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The countdown has begun. There are just over 24 hours before Wisconsin State Fair opens its doors to the public at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1. That means you've got less than one day to create your list of the State Fair foods you want to try!
Among this year's 100 new State Fair foods are the 12 delicious finalists who've entered this year's annual Sporkies and Drinkies Competitions. All Sporkies and Drinkies finalists will be available at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair so you can judge their worthiness for yourself.
However, yesterday afternoon a judging panel emceed by WISN Sports Director and 2021 Sporkies Judge, Dario Melendez, met at the Fair to taste all of the entries and declare the winners from a selection of four Drinkies finalists and eight Sporkies contenders.
Here are their picks for this year's winners! (Note: There is one winner for the Drinkies and First, Second and Third place winners for the Sporkies.)
Golden Cup Champion
Fairway Fusion
Submitted by: Old Fashioned Sipper Club
The Fairway Fusion takes a refreshing twist on a summer classic, the Arnold Palmer. Equal parts sweet tea and lemonade collide with a mix of pineapple and key lime juices, a splash of coconut syrup and fresh mint leaves and a lime wedge for garnish.
Sporkies Champion
Deep Fried Lemon Bites
Submitted by: Saz’s BBQ
Nothing is better than a refreshing ice-cold lemonade break on a hot summer day. Take it up a Fair notch with a “sip” of these Deep-Fried Lemonade Bites. Hawaiian sweet rolls are dipped in French toast batter, filled with a homemade lemonade curd filling and deep-fried to golden perfection. Then they're tossed in lemon sugar with a drizzle of icing.
2nd Place: Hot Ham & Glazers
Submitted by: Bud Pavilion
Enjoy this take on the Wisconsin tradition of “Sunday Hot Ham and Rolls” served every day during the Wisconsin State Fair! Thinly sliced, savory, smoked hot ham is covered with creamy, melted Swiss cheese, drizzled with spicy and sweet raspberry jam and then stuffed between two iconic Kwik Trip Glazers donuts. Served warm.
3rd Place: Rise & Swine
Submitted by: Camp Bar
Shatter the myth that you can't eat dessert for breakfast with the Rise and Swine! This warm brioche-based waffle has pearl sugar nestled into the dough, giving it just the right amount of sweet caramelization. It's topped with Camp Bar’s Classic Vanilla Custard, a drizzle of Wisconsin maple syrup, gooey caramel sauce, toasted crunch bits, a dusting of powdered sugar and – for a savory twist – two made-to-order breakfast sausage links.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
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 every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, 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.
