Mangano, Yamali kick off the Long Island Fair

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It was a great way to kick off the 174th annual Long Island Fair, introducing a new sandwich based on an old tradition. Welcoming the Fair back to Old Bethpage Village for another year Dover Foods President and owner of Peter’s Clam Bar Butch Yamali and his award winning Chef Chris Seidl offered fair-goers the “Nassau-wich” a sandwich Yamali and his chef put together for this year’s fair. Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, along with members of The Agricultural Society of Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, Robert Hansen and Jim McKenna all took part in tasting the tasty treat.

Yamali explained that 167 years ago the most popular food for the Fair was Yankee Pot Roast. Using the pot roast from the Milleridge Inn, which Yamali runs, they added bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and homemade rye bread. More than that, it is a dipping sandwich and comes with gravy. Yamali said this sandwich weighs a pound; Dover also sells the hamburgers, hot dogs and other foods available at the Fair.

Mangano noted that this year the fair has almost 3,000 entries, from culinary to handicrafts to horticulture all submitted by residents of the three counties, and all judged for ribbon and money awards. Livestock and farm produce also compete.

The Long Island Fair is a sanctioned fair, which means winners here are welcomed to display and compete at the State Fair held in Syracuse every summer.

The Fair is open Sept. 24, 25, 30, Oct. 1 and 2. For more information go to www.lifair.org.