The Iowa State Fair reveals 53 new foods for 2022. Three compete for people's choice for best new food

If the new dishes revealed for the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday had one thing in common, then it had to be nary a stick in sight. The skewer that serves as a staple of State Fair foods that range from fried butter to a shish kebob of veggies didn’t find a home among 10 of the 53 new dishes showcased ahead of the fair.

Instead, the 10 new dishes that vied for a spot among three competing for the people’s choice for best new fair food all came in a cup, wrapped in a tortilla or bao bun, swaddled in a brioche bun or tucked into an aluminum tray.

“Surveys show that food is the No. 1 reason people come to the fair,” said Gary Slater, CEO and manager of the Iowa State Fair. That observation introduced a panel of judges — local television and news personalities along with radio station DJs, Iowa State Fair board members and volunteers, and even Iowa State Fair Queen McKenna Henrich — who had the difficult task of tasting 10 new foods and judging them based on appearance, taste and presentation on Tuesday. Three would go on to compete for best new fair food in August.

More: Which new Iowa State Fair foods will compete for the title of best new food?

Scott Siepker, aka Iowa Nice Guy, emceed this event, livestreamed by the Iowa State Fair for the fifth year in a row.

Yes, the fair offers lemonade, giant turkey legs, corndogs and mini doughnuts, but any true Fairgoer has to try some of the new novelty dishes.

The competition was stiff. Three desserts — a Minty Moo parfait with Thin Mint cookies, a Puff Sundae with all of the elements of s’mores, and a Blue Ribbon Cobbler — went up against more traditional fair foods. A riff on a Reuben brought a deli sandwich to the competition. A pork tenderloin came wrapped in a tortilla shell. Even a breakfast sandwich, the Egg-O-Fuego Eggs, upped the novelty factor. But the competition came down to reimagined versions of pork and chicken dishes.

More: Wanted: 445 Iowans to break a Guinness World Record at the Iowa State Fair

Here, the top three best new foods for 2022.

OMG Chicken Sandwich: Chicken City

This chicken sandwich comes with a battered chicken breast that's then covered in sugar-coated cornflakes, fried and then served on a Krispy Kreme doughnut. A bit of bacon and maple syrup add to the sweetness of the dish. It goes for $12.

Pork Picnic in a Cup: Iowa Pork Tent

The Pork Picnic in a Cup for $10 features layers of barbecue pulled pork, baked beans, creamy coleslaw and a drizzle of barbecue sauce, garnished with brown sugar pork belly.

The Finisher: The Rib Shack

This giant dish for $10 comes with a baked potato stacked with chopped brisket, smoked pulled pork and The Rib Shack's famous bacon brisket mac and cheese, topped with barbecue sour cream and garlic rub butter.

The top three new fair foods compete for the People's Choice Best New Food. Fairgoers can sample the top three finalists and cast their vote starting Aug. 11-15 at midnight. The winner will be announced on Aug. 17 during the State Fair.

Here's a look at all of the new foods at the Iowa State Fair. The items with an asterisk competed for best new fair food.

• OMG chicken sandwich*

• 5 dino nuggets with fries kids meal

• alligator corn dog

• apple bacon waffle

• bayou fries

• Berkshire pork loin

• BLT roll

• Blue Ribbon cobbler*

• burger de Burgo

• chicken bacon ranch waffle on a stick

• chocolate chip cookie wonder bars

• Chuckie's tenderloin wrap*

• Dawghouse Reuben sandwich*

• Deep-fried meatballs on a stick

• Deep-fried queso burger

• dino bites party tray

• dog bites party tray

• Egg-o-fuego eggs*

• Elk corn dog

• fried green beans party tray

• fried olives on a stick

• froyo, cone single

• gluten-free corn dog

• Iowa's best burger

• island coleslaw

• lamb Philly cheese sandwich

• mac n cheese party tray

• Minty Moo parfait*

• nana's gooey butter funnel cake

• N'awlins cajun waffle dog

• pog drink

• pork belly bao buns*

• pork Picnic in a Cup*

• Puff sundae*

• seasoned fries party tray

• shrimp tacos

• sidewinder french fries

• smokey's clubhouse

• snake bite nachos

• sno big dill sno cone

• spam bacon and egg breakfast

• spam curds

• spam deluxe cheeseburger

• stacks breakfast sandwich

• sweet potato tater tots

• Texas toothpicks party tray

• the Finisher*

• the Mardi Gras

• the ripper

• the sombrero

• waffle bombs

• warm brownie a la mode waffle bowl

• wild Alaskan salmon sandwich

Last year, the chicken egg salad with Indian fry bread from Cluck'n Coop won the People's Choice Best New Food of the 2021 Iowa State Fair.

More Iowa State Fair 2022 news

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• See the Iowa State Fair 2022 Grandstand concert lineup from Carrie Underwood to Brooks & Dunn

• Who is performing at Iowa State Fair free stages in 2022? Hairball, Wang Chung and more

• 8 ways to save money on value packs, food and thrill rides at the Iowa State Fair 2022

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Iowa State Fair has 53 new foods for 2022 — see the full list