Mendota Heights Couple Serves Up Cajun Fare at Minnesota State Fair

Now in his 12th year at the Minnesota State Fair, Ragin Cajun owner Ron Jacob says he loves the Great Minnesota Get-Together more than ever before.

"You never have a bad day at the Fair," he said with a laugh. "I love to watch the people—that's the biggest ride there is and it's free!"

Another thing Ron loves to do is cook, and along with his wife Marjorie and two sons, Chad and Jason, they prepare a wide variety of Cajun classics such as blackened steak sandwiches, jambalaya, catfish po' boys, beignets and, new this year, "porkchop on a stick," which Marjorie said is "selling like hotcakes."

"We like our style of cooking and we love to make food for people," she said. "Over the years, we've even impressed visitors from Louisiana who have said it can't be the kind of Cajun food they are used to, but once they try it, they love it."

Not only do they prepare all the entrees using their own recipes, but Ron and Marjorie also make their own sauces and seasonings, including garlic mayonnaise. After 12 days at the Fair, Marjorie said she has whipped up so much of their mayo that she feels like "a walking garlic clove."

With a background in the restaurant business—Ron was the owner of the old Eddie Webster's restaurant in Bloomington and involved in other restaurants over the years—preparing favorite recipes for old and new customers is just part of the fun.

"We have a great time out here. A lot of the people who work with us are from the Mendota Heights area and they've been with us from the beginning," said Ron.

Marjorie, a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines for 41 years until retiring three years ago, said many of her former co-workers help out at the Ragin Cajun, including one who flies up here from Florida every year because she enjoys working at the booth so much.

On a typical Fair day, Marjorie and Chad will work the day shift, while Ron and Jason (who head out to the fairgrounds after work) cover the night shift.

This year, Marjorie said they have two special new staff members.

"Our two future daughters-in-law have been out here with us too, which has been just great," she said.

When asked how he feels when the Fair draws to a close each year, Ron laughed.

"You sit down and you say, 'Wow, I've had a lot of fun'," he said. "You think, 'I'd like to have three days of rest and then start all over again'."

Marjorie agreed. "We have such great connections with our customers and we've met all kinds of people.  And even though it gets really busy, you look back over it and think 'Well, that wasn't so bad!'"

The Ragin Cajun is located on Dan Patch Avenue, inside the Crossroads Building, along the west wall.