The Iowa State Fair is known for its variety of food offerings, from the classic corn dogs and funnel cakes to the more adventurous deep-fried butter and bacon-wrapped ribs. This year, the fairgoers had a chance to vote for their favorite new food among 64 contenders, and the winner was a novelty grilled cheese dish that combines bacon, brisket, mac and cheese, and raspberry chipotle sauce.
What’s Your Cheez’s Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese
The winning dish was created by Joni Bell, the owner of What’s Your Cheez, a food stand on the north side of Walnut Center. Bell said she wanted to make something that would appeal to both kids and adults, and that would showcase the Rib Shack’s signature bacon brisket mac and cheese, which she also owns.
The dish consists of two slices of bacon cheddar bread with American cheese and the Rib Shack’s mac and cheese in between. The sandwich is then deep-fried and served with a raspberry chipotle barbecue sauce for dipping. The dish costs $12 and is available at What’s Your Cheez until the end of the fair.
Bell said she was thrilled to win the People’s Choice for Best New Food award, which was announced on Monday. She said she was also proud of her chefs Tony Guerrero and Jimmy Sanders, who helped her create the dish. She thanked the fairgoers for their support and said she hopes they enjoy her grilled cheese.
Bell is no stranger to winning awards at the Iowa State Fair. Last year, she won the same award for her dish called The Finisher, which was a loaded baked potato with chopped brisket, smoked pulled pork, bacon brisket mac and cheese, barbecue sour cream, and garlic rub butter. The Finisher is also available at the Rib Shack south of the Anne & Bill Riley Stage.
The Other Finalists
The deep-fried bacon brisket mac and cheese grilled cheese beat out two other finalists that were selected by a panel of judges before the beginning of the fair. The other finalists were:
- The Grinder Ball from The Bacon Box: A blend of bacon stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, rotisserie smoked, and dipped in warm marinara sauce. The gluten-free dish costs $6.50 and is located on the Grand Concourse across from the Grandstand.
- The Iowa Twinkie from Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ & Brew: 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. The dish costs $8 and is located next to the Iowa Craft Beer Tent.
The fairgoers cast 8,254 total votes online for their pick for Best New Food from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14. The deep-fried bacon brisket mac and cheese grilled cheese received 47.2 percent of the votes.
More New Foods to Try
The Iowa State Fair has a tradition of introducing new foods every year to satisfy the appetites of its visitors. This year, there are 64 new foods to choose from, ranging from sweet to savory, healthy to indulgent, and simple to complex. Some of the new foods include:
- Apple Cider Shake Up from Applishus: A refreshing drink made with fresh-squeezed lemons, apple cider, ice, and sugar.
- Bacon Mac Dog from Campbell’s Concessions: A quarter-pound hot dog topped with creamy macaroni and cheese and crispy bacon bits.
- Brownie Waffle Stick from Waffle Chix: A chocolate brownie batter cooked in a waffle iron and served on a stick with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup.
- Chicken Egg Salad with Indian Fry Bread Chips from Cluckin’ Coop: A creamy chicken egg salad served with crispy Indian fry bread chips seasoned with parmesan cheese and parsley.
- Deep-Fried Pecan Pie on a Stick from Arnold’s Concessions: A slice of pecan pie dipped in funnel cake batter, deep-fried, dusted with powdered sugar, and drizzled with caramel sauce.
- Jalapeno Popper Pizza from Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap: A pizza crust topped with cream cheese, bacon bits, jalapeno slices, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
- Peanut Butter Squealer from The Bird’s Nest: A maple-glazed yeast donut stuffed with peanut butter cream filling and topped with chopped bacon.
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends from Iowa Pork Producers Association: Tender pieces of pork belly that are smoked, seasoned, sauced, and caramelized.
- Strawberry Cream Puff from Parlo Pizza: A light and airy pastry shell filled with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
The Iowa State Fair runs until Aug. 22 and is open from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. The admission prices are $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 6 to 11, and free for children 5 and under. The fair offers a variety of entertainment, attractions, competitions, and exhibits for all ages and interests.