sign up for his free weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.

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