State Fair of Texas Announces Big Tex Choice Awards Finalists for 2018
2018 State Fair of Texas begins Friday, Sept. 28
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Officials with the State Fair of Texas announced the finalists for the 14th annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
Officials with the State Fair of Texas announced the finalists for the 14th annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
We've seen the list of 31 semi-finalists, with each dish being considered for one of three titles: "Best Taste - Sweet," "Best Taste - Savory," and "Most Creative."
And, in alphabetical order, the finalists are:
• Arroz con Leche (Sweet Crispy Rice) by the Garza Family (SWEET) • Cotton Candy Taco by Justin & Rudy Martinez (SWEET) • Deep Fried Shepherd's Pie by Clint Probst (SAVORY) • Deep Fried Skillet Potato Melt in a Boat by Tom Grace (SAVORY) • Fernie's Hoppin' John Cake with Jackpot Sauce by Winter Family Concessions (SAVORY) • Fernie's Orange You Glad We Fried It?! by Winter Family Concessions (SWEET) • State Fair Fun-L Cake Ice Cream by Tom Landis (SWEET) • Sweet Bakin' Bacon by Ed & Eddie Campbell (SWEET) • Texas Fried Hill Country by Justin & Rudy Martinez (SAVORY) • Texas Twang-kie by Chris & Sherry Howard (SAVORY)
State Fair of Texas
State Fair of Texas
A savory twist on an American classic! It ain't sweet, but it's perfect. This cornbread cake is baked to moist perfection, hollowed out, and filled with a culinary masterpiece of Tex-Mex grilled chicken white bean chili! Each twang-kie is served with cornbread fries and more chili for dipping.
State Fair of Texas
Texas Fried Hill Country is the best of everything that would come out of the Hill Country in Central Texas. Fried mozzarella is complimented with locally-grown basil, sandwiched between two slices of juicy green tomatoes, and hand-breaded with seasoned breadcrumbs and flash fried to gooey perfection. Each dish is served on a bed of field greens, finished with balsamic drizzle and sweet local Texas honey.
State Fair of Texas
We capture the essence and flavor of a funnel cake and combine it with the creamy smoothness of ice cream. Created by Howdy Homemade, this super premium ice cream has funnel cake flavor infused into it with funnel cake pieces and powdered sugar mixed throughout, and on top of, the dish. It is available with powdered sugar, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce. Try to settle for just one scoop!
State Fair of Texas
A cream-filled sponge cake is wrapped in savory bacon and then dipped in a funnel cake batter. The treat is deep fried until golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar to finish.
State Fair of Texas
A delectable cinnamon-spiced rice ball is formed, battered, and coated in crispy puffed rice cereal. The ball is then deep fried to golden perfection. This scrumptious indulgence is sprinkled with powdered vanilla and complimented with a Texas-sized scoop of vanilla ice cream. To serve, a mouthwatering drizzle of caramel sauce and powdered cinnamon crowns each tasty treat.
State Fair of Texas
This is a tater tot on steroids! We start with buttery skillet potatoes griddled golden brown. We then add diced, griddled breakfast sausage patties and pack the tasty potato mixture around a mini Babybel® cheese loaf! It then gets a quick roll in our special seasoned flour and goes into the fryer. In just a few minutes, you have a wonderful crunch that finishes in the smooth melt of cheese! The deep-fried skillet potato melts are served up in the potato skins they came from and topped with melted cheddar and crispy bacon bites. A sour cream chipotle sauce is drizzled across the top and served on the side for dipping!
State Fair of Texas
We mix shredded cheddar cheese and cream into our savory mashed potato pillows. Each potato ball is filled with Grandma's shepherd's pie filling made of ground beef, mixed vegetables, and rich beef gravy. Our special seasoning creates an explosion of flavors and textures as the filling and creamy potatoes mix with each bite.
State Fair of Texas
This iconic New Year's Eve southern "good luck" dish takes a dip in the deep fryer for a unique and mouthwatering spin! The classic ingredients of creamy, nutty black-eyed peas, fluffy white rice, spicy smoked sausage, aromatic green onions, and a secret blend of special spices are combined with bread crumbs and eggbeaters and formed into a generous Texas-sized cake. This rich and savory cake is breaded in an egg wash that includes flour and panko bread crumbs. It is then deep fried to a super crunchy exterior and soul satisfying interior. The Texas-sized cake is topped with a zingy black-eyed pea relish, garnished with pickled okra to complete the southern deliciousness, and served with a side of Jackpot Sauce.
State Fair of Texas
One bite and you will be THRILLED! Layers of moist chiffon orange cake, dairy-fresh whipped cream, and citrusy orange preserves are lightly blended to form a refreshing custard-like filling. The mixture is spooned into flaky puff pastry dough, folded turnover style, and sealed with a pastry crimper. The pastry is quickly fried into little crescent-shaped pillows of citrus bliss and then lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Each dish is served with two sublime dipping sauces and garnished with a double citrus twist slice.
State Fair of Texas
This sweet s'more creation begins with a graham cracker waffle cone batter that is freshly-pressed into a crunchy taco shell shape. The inside of the shell is coated with a marshmallow glaze, then stuffed with chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and organic cane sugar cotton candy. We then top off this handful of sweetness with chocolate cookie crumbles and two chocolate cream-covered biscuit sticks with marshmallows.
The Big Tex Choice Awards will take place at 2 p.m. Aug. 26 in the Tower Building at Fair Park.
Officials with the State Fair of Texas announced the finalists for the 14th annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick by Sherry & Chris Howard (SAVORY)nHomestyle, perfectly spiced chicken noodle soup is deep fried and served on a stick. Each bite size ball will have an indention for a spoonful of savory broth sauce to complete the harmony of the best chicken noodle soup you’ve ever had, and certainly the first on a stick! Each dish is served with a side of crackers.
State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Froot Loops® by Gracie & Milton Whitley (SWEET)nA classic cereal with a State Fair twist! Sweetened Froot Loops® are folded into whipped marshmallow, dipped in a creamy batter, fried to a golden brown, and then topped with a drizzle of glaze and powdered sugar. Breakfast cereal just got better!
State Fair of Texas
Fat Smooth by Tami Nevins-Mayes (SWEET)nThree delicious Belgium mini cream puffs on a skewer are dipped in a Café Du Monde® beignet batter. They are then fried until golden brown, dusted in powdered sugar, and drizzled with a chocolate and caramel sauce. The perfect combination to create bring-you-to-your-knees goodness.
Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger by Tom Grace & Edna Sutton (SAVORY)nBegin with two funnel cakes that are fried to a golden crunch (aka "buns"). The first funnel bun is topped with a juicy, freshly-grilled burger patty, a heaping helping of crispy bacon, and gooey queso!! It is completed with another funnel bun and generously dusted with powdered sugar.
State Fair of Texas
Fernie’s Fried Texas Sheet Cake by Winter Family Concessions (SWEET)nStart with a Texas-sized slice of fudgy chocolate brownie cake generously coated in ground cocoa puffs, panko, and cinnamon sugar. The coated brownie is fried, giving it an ooey-gooey molten center with a crunch outside. The delicious fresh-from-the-fryer brownie is then glazed with a rich, dark icing made with Dr. Pepper®. The chocolatey glaze soaks into the warm brownie while cascading down the sides. The cake is served with chopped Texas pecans, a dollop of whipped cream, and garnished with a fresh strawberry carved to mimic a Lady Bird Johnson rose.
State Fair of Texas
Gulf Coast Fish Bowl by Clint Probst (SWEET)nA whimsical beverage featuring all the flavors of your favorite tropical coast, with a kick! Your drinkable aquarium begins with Nerds® candy gravel. Next, the drink is iced and filled with a specially-formulated blue alcoholic punch. Swedish Fish® swim through the ice while a pineapple slice serves as the lid! Each sip brings a stream of crunchy candy and tropical punch up the straw causing a flavor explosion that transports you beachside with every sip!
State Fair of Texas
Pinot Noir Popcorn by The Parish Family (SWEET)nIt's a blend of Santa Monica Kettle Corn generously dusted with a Pinot Noir burgundy wine powder. The wine-flavored popcorn is paired with savory cheddar cheese flavors to give you the perfect balance of sweet and savory. A perfect pair for a poppin’ snack!
State Fair of Texas
Surfin’ Turfin’ Tator Boat by Melissa & David Harrison (SAVORY)nSucculent lobster meat is marinated in lemon herb butter and partnered with seasoned steak that is grilled to perfection. Both are topped with cheddar and romano cheeses after being stuffed into a piping-hot baked potato with roasted garlic butter melted inside. It is topped off with a single empress cut lobster claw and a side of lemon butter for dipping.
State Fair of Texas
The Tamale Donut by Justin Martinez (SAVORY)nTake a traditional tamale and turn it into a not-so-traditional donut! Our "Classic Pork" Tamale Donut starts with slow-cooked pork carnitas, blended with authentic "made-from-scratch" masa. Each dish is hand-formed into the donut shape and fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The "Classic Pork" Tamale Donut is finished off with a drizzle of homemade creamy jalapeno salsa.
State Fair of Texas
Texas Fajita Fries by Nick Bert (SAVORY)nTenderly breaded deep-fried beef fajita strips are seasoned with a sriracha spice mix and served in a bread cone. Presented on a bed of Texas toothpicks (fried onions and jalapeños) with a side of pico de gallo and a cool, yet spicy, sour cream guacamole hot sauce. Texas fajita fries can be enjoyed as a sandwich or individually like French fries.
Tickets will be available online at BigTex.com for $125 - up $25 from 2017. All proceeds will be donated to the State Fair of Texas Youth Scholarship Program.
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