Iowa State Fair new food reviews 2024: What you need to know
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The candied bacon gnocchi ($14) is worthy of your time. Photo: Jason Clayworth/Axios
Welcome to our special series this week, where we give you our honest fair food thoughts and let you know if it's "fair" for your money.
First up: The candied bacon gnocchi β a rich Alfredo sauce topped with herbs and parmesan cheese.
- The potato dumplings are gluten-free.
Jason's thought bubble: The sweet and salty bacon pairs nicely with the sauce.
π§ Butter ranking: one stick = ick; five = don't miss it
- Aesthetics: π§π§π§
- Creativity: π§π§π§
- Overall taste: π§π§π§π§
Try it: Destination Grill, west of Jacobson Exhibition Center.
What's next: Check back here.
- We'll post additional reviews of new foods in the coming days!
Illusion Ice Cream

Bauder's Ice Cream is serving up "Illusion Ice Cream" ($10), which has a fun twist.
- Vanilla ice cream is served with a chocolate shell and warm strawberry syrup with a cherry on top.
Linh's thought bubble: This new sundae is a creamy delight. The warm syrup breaks down the thick chocolate shell, so it wraps around the ice cream.
- It tastes like the frozen version of those old-school chocolate-covered cherries. Ask to see a demo!
π§ Butter ranking: One stick = meh. Five = don't miss it.
- Aesthetics: π§π§π§
- Creativity: π§π§π§
- Overall taste: π§π§π§π§
Try it: Bauder's Ice Cream, southwest of Agriculture Building
Deep-fried Hot Cheeto Pretzel

Hot Cheetos are all the rage at the Iowa State Fair, including this fried pretzel smothered with nacho cheese and Flamin' Hot Cheeto crumbles ($8).
Linh's thought bubble: It looked like something made by Cheech & Chong.
- By that, I mean it tastes like somebody went to a gas station late at night, grabbed a stale pretzel and drenched it with whatever they could find.
π§ Butter ranking: One stick = meh. Five = don't miss it.
- Aesthetics: π§
- Creativity: π§π§
- Overall taste: π§
Try it: Smith's, east of Riley Stage and south of the Administration Building.
Apple fries

Apple Fries are true to their name: deep-fried fruit sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
- They come with a side of caramel dipping sauce.
π¬ Jason's thought bubble: The dish is like warm pie.
- It's a perfect fair-inspired dessert.
π§ Butter ranking: one stick = ick; five = don't miss it
- Aesthetics: π§π§
- Creativity: π§π§π§π§
- Overall taste: π§π§π§π§
Try it: Applishus, on the main floor of the Agriculture Building or at the east canopy of the Varied Industries Building.
Deep-fried bubble gum

Linh here. When I saw the list of new fair foods, I was instantly intrigued by the deep-fried bubble gum from Bubbly.
- In my head, I imagined a wad of Dubble Bubble, greasy and fried.
State of play: I'm happy to say, the dessert concoction doesn't involve any oily gum wads.
What it is: A fluffy, marshmallow bite dipped in bubble-gum funnel cake batter, fried and with a sweet drizzle.
Linh's thought bubble: This is a fun, creative take on gum that isn't overly sweet.
- The marshmallow fluff mimics the stickiness of gum, while the actual bubble gum taste is light.
π§ Butter ranking: one stick = meh; five = don't miss it
- Aesthetics: π§π§π§
- Creativity: π§π§π§π§π§
- Overall taste: π§π§π§π§
Try it: Bubbly, up by Grandfather's Barn at the top of the hill

