2023 Iowa State Fair best new food finalists

(Des Moines, IA) -- 64 foods are new to the Iowa State Fair this year, but only three can capture the title "2023 Best New Food."

"Food is the number one reason we find that people come to the fair," said Iowa State Fair Marketing Director Mindy Williamson. "We're really proud of how creative our concessionaires are."

Grinder Ball - The Bacon Box

"We took fresh sausage from hogs made from the Clark family farm in Runnells," said Brad Magg. "We stuffed that with mozzarella cheese. The meatball has marinara sauce mixed into it and then we wrap it with two pieces of bacon. We smoke that and we dip it in marinara sauce on a stick."

Magg noted it's an evolution in Bacon Box history and gluten-free. In 2019, the vendor unveiled a bacon meatball stuffed with bacon cheese. The Bacon Box dropped a chicken, bacon and ranch ball wrapped in bacon in 2021.

"This year, we wanted to take something iconic at the fair and make it Bacon Box," said Magg. They have an estimated 46,000 Grinder Balls ready for fairgoers.

Iowa Twinkie – Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew

From Luther, Iowa, Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew has central Texas roots.

"What we did is took the Texas Twinkie and flipped it with all of the Iowa favorites," said Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew owner Gwen Page. "It's a jalapeño stuffed with pulled pork, cream cheese, corn and ranch seasoning. Then, we wrap it with bacon, blaze and smoke it, and then, it's finished ranch and green onions."

Whatcha Smokin' has more than 100,000 Iowa Twinkies ready to meet demand.

"We like to be prepared," said Page. "When it's something that's gained a lot of honor, being in the top three, we don't want to run out."

Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese – What's Your Cheez

"It's like a barbeque version of the Monty Cristo," said Jimmy Sanders, What's Your Cheez chef. "It's ooey gooey, savory. It has a nice sweet sauce over the top, so it really hits all the taste buds you want it to hit."

What's Your Cheez has four fryers going non-stop during the fair to keep up with demand and keep wait times down.

"This is gonna be something you remember until next year because it's not something you can get anywhere else," said Sanders.

Voting is open for the 2023 Best New Iowa State Fair Food through Monday, August 14.