Tastebuds all around Texas are getting fired up in anticipation of the 2024 State Fair of Texas and the delicious fair food that is arguably a major highlight of the more than three-week-long event, which begins September 27.
On Thursday, the winners of the 20th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced, giving fairgoers a sneak peek at the culinary delights that lay ahead. The competition was fierce this year, with a record-setting 65 entries in the concessionaire food showdown.
Earlier this month, the food judges whittled the entries down to just 10 finalists, with five in the “Sweet” category and five in the “Savory” category. On Thursday, one winner each was named in the “Best Taste – Savory, ” “Best Taste – Sweet,” and “Most Creative” categories. The food creations were evaluated on four elements: uniqueness, creativity, presentation, and taste.
The winner of the “Best Taste – Savory” category was the Dominican Fritura Dog by Justin Martinez. It features salty and sweet flavors from the Dominican Republic, including fritura cheese and salami, which is dipped in corn dog batter and double deep-fried, then split open and topped with garlic plantain chips, a top-secret sauce, and cilantro.
It beat out its fellow finalists, Drowning Tacos, Hippie Chips, Hot Chick-In-Pancake Poppers, and Texas-fried burnt End Bombs, for the top prize in the category.
The winner in the “Best Taste – Sweet” category was Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick by Isaac Rousso. This masterpiece starts with a 12-inch slab of cooked bacon on a stick, which is then coated with cotton candy. As a final touch, a torch is used to caramelize the cotton candy into a sweet glaze.
The runners-up in this category were the Nevins Nutty Bar-Laska, Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignettfle, Tropical Two-Step Punch, and Texas Sugar Rush Pickles.
And finally, in the “Most Creative Category,” the winner was hands-down the most unusual entry this year: Texas Sugar Rush Pickles by Heather Perkins. It starts with cotton candy-flavored pickle slices coated in three kinds of sweetened cereal, layered in a cup with cotton candy, cotton candy sugar crystals, and powdered sugar, which is topped with strawberry syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Foodie fairgoers will be happy to know that all ten finalist creations will be served at the fair this year. The vendors serving the top three prize-winning entries can be identified by a big yellow Big Tex Choice Awards sign at their stations.
The celebrity judges for this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards were Brad Batson, co-founder of Karbach Brewing Co.; Calvin Golden, franchise expert and business consultant; Donovan Lewis, 96.7 Sports Radio & 1310 The Ticket host; Leslie Brenner, food and beverage personality; and Nikky Phinyawatana, founder of Asian Mint Restaurant Group and Chefnikky.com.
The 2024 State Fair of Texas runs from September 27 through October 20 at Fair Park in Dallas.
