By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Apr 14, 2016 at 6:17 PM

If you’ve always wanted a blue ribbon for your cocktail prowess, the State Fair might just have the perfect competition for you.

This year, in addition to the wildly popular Bloody Mary competition added just last year, the Wisconsin State Fair will be sponsoring a brand new competition for 2016: the "Oh the Mighty Old Fashioned Redefined," a contest sponsored by The Packing House, a South Side restaurant famous for its Wisconsin-style old fashioned. And, fittingly, the first place prize is a $150 gift card to the restaurant.

The contest, which challenges entrants to "redefine the traditional old fashioned," does require the use of brandy in submitted cocktails, but it otherwise leaves home mixologists to their own devices in terms of creating an award winning take on the classic cocktail.

In addition to the Bloody Mary and old fashioned competitions, entries are open for a wide variety of other culinary categories, including canning, breads, cookies, pies, cakes, and a variety of other food-related local and national contests.

Entry forms and complete rules are available online.

New Grand Champion Eats & Treats Competition

A new Grand Champion Eats & Treats Competition at Wisconsin State Fair promises bragging rights, ribbons and prize money for Wisconsin food companies who enter the best of their sweets, snack foods and canned products.

The competition, formerly known as Jammin’ Jamboree, is open to small Wisconsin businesses who have annual sales under $250,000 annually.

Eligible items for entry into the competition include:

  • Canned Goods: including relishes, pickled vegetables, barbeque sauces and hot sauces
  • Definitely Desserts: chocolates, candies, sweets, confection items, baked goods (non-chocolate) and dessert sauces.
  • Snack Sensations: salty foods (nuts, popcorn, crackers, etc.), non-salty foods (granola, trail mix, etc.), condiments, mustards, dressings and dips

Winners will also be chosen among all entries for Best of Show and Best Packaging.

Fairgoers can attend the judging for the Grand Champion Eats & Treats Competition on Thursday, Aug. 11 in the Horticulture, Craft & Culinary Pavilion. Up to 20 of the competing companies will be selected to provide samples to Fair Guests.

A complete set of competition rules are available online.

The Wisconsin State Fair takes place Thursday, Aug. 4 through Sunday, Aug. 14 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.