Of course the rides are a thrill and everybody loves to nail that jerk at the dunk tank, but make no mistake about it - the taste and smell of fairground fare is what draws crowds young and old back for annual seconds and thirds.

According to Eva Plumbley and her family, it's all about the convenience.

"There's a lot of variety and you can walk around while you eat," she says.

The myriad of colorful booths on hand will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also your fried tooth, whatever-on-a-stick tooth and just about any other tooth in your head.

So what would Dr.

Phil think of concession stand chow? Fast food on-foot?

"Dr. Phil probably wouldn't approve," says Archie Hardy, who helps run the funnel cake booth, "but I know Emeril would!"

Funnel cake booth
Probably the most identifiable staple of the fair, funnel cakes run $5 each. Toppings include Bavarian creme, apple, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, chocolate, cinnamon and original powdered sugar. There are also nachos, $4 (with jalapenos $1 extra).

Mexican booth
Steak and pork tacos are $2. Burritos (steak, pork or chicken) with rice and beans will cost $5. Prefer American comida? Then opt for a burger, Philly cheese or chicken wings, each $5.

Lemonade stand
Shades are almost necessary for stepping up to this bright yellow booth. Regular lemonades are $2 and jumbos $4. For $5 you get a souvenir cup with $3 refills. Also on the menu: $2 fresh corn and $1 jumbo pickles.

Pizza booth
Gino's Italian style pizza slices run $3 for cheese and $4 for pepperoni. Cheese sticks and meatball subs are also $4. Gnaw on a jumbo turkey leg for $6.

Candy booth
A regular bag of cotton candy is $3, plain candy apples are $2 and caramel apples $3. Now you can get caramel apple chips for $3.50 (slices in a bowl). Nuts are 50 cents extra. Caramel popcorn is $2 and slushies start at $1.50.

Mini Kastle Burger
Five mini burgers go for $3.50; with cheese they'll be $4.75. Hot dogs run $2 while a corn dog is $3. Small onion rings are $3.50. Chicken tenders cost $5.

Polish sausage booth
Polish or Italian (which is spicier) sausages are going for $5; get the basket for $8. Burgers and corn dogs are $3. But Phyllis Moore says that the real reason people come by her booth is for the fresh-brewed tea ($2).

Coffee booth
Rejuvenate yourself with some caffeine - small coffees are only $1, mediums are $2 and a large is $3. Have a muffin for $1.50. Get some fried Oreo cookies (6 for $4). Fried Twinkies and candy bars (Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way and Reese's Cup) are $3.

Ice cream booth
Dipped (chocolate, caramel and cherry) cones are big sellers for $2.50. Also frozen cheesecake or banana on a stick for $3.75. Shakes and sundaes run $4 and banana splits $5.

Reed Messer can be reached at reedmesser@aol.com.