Fry It And Put It On A Stick: The Best Things We Ate And Drank At The Iowa State Fair
By Jessica Mlinaric in Food on Aug 13, 2013 9:00PM
A fair is a veritable smorgasbord, and the Iowa State Fair is one of the nation's largest. Boasting no less than 64 varieties of food on a stick and a 600-pound butter cow sculpture (which was vandalized Sunday by animal rights activists), it's easy to eat your weight in a deep fried feast.
To help navigate the fair food stalls, we've rounded up our favorite Iowa State Fair treats. The Iowa State Fair runs through Aug. 18, or head down to Springfield for the Illinois State Fair which also runs through Sunday.
Pork Chop On-a-stick ($6)
No frills or frying here, just a quality Iowa Pork Association cutlet on a stick. Juicy, lean, and filling, it's no wonder nearly 6,000 pork chops are consumed daily at the fair. There's even a 6 for $35 deal, so the whole family can chow down on chops.
Lamb Brat On-a-stick ($6)
Another savory speared meat was the Iowa Sheep Industry Association's lamb brat. The flavor is satisfyingly gamey and well-seasoned with little fat and a solid texture.
Mason City Brewing Brown Porter ($7)
The best surprise of the fair was the Craft Beer Tent, which features 50 local breweries. Mason City Brewing's Brown Porter delivers coffee and caramel flavors with a medium body and hoppy crispness ideal for summer drinking.
Bacon Wrapped Riblet On-a-stick ($3)
Without a doubt, the hickory smoked pork wrapped in bacon and basted with a kick of barbeque sauce was our favorite fair indulgence. Find these delicacies in front of the Bud Tent, and don’t be surprised when they run out.
Deep Fried Brownie On-a-stick ($4)
Willing as we were to sacrifice our bodies to the deep fried stick of butter, other fair martyrs beat us to it. A new item at the Fyfe stall this year, the deep-fried chocolate brownie could have been gooier but the powdered sugar and chocolate topping was a sweet touch.
Cheese Curds ($7)
Cheese curds may seem commonplace in the fried free-for-all that is the state fair. Yet even outside of Wisconsin these golden nuggets are a beacon among lesser fried fare.
Snuff Cannon (Free)
You’ll have to head outside to fairgrounds to the Hessen Haus in Des Moines to try this novelty. With purported German origins (of course), the snuff cannon is a device for administering finely ground flavored tobacco up your nose via catapult. Ask for the snuff cannon at the bar for free, but they’ll hold your credit card as so many tobacco trebuchets have disappeared. The snuff cannon will have your nasal passages cleared in seconds, but remember, as the bartender warned us, “It’s not cocaine.”
The Iowa State Fair is located at 3000 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317. Grounds are open 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. daily. Admission is $11 for adults, $5 for kids 11-5, and free for kids 5 and under.