Gold Coast Show sticks to crowd-favourite menu with dagwood dogs, fairy floss and waffles

FORGET chai lattes and acai bowls — carnival food will monopolise the menu when the Gold Coast Show bumps into its new sister sites in Southport this weekend.

Dagwood dogs are bestsellers at the Gold Coast Show. Picture: John Gass

FORGET chai lattes and acai bowls — carnival food will monopolise the menu when the Gold Coast Show bumps into its new sister sites in Southport this weekend.

Show organisers have steered away from ‘hipster’ style fare at the show’s new venues at Owen Park and Broadwater Parklands to lessen the event’s impact on traders in Southport.

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Gold Coast Show CEO Lavinia Rampino said the move — and the show’s arrival in Southport with free entry for all — had been well-received by businesses in the area.

Waffles filled with mock cream are a favourite with show crowds around the country.

“It was a deliberate decision we took to focus on the show food so local restaurants and cafes can leverage off our event,” she said.

“People can go and have a restaurant meal and come back for a band or to see the fireworks.

“We’ve incorporated the Chinatown markets into our program and Swanees and Mr P.P.’s (Deli and Rooftop) are doing stuff with us over the three nights.

“We hope people come in and get off the tram in Nerang St and go to the show or maybe try a restaurant and stay on to watch the fireworks.”

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Dagwood dogs are a menu favourite with crowds at the Gold Coast Show.

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Members of the Showmen’s Guild of Australasia, a not-for-profit organisation that represents members of the mobile community who own and operate show attractions, food stalls and rides, will operate 70 attractions at the Gold Coast event’s Broadwater Parklands site alone.

Guild president Luke Hennessy said when it comes to show food, crowds around Australia have the same taste.

“Dagwood dogs, waffles filled with mock cream and fairy floss are the big three,” he said.

The Gold Coast Show will be hot chip heaven for food lovers.

“We pride ourselves on serving the best traditional show food you can get.

“You can’t get a proper dagwood dog anywhere else like you can at the show.

“These people have perfected their traditional family recipes for daggy dogs over years — some of them over generations.

“Everyone has their own little twist on the recipe so it’s a very competitive situation.”

Mr Hennessy said guild members were excited to bump in to the Gold Coast Show’s new venue.

“I started setting up my dodgem cars — we were the first trailer on site — and from that point to now, it’s completely transformed,” he said.

Gemma Hickmott enjoys some fair floss at the Gold Coast Show. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“I couldn’t have imagined it would look so exciting. Everyone is hugely positive about the new venue. I can’t wait for Friday morning to see all the families down here.

“It’s exciting to see the attractions in different locations so close to the water and public transport. It’s going to look amazing at night when Sideshow Alley is lit up and the view from the top of the ferris wheel will be breathtaking.

“All I can think of is the positives — we hope it will be well supported.”

Mr Hennessy said showgoers needn’t be concerned about the ingredients used to make fair floss.

“I can assure them no fairies are harmed in the making of fairy floss,” he said.

Ah yes — there’s no people like show people …