By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Jul 12, 2022 at 1:30 PM

Join us on Saturday, July 22 for some lakeside munchies at the second annual OnMilwaukee Food Truck Fest. Choose from a menu of 20 trucks and enjoy the live music, games and entertainment. It's the biggest gathering of the best food on four wheels.

It’s almost time for the Wisconsin State Fair, which takes place Aug. 4-14. And to get you salivating for what's to come, they’ve released their annual list of 70 new gut-busting dishes which will be featured at the 2022 Fair.

Among the 71 new offerings, you'll find oh-so-Wisconsin items like the Brandy Old Fashioned S'more On-a-Stick, kicked up Sriracha Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds, Fish Fry Bombs and – for the first time ever – frozen custard!

Of course, you can also take a ride on the wild side with Strawberry Cheesecake Tater Tots to Pickle Cotton Candy and a Gummy Bear Brat. 

And yes, there's something for those of you who'd like to bite into a bug (literally). Choose from the Arctic Bug Blast Slush or the The Bug Apple On-a-Stick.

As usual, ALL of them are fair game for my annual State Fair food tasting extravaganza during which I eat a great many new State Fair foods and report back to you with all the good, bad and ugly details.

Lori eating at State FairX

Help me make my list of foods to review

For the sixth year running (we’ll just forget about 2020), I'll be reviewing at least ten – if not more – of the new Wisconsin State Fair foods. I've got a small list started of things I'm interested in trying, but I'm also taking requests! Send your suggestions for foods I should consider by messaging me on social media (@LoFredrich) or emailing me at lori@onmilwaukee.com (use subject line: State Fair Foods) on or before August 1. I'll try to include as many of your suggestions as I can. In the meantime, you can take a look back at the 12 new State Fair foods I reviewed and ranked in 2021.

Deep fried pink squirrel from 2021
Deep fried pink squirrel from 2021
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ALL the new foods at the Fair

For your convenience, here's the complete list of all the new foods at the Fair (along with where to find them). You can also find more favorite dishes using the Wisconsin State Fair Food Finder.

* notes a Sporkies finalist

  1. Apple Fries: deep-fried sliced apples coated with sugar and caramel (Handmade Burgers, B13)
  2. Arctic Bug Blast Slush: blue raspberry slush topped with whipped cream and edible bugs, including a scorpion (Exotic Meat Grill, G14)
  3. Batter-Infused White Cheddar Cheese Curds: served with side of ranch (WürstBar D9)
  4. Beer Garden Brat On-a-Stick: deep-fried beer-poached brat in a beer and mustard batter, rolled in pretzel crumbs, and served with beer cheese dip (Lakefront Brewery Beer Garden, C11)
  5. *Black Bean Burrito Balls: deep-fried balls of black beans, sweet corn, cheese, and spices served with zesty chile lime sauce (Lakefront Brewery Beer Garden, C11)
  6. Bloody Mary Popcorn: popcorn topped with tomato, horseradish, worcestershire sauce, and celery salt (Pop's Kettle Corn, WPP)
  7. Blue Moon Nacho Fiesta Burger: 1/3lb. burger on a toasted bun with queso cheese, fresh pico de gallo, jalapeños, and tortilla strips (Blue Moon Tavern At The Park, F12)
  8. *Brandy Old Fashioned S'more On-a-Stick: milk chocolate-covered brandy old fashioned whipped cream topped with white chocolate, and a dried cherry and orange slice (Freese's Candy Shoppe, EXPO, OCPP AND Heavenly Roasted Nuts, G15)
  9. The Bug Apple On-a-Stick: chocolate-covered apple coated with edible June bugs, crickets, worms, and ants (All Things Jerky, G14)
  10. The Caramel 'gOat' Meal Bar: goat caramel and nuts streusel bar (Wisconsin Dairy Goat Products, WPP)
  11. Chicken Bacon Ranch Waffle Stick: belgian waffle stick filled with chicken, drizzled with ranch dressing, and topped with bacon (Waffle Chix, G15)
  12. Chicken Schnitzel Tenders: served with side of ranch (WürstBar, D9)
  13. Chili Cheeseburger Colossal Onion: fresh colossal onion topped with loaded homemade angus chili and cheddar cheese with a side of chipotle mayo (The Colossal Onion, G10)
  14. Chimichurri Steak Tots: marinated skirt steak and tater tots topped with chimichurri sauce (Knucklehead, D10)
  15. *Cinnamon Toast Crunch Latte: nitro coffee mixed with Cinnamon Toast Crunch infused cereal milk served with a cereal crust rimmed cup and whipped cream (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub, F9)
  16. Clam Chowder Fries: fries topped with clam chowder, bacon, and chopped green onions (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack,  E10)
  17. Cookie Pie Slice: flavors include Cow Pie Brownie and Cookies & Cream (Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation Milk House, G14)
  18. Country Fried Riblets: deep-fried Baby Back Duroc pork riblets with country gravy (Saz's BBQ, C9)
  19. Cowboy Quesadilla: quesadilla with cheese, shredded BBQ chicken, corn, and black beans served with sides of salsa and sour cream (Mexican Grill, G15)
  20. Currywurst Plate: two Usinger’s bratwursts with house-curry sauce served on a bed of frites (WürstBar, D9)
  21. Deep-Fried Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip: deep-fried shredded chicken, cream cheese, shredded cheese, and buffalo sauce dip (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, C10)
  22. Deep-Fried Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick: cheddar bacon or garlic (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, C10)
  23. Deep-Fried Ravioli: stuffed with cheese (Mashed Potatoes On-a-Stick, C10)
  24. Dirty Martini Dip with Homemade Chips: bleu cheese dip with green olives and onions served in a martini glass with a side of chips (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub, F9)
  25. Dirty Martini Irish Beef Nachos: homemade chips topped with Irish beef, warm dirty martini dip with olive, bleu chesse, and onion garnish (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub, F9)
  26. Donut Dog: all-beef hot dog wrapped in bacon in a fresh glazed Long John donut bun drizzled with icing (Siggy's Wild Dogs Saloon, E10)
  27. Elk Philly Cheesesteak: sliced Elk steak, sautéed peppers, onions, and cheese served on a toasted hoagie (Exotic Meat Grill, G14)
  28. Fish Fry Bombs: hand-breaded Atlantic cod, house slaw, and fries all in one deep-fried bite served with lemon vinaigrette and side of tarter sauce (WürstBar, D9)
  29. *Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken On-a-Stick: deep-fried chicken skewer breaded with a special seasoning blend and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust drizzled with chipotle ranch (Bud Pavilion, E12)
  30. *Fried Pickle Cheese Curd Tacos: pickles, cream cheese, and freshly battered white cheddar cheese curds deep-fried in a taco topped with raspberry chipotle sauce and fresh greens (Richie's Cheese Curd Tacos, B12)
  31. Frito Rodeo Bark: milk chocolate bark with salty corn chips and creamy peanut butter (Ultimate Confections, EXPO, WPP)
  32. Frozen Custard: vanilla or chocolate custard in a cone or dish with assorted toppings (Camp Bar, B9)
  33. Frozen Custard Sundae: various toppings (Camp Bar, B9)
  34. German Meatballs: house-made Konigsberger Klopse with white sauce, crème fresche, and chives (WürstBar, D9)
  35. Gourmet Granola Bars: flavors include honey almond, almond chocolate, turtle mocha, caramel apple, or espresso almond chocolate (Olympia Granola, WPP)
  36. Gummy Bear Brat: bratwurst infused with gummy bears served on a bun topped with a honey mustard drizzle and gummy bear garnish (Leadfoots Race Bar & Grill, F10)
  37. Hawaiian Tots: tator tots topped with white cheese sauce, spam, onions, pineapple pepper blend, jalapeños, and cilantro (Knucklehead, D10)
  38. Hoagie Seafood Sensation Sandwich: crab and lobster sensation meat topped with sliced cucumbers and coleslaw on a hoagie (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, E10)
  39. Ice Cream Flight: choose between any four flavors for a sharable treat (Cedar Crest Ice Cream, WPP)
  40. Irish Caramel Affogato: scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with Irish Whiskey coffee caramel and a shot of cold nitro coffee (Slim McGinn's Irish Pub, F9)
  41. Jalapeño Lamb Stick: 5 oz. lamb snack stick (Ewe-Nique Products, WPP)
  42. Jalapeño Popper Bratwurst: Usinger’s smoked cheddar jalapeño sausage topped with crumbled bacon, jalapeño cream cheese, and Thai pepper jelly (WürstBar, D9)
  43. Kettle Range Bratwurst: antibiotic-free bratwurst on a pretzilla bun (Benno’s Leinie Lodge, E11)
  44. Kettle Range Hot Dog: 100% grass-fed all-beef hot dog on a pretzilla bun (Benno’s Leinie Lodge, E11)
  45. Lamb Stick: 5 oz. lamb snack stick; flavors include plain or Wisconsin cheese (Ewe-Nique Products, WPP)
  46. Mama's Moonshine Fudge: chocolate fudge infused with moonshine; flavors include straight-up or apple cinnamon (Sherwood's Fabulous Fudge, WPP)
  47. Mexican Street Corn Popcorn: popcorn topped with sweet corn, lime, chili, chipotle, salt, and cojita cheese (Pop's Kettle Corn, WPP)
  48. Miltown Bratwurst: Usinger’s bratwurst topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and aged cheddar cheese (WürstBar, D9)
  49. Milwaukee Dog: hot dog with mustard, onions, relish, and topped with deep-fried pickles with Skunk Hollow Spicy Ranch (Goolsby’s Patio, D11)
  50. Nutella Oreo Cookie Crumble: original funnel cake with powdered sugar, Nutella, homemade whipped cream, and Oreo cookie crumbles (Funnel Cakes, G12)
  51. Olympia Granola & Yogurt Mixed Berry Parfait Popsicle (Olympia Granola, WPP)
  52. *Peño Pretzel Popper Brat: 10-inch jalapeño cheddar bratwurst wrapped in pretzel dough with coarse pretzel salt, fresh cut jalapeños, and white cheddar sauce served with house-made jalapeño cream cheese (Gertrude's Pretzels, G14)
  53. Peño Pretzel Popper Dog: 1/4lb. all-beef Nathan’s cheddar jalapeño hot dog wrapped in pretzel dough with coarse pretzel salt, fresh cut jalapeños and white cheddar sauce served with house-made jalapeño cream cheese (Gertrude's Pretzels, G14)
  54. Pickle Cotton Candy: flavors include dill pickle or spicy pickle (Pickle Barrel EXPO, OCPP)
  55. Pickle Jerky On-a-Stick: pickle-infused beef jerky (All Things Jerky, G14)
  56. P.O.G. Juice: juice made from freshly-squeezed passionfruit, orange, guava (Island Noodle, G9)
  57. Porker Poutine: french fries smothered with pulled pork, beer BBQ sauce, bacon crumbles, cheese curds, crushed pork rinds and fried pickle chips (Lakefront Brewery Beer Garden, C11)
  58. *The Sconnie Slugger: deep-fried beer brat and cheese curds topped with “dijonaise,” and German sweet and sour cabbage (Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, F9)
  59. Shepherd’s Pie Grilled Cheese Sandwich: cheddar and American grilled cheese sandwich stuffed with Irish beef, mashed potatoes, and corn (Slim McGinn’s Irish Pub, F9)
  60. Shrimp & Avocado Tostada with Spicy Tropical Tequila Sauce: corn tostada shell, a layer of avocado, pico de gallo, shrimp, and cilantro, drizzled with a spicy tropical tequila sauce and served with a lime wedge (Gooonies Fish & Beer Shack, E10
  61. Shrimp Poke Bowl: poke bowls filled with white rice or salad, various toppings, shrimp, and choice of sauce (The Shrimp Shack, G8)
  62. Smoked Chicken Dinner: smoked chicken dinner served with French fries, coleslaw, dinner roll, and dessert (Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, F9)
  63. Smoked Chicken Wings (Miller Lite Sports Bar & Grill, F9)
  64. Southwest Fiesta Burger: 1/3lb. hamburger with black bean and corn salsa, avocado mash, and spicy lime and cilantro-infused Hatch chile crema topped with melted white Chihuahua cheese (Bud Pavilion, E12)
  65. Sriracha Breaded Cheddar Cheese Curds (Pistol Pete’s, F10)
  66. St. Louis Gooey Buttercake: vanilla or chocolate buttercake with a cream cheese middle frozen on-a-stick, topped with choice of fruits, nuts, and syrups (Mama Bev’s, OCPP)
  67. Strawberry Cheesecake Tater Tots: cinnamon and sugar tater tots topped with cheesecake filling, strawberry topping, and whipped cream (Jayme’s Chipstix, C13)
  68. *Surf & Turf Sliders: pulled pork, tropical slaw, Tropics’ signature pineapple mango salsa, coconut shrimp, and jalapeño aioli sauce all on a fresh Hawaiian sweet roll (Tropics, B11)
  69. Walking Banana Explosion: bag of Nilla wafers topped with vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, nutty bar bits, whipped cream, and a cherry (Mexican Grill, G15)
  70. *Wisconsin Beer Brat Cheddar Cheese Pizza: grilled cheddar cheese pizza topped with sliced brats simmered in beer and onions (Emil's Pizza, WPP)
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.