Fairgoers to vote for favourite dish in August
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Attendees at this year’s Iowa State Fair are in for a treat.
Three dishes – including two pork-based items – will compete for the fair’s annual people’s choice award for best new food.
The contestants in the competition are:
- the brown sugar pork belly on a stick, which is a “quarter-pound strip of pork belly that has been honey-cured, rubbed with brown sugar and cooked to crispy perfection,” the Iowa State Fair website says. Fairgoers can purchase this treat for US$7 at the Iowa Pork tent.
- the all-Iowa belly up burger, which is topped with pulled pork, a signature sauce, thick-cut candied bacon and slaw. Individuals can dig into one of these burgers for US$10 at the Rib Shack.
- apple egg rolls, which are “sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and can be dipped in caramel.” Attendees can try one of these treats for US$5 at any Applishus stand on the fairgrounds.
After trying each of the dishes, fairgoers can vote for their favourite items between Aug. 9 and 14.
On Aug. 15, organizers will announce the winner.
Pork dishes have made many appearances in this annual competition, which began in 2013, Mindy Williamson, the marketing director with the Iowa State Fair, told Farms.com today.
Last year, the Pork Almighty claimed the award, she said.
“It was three pounds of shredded pork, potatoes, cheese and more in a convenient bowl attached to your drink.”
Pork legs were a runner up in that competition, too, she added.
People can enjoy a variety of other foods at the fair this year. Vendors will offer more than 50 new snacks, including smoked chicken legs, honey sriracha cheese sticks, toasted turkey bombers, golden-fried portobello strips, cookie dough spaghetti and pickle beer.
The Iowa State Fair runs from Aug. 9 to 19 this year.
Top photo: All-Iowa belly up burger – Iowa State Fair photo