Concrete Playground’s Guide to Eating at the Ekka

Heading to the Ekka is a different experience for everybody. For long-time locals it can be a nostalgic journey; for country folk it is a big reunion with their fellow farmers; for kids it means conning mum and dad into buying as much junk food for them as possible; and for some it means exploring Queensland’s pedigree animals, and top foods. Whatever food experience you are looking for, the Ekka has it all.

Let’s start with the nostalgic journey of Ekka favourites, mostly found at the Royal Snack Bar.

Dagwood Dog - found all around the Ekka, the Dagwood Dog (also known as a Pluto Pup in some parts) is your batter-soaked and fried sausage, dipped in tomato sauce. Not the healthiest snack, the Dagwood is an acquired taste, but if you’re into savoury junk on a stick, then the Dagwood is a Wiener.

Fairy floss - this can be found all over the showgrounds. Ranging from bucket-size to bags, this cotton candy is mass-produced spun sugar, sure to rot the teeth and give the kids* a sugar comedown at the end of the day.

*You, you sugar addict.

Strawberry Sundae - definitely the Ekka’s most famous food item, the Strawberry Sundae’s are made in front of your eyes with fresh and beautiful strawberries. The Sundae comes in a cone, which has strawberries down the bottom then topped with vanilla and strawberry ice cream and more strawberries. According to our Ekka expert (my mum) these taste exactly like they did from back when she was working at the Kirks stand in 1965. A compulsory purchase for all Ekka attendees (minus the lactose intolerants).

Fresh Butter Sandwiches - no, these are not pieces of bread exclusively covered in butter, these are just sandwiches made with real butter. Another classic, you can purchase delicious toasted sandwiches here.

Baked potatoes - just what you’ve always desired – a mobile baked potato. These bad boys are popular, so there may be a line up. Topped in sour cream, cheese and buttery goodness, yet another one of Ekka’s healthy choice snacks.

We’ll move on to the gourmet foods now. For those of you after a healthier option, or at least, something where the main ingredient isn’t butter, then you need to head to the Gourmet Harvest.

Five local foodies prepare the perfect mix of cuisines to suit all taste buds: CJ’s Pasta serving Italian; Let’s Do Yum Cha serving Chinese; Steakhouse Snackbar serving Australian*; Sultan’s kitchen serving Indian food; and Ii-Naa serving Japanese food.

For an entrée, the dumplings at Let’s Do Yum Cha are absolutely delicious – we recommend the pork dumpling, prawn dumpling, and chicken dim sim. At $2.50 each or 5 for $10, for show prices, which are regularly exorbitant, this ain't bad, especially for the quality.

The Ekka burger from Steakhouse Snackbar was the perfect meal to give a tiring Ekka attendee a much-needed energy boost. Made with wagyu beef and topped with salad, cheddar and bacon, it is an impressive burger. This will set you back $10.

*Steaks, burgers, vegetable stacks.

If you like to try a lot of different things, and you want to purchase food to take home with you then you need to go to the Woolworths Pavilion. Full of local food and wine producers keen to sell their wares, the Woolworths Pavilion is not only packed with people, but also a tremendous array of foods to taste and buy. Ranging from beef jerky to olives to fudge, if you are on a budget, you could probably fill yourself up with the samples at these stalls. If you are keen to spend, then this is the place to do it, with enviable deals for fresh and quality produce.

The Woolworths Pavilion also hosts the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show cooking demonstrations, with a range of local celebrity chefs taking you through some of their cooking specialties.

Finally, if you like to look at food that is made to look like something else, then go no farther than the Agricultural Pavilion. Rows of fruit and vegetables are made into designs by local organisations such as the Scouts and Girls Brigades. Here you can taste the fresh produce and also eat honey right from the beehive - a wonderful and organic experience.