Porky Parm Gnocchi Wins 2026 Iowa State Fair People’s Choice Best New Food
8/21/2026DES MOINES, IA (08/21/2026) (readMedia)– The Porky Parm Gnocchi, from Destination Grille, is the winner of the 2026 Iowa State Fair People’s Choice Best New Food Contest. There were 15,954 votes for the People’s Choice Best New Food this year. The Porky Parm Gnocchi received 44.9% of the votes. The All-American Scrambled Egg Roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen placed second with 36.5% of the votes, and the Ultimate Minneapple Pie from the Minneapple Pie stand was third with 18.5%.
The Best New Food Contest has been running for 13 years. The past winners include:
- 2025: Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll
- 2024: Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll
- 2023: Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese
- 2022: The Finisher
- 2021: Chicken Egg Salad with Fry Bread
- 2019: Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap
- 2018: Apple Eggroll
- 2017: Pork Almighty
- 2016: Not Your Mamma’s Taco
- 2015: Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
- 2014: Funnel Cake on a Stick
- 2013: Shrimp Corn Dog
Plus, the Best New Drink awards were announced with a TIE between The Depot’s Sour Batch Buddies Watermelon and JR’s Cotton Rock Cooler as the Best New Drink (with alcohol) and the Best New Drink (alcohol free) was awarded to The Depot for The Fizz Depot’s Stars, Stripes & S’mores. The Best New Drink Awards are voted on by Fairgoers on the Iowa State Fair App. There were 1,279 votes placed overall for the New Drinks.
The Minneapple Pie stand was awarded the Best of Show for their location.
The Choose Iowa Favorite Fair Food was awarded to Beattie’s Melon Patch for their Watermelon Cup.
Find a full list of all the new foods in 2026 at www.iowastatefair.org/food/whats-new.
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The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country and the single largest event in the state. The Fair began over 170 years ago and is now considered one of the best events in the nation, attracting more than one million Fairgoers every year from all over the world. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University, just off the interstate and minutes from Downtown Des Moines. Fair Spirit, August 13-23, 2026. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.
*Photo available upon request.
