Brisbane Ekka: quirkiest and fanciest food to try

Our intrepid reporters put their hands up for arguably the toughest job in journalism: eat your way around the Ekka. WATCH THE VIDEO

It’s arguably the toughest gig in journalism: eating your way around the Ekka.

Courier-Mail reporters Natasha Innes and Matty Holdsworth reluctantly agreed to the assignment, chowing down on a varied and sometimes bizarre array of foodstuffs, from octopus balls to frozen popcorn.

These were the highlights of their magical culinary tour...

@couriermail Step aside Dagwood dogs, Matty and Tash taste test some of the fancier (and weirder options at this year's #Ekka #theekka Video: @veaexplore ♬ SALSA JAM NO.1 - Jaycee Mante

FANCIEST FOOD

Strawberry skewers $9

Berry Delicious certainly lived up to its namesake with its strawberry skewers.

The fancy dessert consisted of six strawberries coated in chocolate, which were neatly pressed onto a skewer.

While delicious the jury ruled the Ekka dessert was a bit on the pricey side – given a whole punnet of strawberries costs about $4 each at any supermarket, but who are we to complain?

Would we buy them again – yes!

Courier-Mail journalist Matty Holdsworth tasting all the food of this years Ekka. Matty Holdsworth trying the chocolate dipped strawberry and marsh mellow skewers at the 2022 Ekka at RNA Showgrounds. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mulled wine $11

Up next it was time for a drink in one of the many bars where, for $11 the warm mulled wine was perfect for a winter’s day.

It wasn’t to everyone’s taste.

More of a more drinker, Matty turned up his nose at the fancy drink while Tash, the more sophisticated of the pair, loved it – particularly for the fruit flavours and the cinnamon spices.

Mulled wine at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams

Waffle cylinders $8

Sweetness was back on the menu with some cylinder-shaped waffles filled with chocolate, strawberry or fresh cream – pick your fave.

We were a bit full by this point and it ended up a dessert overload of too much mousse, which continued to ooze out of the cone at both ends and all over our hands.

Courier-Mail journalist Natasha Innes tries the waffle with chocolate from Mellon's at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams

QUIRKIEST FOOD

Octopus balls $12

A word of warning – the octopus balls came out extremely hot!

So hot, Tash burned the roof of her mouth and wasn’t able to taste anything afterwards.

Matty seemed to be fine and gobbled down four out of the six octopus balls.

He said they tasted delicious and just like regular calamari.

Courier-Mail journalist Matty Holdsworth tastes octopus balls at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams

Japanese pizza $17

A far cry from your traditional Dominos or classic Italian but super tasty none the less.

Built on a bed of zucchini instead of the traditional oven baked bases, topped with corn, stringy cheese and goey sauce.

A bit on the pricey side but hey, it was scrumptious.

Japanese pizza at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams

Frozen popcorn $8

Open-mouth eaters beware – this frozen food will make you look like a dragon breathing fire, with every bite a small white cloud of air escaping the mouth.

The colourful popcorn frozen by liquid nitrogen was just $8 for a large cup.

It came out ice cold, and popped at the bite to send the sweetness coursing throughout.

Courier-Mail journalist Matty Holdsworth tries Nitro Pop – nitrogen-infused popcorn – at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams

Chunky watermelon ice cream $14

One for the sweet tooths for this mouth sensation.

Big chunks of juicy watermelon was accompanied by watermelon-flavoured ice cream in a bowl made of – you guessed it – watermelon!

The sweet sensation was a perfect way to cool down on a sunny day at the Ekka.

Courier-Mail journalist Natasha Innes samples the half-watermelon chunk with ice cream from Mellon's at the 2022 Ekka. Picture: Jerad Williams