Every year the State Fair of Texas holds a competition for the best fair food, and the results range from what a great idea to why would you fry that?
The screams of laughter, bright-colored carnival rides, and the many smells of different fried foods are what make up the State Fair of Texas. Fair food is one of the main reasons people flock to state fairs, and Texas knows how to do it right.
The 18th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards produced some interesting but definitely flavorful food options. Make sure you try some of these award-winning foods at this year’s State Fair of Texas, which began on September 30 and will run through October 23. In the meantime, here are the winners of each category and a few other notable finalists.
Best Taste – Savory: Fried Charcuterie Board
We should have known this was coming with the charcuterie board’s popularity the last few years but hey, the only thing that could make a charcuterie board better would be frying it, right?
All the elements that are on a charcuterie board (mozzarella, salami, green apple slices) are tossed in an olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Italian herb mixture and then wrapped in a wonton wrapper and fried. The fried wonton package is then topped with a drizzle of goat cheese and hot honey.
Best Taste – Sweet: Peanut Butter Paradise
If you are a peanut butter fan, this is the dessert for you! The base is a deep-fried honey bun injected with caramel and then topped with a spread of peanut butter. The top layer is, of course, peanut butter candy treats, including Reese’s Pieces, Butterfinger pieces, and peanut butter cups.
Most Creative: Cha-Cha-Chata
Basically, a horchata milkshake but better. Two kinds of milk and vanilla ice cream are blended to a milkshake consistency. The glass is rimmed with caramel and cinnamon, topped with whipped cream, dusted with crushed candy, and sprinkled with cinnamon galletas de gragega and deep-fried arroz con leche bites with a churro straw to finish it off.
A couple of notable finalists:
The Holy Biscuit — We’ve got a biscuit sandwich consisting of layered shredded brisket, fire-roasted street corn queso, and thick-cut bacon drizzled with Texas hot honey.
The Ultimate Brookie Monster— A perfect chocolate chip cookie that is equal parts crispy and chewy is layered with Oreos and marshmallows. Then it’s covered in triple-chocolate brownie batter and baked together to create the brookie. It’s then battered and deep-fried and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with cheesecake crumbles and strawberry sauce.
Other Big Tex Award Finalists:
Chicharron Explosion Nachos
Deep Fried BLT
Deep Fried Lasagna Roll
Deep Fried Rocky Road with Blue Bell Ice Cream
La Bluebonnet
For more information on the State Fair of Texas, visit the event’s website.
Photography: (All Images) Courtesy State Fair of Texas