Corn on the cob and chocolate-covered bacon have been the cornerstone of the Wisconsin State Fair for decades. If you can deep fry it and serve it on a stick, chances are it’s been sold on the fairgrounds. But each year, these carnival treats seem to be getting wilder and wilder.
For the past 10 years, the Wisconsin State Fair has encouraged food vendors to continue creating the newest innovations to fair food through the Sporkies and Drinkies contest. This annual contest crowns the winner of the best new state fair treat for one dish and one drink in a cutthroat competition.
This year, eight Sporkies finalists have been chosen from 37 original entries in addition to the four Drinkies contestants chosen from a pool of 20 different non-alcoholic beverages.
On June 31, a panel of local celebrity adjudicators will judge these finalists on appearance, presentation, creativity, originality and taste to decide who gets to take home the coveted Golden Spork and Golden Cup.
Some years, the Sporkies and Drinkies with the strangest vibes end up bringing home first prize, so we’re excited to see how this years’ contestants taste.
But first, Milwaukee Magazine’s summer interns will weigh in with their commentary on their first impressions of the 2024 Sporkies and Drinkies finalists. And don’t worry, we’ll see how they measure up this August.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Sporkies:
Cool Ranch Doritos Pickle
AVAILABLE AT: DEEP-FRIED MASHED POTATOES ON-A-STICK
Sophie Goldstein: You know, I am an avid Nacho Cheese Doritos fan so I don’t want to betray them. But, the ranch is the most perfect dipping sauce.
Jonathan Joseph: The only thing wrong with this is the ranch dipping sauce, everything else is perfect.
Maggie Zale: If you put this in front of me I will clear it in under a minute guaranteed.
Noah Teague: I bet it’s delicious if you eat with your eyes closed!
Ava McNarney: This alone proves why Wisconsin is the best state.
Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites
AVAILABLE AT: SAZ’S BBQ
SG: Nothing can be bad in Hawaiian sweet rolls. Literally nothing. And the French toast batter definitely doesn’t hurt it either.
NT: I’m going to have to agree. I have faith in the Hawaiian roll.
MZ: No, this is truly diabolical.
AM: We need to stop deep-frying everything.
JJ: Looks good until your teeth fall out.
Dirty Chai Cinnamon Roll Lumpia
AVAILABLE AT: LUMPIA CITY
AM: Anything caffeinated is fair game. Props for going the extra mile and making it a “dirty” chai.
JJ: This is probably the best looking thing here, besides the pickle.
SG: Anything with brown sugar butter can’t be bad, although the cream cheese espresso frosting sounds questionable.
MZ: Everyone knows the center of the cinnamon role is the best part. I could eat 10 of these unapologetically.
Elote Corn Ribs
AVAILABLE AT: TROPICS
JJ: You can’t just call something ribs and “make” a new food out of that, it’s just elote.
SG: I don’t think you could pay me enough money to eat this. But the kettle chips look lovely.
MZ: I don’t know what these two are talking about, this looks delicious.
NT: Yeah, it may not be ground breaking, but you know this is going to be great.
AM: I’m not really into the ribs thing, but this looks pretty good.
Elvis Nachos
AVAILABLE AT: SLIM MCGINN’S IRISH PUB
MZ: Hot take: peanut butter banana bacon sandwiches are fire. I have faith in this one.
NT: I agree. These are all the ingredients for a good comfort meal.
AM: This sounds like the AJ Bombers peanut butter bacon burger, which is actually underrated.
SG: I don’t know how to feel about the peanut butter banana sauce. Should that really be on “nachos?”
JJ: Definitely not. If you’re looking for a sad and sorry exit, eat this!
Hot Ham and Glazers
AVAILABLE AT: BUD PAVILION
MZ: Hot ham? Kwik Trip glazed donuts? This might be the official state dish of Wisconsin.
JJ: Would I feel guilty, yes. Would it be worth it, yes.
SG: No. Just no. (But I’ll eat the donuts alone, no question.)
NT: Respectfully, I’m going to pass on this one.
AM: Sweet and salty combos can be hit or miss and the swiss cheese is scaring me.
Loaded Baked Potato Churros
AVAILABLE AT: WÜRSTBAR
NT: I’m getting to the fair early just for these.
MZ: You had me at loaded baked potato.
JJ: Who wouldn’t want to eat this?
SG: This looks so scrumptious. Who doesn’t love churros combined with baked potatoes?
AM: Okay, some stuff should be deep-fried!
Rise and Swine
AVAILABLE AT: CAMP BAR
MZ: The culmination of American fine dining. Shut up and take my money.
JJ: I’ve never felt prouder to be an American.
NT: This thing could feed a small town.
AM: It’s hard for me to say no to anything that involves ice cream.
SG: This might top Kylie Jenner’s “Rise & Shine.” The name, the sausages, the waffle, the toppings: perfect.
Drinkies:
Fairway Fusion
AVAILABE AT: THE OLD FASHIONED SIPPER CLUB
JJ: This honestly feels like something my mom would make me so I don’t feel left out at the family function.
SG: If it has Arnold Palmer, hand me about 20 please. And I love a good swirly straw.
MZ: Plus 10 points for the silly straw.
NT: 10/10
AM: I also think the swirly straw is cute. 🙂
Glazed Donut Coffee Float
AVAILABLE AT: FLUFFY’S HAND CUT DONUTS
AM: I don’t take back what I said earlier about anything caffeinated, but I have a stomach ache just looking at this.
SG: Despite me hating coffee, I could never turn away a glazed donut.
MZ: I enjoy a sweet treat just as much as the next person, but this looks… intimidating.
NT: It sort of looks like the Milwaukee River, but I bet it tastes much better.
JJ: I need it.
Purple Pickle Lemonade
AVAILABLE AT: TROPICS
SG: Unfortunately you will never see me drinking pickle juice, let alone pickle juice with lemonade. But the ombré color is gorgeous.
MZ: I’ve seen weirder combos at the State Fair. It’s gonna take a lot more than pickles and lemonade to scare me.
JJ: Maybe it’s just the umbrella through the pickle that I like, but I can get behind it.
NT: Does it taste as good it looks?
AM: One of my favorite foods and my favorite color… awesome crossover episode.
Tropical Sunset
AVAILABLE AT: DEEP-FRIED MASHED POTATOES ON-A-STICK
SG: I could never turn away from FDA approved glitter.
MZ: So shiny!
JJ: Too much orange.
NT: Sounds so yummy!
AM: Glitter makes everything better!
