Who won the award for Best New Dish at the Iowa State Fair? Fairgoers cast their votes and chose the most popular dish from three finalists – a bacon cheeseburger spring roll, an Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll and a lobster corn dog.
The bacon cheeseburger egg roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen, southwest of the Jacobson Exhibition Center, consists of a burger placed in an egg roll and cut in half. It has a little kick. Expect to pay $12 for the dish. You’ll find the restaurant at 122 W. Ashland Ave. in Indianola.
The Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll from Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ west of the Jacobson Exhibition Center features a pork tenderloin topped with jalapeno creamed corn and house-made Texas taco sauce, smoked, then topped with poblano ranch. The dish costs $14. You can find the restaurant at 403 Iowa Ave., Luther.
Destination Grille’s Lobster Corn Dog is a 6-ounce North Atlantic lobster tail that is breaded, fried, and topped with chives, fresh parmesan, and paprika. Find it west of the Jacobson Exhibition Center for $20. Destination Grille’s restaurant is located at 2491 E. First St. in Grimes.
And the winner is…
The spring roll with bacon cheeseburger.
The Best New Foods at the Iowa State Fair
2013: Shrimp Corn Dog – Zag’s Po Boys
2014: Funnel cake on a stick – several suppliers
2015: The Rib Shack – Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
2016: Iowa Turkey Federation – Not Your Mama’s Taco
2017: Steer ‘N’ Stein — Almighty Pork
2018: Applishus – Apple spring roll
2019: G Mig’s Wrap Stand — Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wraps
2021: Cluckin’ Coop from the Iowa Egg Council/Iowa Poultry Association – Chicken Egg Salad with Fried Bread
2022: The Rib Shack – The finisher
2023: What’s Your Cheez — fried bacon, beef brisket, mac and cheese, grilled cheese
Susan Stapleton is entertainment editor and restaurant reporter for the Des Moines Register.You can reach them on Facebook, Þjórsárdaluror Instagram, or message her at [email protected].
