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Indiana State Fair Food

Video: Geoffrey Esper Beats Joey Chestnut at 2018 Ice Cream Eating Championship

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Geoffrey Esper, currently ranked fourth in Major League Eating, won the second Prairie Farms World Ice Cream Eating Championship on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at the Indiana State Fair by eating 15.5 pints of ice cream in 6 minutes. Joey Chestnut came in second with 14.5 pints of ice cream.

Miki Sudo still holds the world record by eating 16.5 pints of ice cream in six minutes, which was set last year.

2018 Ice Cream Eating Championship Results

1 Geoffrey Esper 15.5 pints in 6 min
2 Joey Chestnut 14.5
3 Juan Rodriguez 12
4 Dud Lite Dudzinski and Derek Jacobs 11.5
6 Adrian Morgan 11.25
7 Gideon Oji and Matt Hazzard 11
9 Matthews Raible and Cohen 7.25
11 Meliss Klabel 5.5

Video: Miki Sudo Set World Record at 2017 Ice Cream Eating Championship

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Miki Sudo, currently ranked fifth in Major League Eating, snagged the first-ever Prairie Farms World Ice Cream Eating Championship on Sunday, August 13, 2017, at the Indiana State Fair by eating 16.5 pints of ice cream in six minutes, which also set a NEW WORLD RECORD!

The previous Ice Cream Eating World Record of 15 pints was held by number one ranked Joey Chestnut. Joey finished second in the Kale Yeah Eating Championship on Sunday.

2017 Ice Cream Eating Championship Results

1. Miki Sudo 16.5 pints ($2,000)
2. Juan Rodriguez 15 pints ($1,000)
3. Brian Dud Lite Dudzinski 13 pints ($600)
4. Derek Jacobs 10.5 pints ( $300)
5. Matt Hazzard 9 pints ($100)
6. Sophia DeVita, Matt Raible 8 pints
8. Ivan Mendoza 7.5 pints
9. Stacy Fitzsimmons 5 pints
10. Marcus Feldman 4.5 pints

Miki Sudo to Participate in 2017 Ice Cream Eating Championship

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The world’s top competitive eaters will gather in Indianapolis for the first-ever Prairie Farms World Ice Cream Eating Championship at the Indiana State Fair at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 13th, at ENOUGH Plaza in front of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum during the Indiana State Fair. As part of its “Wonderful World of Food” theme, the Indiana State Fair is celebrating ice cream on and honoring the Indiana dairy farmer throughout the day on Sunday.

Major League Eating is proud to add the World Ice Cream Eating Championship to its 2017 slate of sanctioned championships. The world’s top competitive eating talent will make the pilgrimage to Indianapolis to compete for the title of The World Ice Cream-Eating Champion of the world. The current Ice Cream Eating World Record is 15 pints of vanilla ice cream in 6 minutes. This record is held by Joey Chestnut, a well-known competitive eater who is currently ranked first in the world by Major League Eating.

2017 Ice Cream Eating Championship Participants

  • Miki Sudo, Las Vegas, NV (ranked #5 in the world)
  • Juan Rodriguez, Crestwood, IL (ranked #12 in the world)
  • Derek Jacobs, Vandalia, OH (ranked #21 in the world)
  • Brian Dud Light Dudzinski, Phoenixville, PA (ranked #22 in the world)
  • Sophia DeVita, Chicago, IL (ranked #24 in the world)
  • Matt Raible, Peoria, IL (ranked #40 in the world)
  • Matt Hazzard, Normal, IL
  • Stacy N Fitzsimmons, Greenwood, IN
  • Ivan Mendoza, Cleveland, OH
  • Marcus Feldman, Bowling Green, KY

World Ice Cream Eating Championship Prize Purse

1st – $2,000
2nd – $1,000
3rd – $600
4th – $300
5th – $100

Previous Naptown Buzz Interviews with Joey Chestnut

“Year of Popcorn” at 2013 Indiana State Fair

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Light and fluffy, sometimes sweet or salty, popcorn is one of America’s favorite snack foods. In Indiana, that means big business. The Hoosier state is the nation’s second largest popcorn producer, which is why popcorn will be the featured product at the 2013 Indiana State Fair.

“People have long known Indiana for being a tremendous corn-producing state, but very few folks know about our popcorn production,” said Indiana State Fair Executive Director Cindy Hoye. “This is the year we make sure all Hoosiers realize that their main movie-watching snack was likely grown and manufactured right here in Indiana.”

Almost all the popcorn in the world is grown in the United States, and the first popcorn ears are said to be about 4,000 years old. Indiana has several popcorn companies, some dating back to the early 1900s. Ironically, the tasty treat didn’t become popular until the Great Depression when it was one of the only “luxuries” people could afford. The advent of the microwave oven changed everything and eventually rocketed popcorn’s popularity to where it is today.

The 2013 Indiana State Fair will have “fun at every turn,” as the new theme declares, and much of it will be popcorn related. This is the seventh straight year the fair has highlighted one of Indiana’s agricultural commodities. Previously, the fair has featured corn, trees, tomatoes, pigs, soybeans and dairy cows.

Next year’s fair will run Aug. 2 – 18.

Dairy Bar Treats Delight 80,000+ State Fair Visitors

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It was “The Year of Dairy Cows” at the 2012 Indiana State Fair, and over 80,000 fairgoers celebrated by heading straight to the American Dairy Association of Indiana’s iconic Dairy Bar to enjoy their favorite treats.

Over 64,400 rich, thick milkshakes—the Dairy Bar’s signature item—were served from the popular Main Street structure that pays homage to historic round dairy barns. Chocolate was the big favorite with 29,603 shakes served. Vanilla edged strawberry for the runner-up spot this year, followed by the brand new ultra-refreshing lemon shake.

A Dairy Bar favorite—the classic grilled cheese sandwich—was ordered nearly 36,300 times! American on White remained the top pick of fairgoers (12,626), with Colby on Wheat, Pepperjack on Sourdough, Swiss on Rye, and the new MOO Chew on Sour Dough in close pursuit.

Nearly 20,000 cups of ice cold milk quenched thirsty guests. Chocolate edged out white milk as the fairgoers’ favorite.

More than 71,000 mozzarella sticks were served to appreciative customers, and over 6100 cups of deliciously rich custard were ordered. Chocolate, again, reigned supreme over vanilla by right around 850 cups.

Over 2800 moms took advantage of the best deal at the fair:  the Dairy Bar’s Kids’ Meal. Consisting of a grilled cheese sandwich, apple slices, milk, and a got milk? crazy straw, this fun and nutritious option was available at the family-friendly price of just $4 per meal.

But top prize goes to everyone’s favorite summertime treat—ice cream! More than 80,000 scoops in six different flavors were served up (an increase of a whopping 20,000 scoops from the 2011 fair!). Perennially popular Chocolate was the number one selection of fairgoers, followed by Moose Tracks, Butter Pecan, Strawberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Vanilla.

“The Dairy Bar has been at the Indiana State Fair in one form or another since the 1940s, and we try every year to build on our history with this great event and come up with something new that enhances, yet maintains, the tradition,” said Deb Osza, general manager of the American Dairy Association of Indiana.

“We love serving our menu of items that are delicious as well as nutrient-rich,” she continued. “We talk to so many people each year who tell us that the Dairy Bar is their first stop when they get to the fair and their last stop before they head home. It has become a destination for thousands of fairgoers, and never more than this year when we celebrated ‘The Year of Dairy Cows’!”

For more information about the American Dairy Association of Indiana and its Hoosier Dairy Farm Families, visit www.WinnersDrinkMilk.com.

Spaghetti ice cream named State Fair’s “Signature Food”

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Colorful concoction defeats five other dairy creations

Monroe Concessions’ Spaghetti Ice Cream has been voted the 2012 ‘Signature Food’ at the Indiana State Fair.  Online voters selected this dish after reading the insights from a panel of eight judges who tasted all six entries.

Fairgoers can find the winning dessert on Main Street across from the Pepsi Coliseum, the spot given to the contest’s winning concessionaire every year.  The dish sells for $5 and consists of spaghetti shaped Italian ice cream (“gelato”) with strawberry “tomato sauce,” shaved white chocolate “cheese” and chocolate “meatballs.”

Bob and Joanie Monroe of Monroe Concessions in Marion, IN, came up with the concept after learning that this year’s fair is the “Year of Dairy Cows” and will also feature an exhibit on Italy in the International Pavilion.  This is the second time the Monroes have won the contest.  Their deep-fried chocolate covered strawberries won the inaugural competition in 2006.

“The last time we won it was so much fun seeing all the kids get excited about our food,” Joanie Monroe said. “This year will be great because kids will love the idea of spaghetti ice cream. It’s something people of all ages will like.”

To celebrate the fair’s “Year of Dairy Cows” theme, contest rules required vendors to use dairy products in their food creations.  Here are the other entries, which will all be on sale at the State Fair, so visitors can judge for themselves:

  • Cheese Squared (Coffman Concessions):  Chipotle, creamy spinach, or garlic herb cream cheese wrapped in Swiss cheese, then lightly breaded and fried. ($6 for 5 squares)
  • Moo Chew Meal (American Dairy Association):  A light, refreshing lemon chiller milkshake served with a sourdough grilled cheese sandwich loaded with American and Pepper Jack cheese. ($5)
  • Micro Beer Cheese Sauce (Barto’s Catering):  Local micro brew-fused beer cheese sauce served on either fresh cut fries, hefty burger or on the side for dipping. ($1/cup)
  • Caramel Corn Sundae (Baskin Robbins):  Vanilla ice cream with hot caramel topping, caramel corn, fresh whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry. ($5.50 for 2 scoops)
  • Blue Ribbon Cannoli (Bakerman Concessions):  A crisp Italian cookie shell filled with sweet, whipped ricotta cheese, whipping cream, powdered sugar, mini chocolate chips and dried berries, finished off with a powdered sugar sprinkle.  ($6 for 2)

For more information on the state fair, visit www.indianastatefair.com.

Local food specialties featured at State Fair’s new DuPont Food Pavilion

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Pavilion celebrates all components of Indiana’s “food chain”

Everyone loves food. Hoosiers, in particular, love growing it, cooking it and learning about it.  That’s why the fair created the new DuPont Food Pavilion located on Main Street near the iconic Midway Arch. The pavilion teaches fairgoers about the state’s “farm to fork” link while featuring more than 30 Indiana-made specialty food items.

The 16,000 square foot exhibit is dedicated solely to food, the number one reason many folks attend the State Fair.  Visitors can peruse the pavilion’s Hoosier Market where locally-produced items such as Hoosier Mama Bloody Mary Mix and Burton’s Maplewood Farms maple syrup are for sale.

While bringing local favorites home for dinner is great, sampling food is even better. Volunteers at the retail store, sponsored by Indiana Artisan and Indiana Grown, will distribute complimentary samples of local cuisine every day.

“Everyone loves fair food but most Hoosiers don’t realize how many unique food creations Indiana is home to,” said Tim Burton of Burton’s Maplewood Farms. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this new fair tradition and I can’t wait to share some of my favorite syrups and best cooking tips with fairgoers this August.”

Burton and dozens of other local chefs will present interactive cooking demonstration at the pavilion’s Red Gold Culinary Corner. Featured chefs from Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest will also present daily food shows in the state-of-the-art exhibition kitchen.  Fairgoers can discover new recipes, interact with all the food experts and learn how to incorporate Indiana-made foods into every day meals. Demonstrations are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Other exhibits at the pavilion spotlight the issues connected to food, including nutrition and hunger. Purdue University’s MyPlate interactive display offers suggestions on how Hoosiers can ensure a healthy diet for their families. Visitors can also learn about DuPont’s pioneering programs to help feed the hungry.

The pavilion’s retail store and exhibits are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the fair, Aug. 3-19.