Photo: Iowa State Fair
(Des Moines, IA) -- The winner of the 2023 People's Choice Best New Food Contest at the Iowa State Fair is the Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese. The Rib Shack's signature creation is slathered between layers of American cheese and two slices of What's Your Cheez Bacon Cheddar Bread. It's deep-fried and served with raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce. It is sold at What's Your Cheez, southwest of the Anne and Bill Riley stage.
The two other foods competing for the 2023 title, the Grinder Ball and the Iowa Twinkie will also remain available throughout the fair.
Grinder Ball: Located at The Bacon Box, the Grinder Ball is a blend of bacon balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, rotisserie smoked and dipped in warm marinara sauce. The Grinder Ball is The Bacon Box's new signature gluten-free take on the traditional State Fair Grinder.
Iowa Twinkie: Located at Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew, the Iowa Twinkie is "a Texas staple with an Iowa twist." A smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno stuffed with pulled pork, sweet corn, cream cheese and ranch seasoning. It is then glazed with Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew house-made Sweet + Sticky BBQ sauce and drizzled with house-made ranch dressing.
There were 8,254 total votes for the People's Choice Best New Food. The Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese received 47.2% of the votes.
There are more than 60 new foods at the Iowa State Fair.