Fried Fun at the Big Tex Choice Awards 2015

August 31, 2015
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Fernie's Carrot Cake

Written by: Valerie Freeman, Imprimis Group CEO

Every year I eagerly look forward to the State Fair of Texas – it’s the one time of the year when I throw healthy eating to the wind and chow down on as much fried food as I can stomach.

Fair - Val with Marg

I found a way to get to try all the finalists before the fair opens – the Big Tex Choice Awards – a fund raiser for the State Fair Youth Scholarship Program.  First you watch the judging and then the winners are announced and then everyone lines up and gets to taste the 8 finalists – and no tiny portions either.  The finalists are all inventive and very tasty – every year they get more interesting!

Val with Judges

So here are my observations:

Winner for Tastiest:  Fernie’s Holy Moly Carrot Cake Roly by Chrisi Erpillo

The only dessert in the 8 finalists.  Cinnamon roll flattened and filled with carrot cake, raisins and carrots then rolled in cream cheese, breaded in panko, graham crackers, cinnamon and nutmeg, fried and then drizzled with cream cheese frosting, dusted with powdered sugar and served with whipped cream and caramel sauce.  It was moist and flavorful – one was plenty as it was very sweet – so if you like cinnamon rolls and carrot cake, you will gobble up this one.

Fernie's Carrot Cake

 

Winner for Most Creative:  Smoky Bacon Margarita by Isaac Rousso

I love Margaritas and I love bacon so this was a delicious combination of the two.  Chomping on bacon bits while drinking the frozen lime margarita seemed a bit odd but odd is what makes this competition so much fun.  This is a must try.

Smoky Bacon Marg

THE OTHER FINALIST

Fried Beer Battered Buffalo by James Barrera

Yum is all I can say of this  mesquite smoked buffalo meatball in a coating of pequin chili pepper, crushed corn nuts and a batter made from Shiner Bock Beer then lightly dusted with bacon bits and served with a chipotle cream sauce.  You will never believe the coating is corn nuts.

Pretzel-Crusted Pollo Queso by Allan Weiss

One of my very favorites.  Spicy shredded chicken combined with cream cheese, Monterey jack cheese, bacon, cilantro and Sriracha sauce then rolled in a ball in pretzel breading and fried.  Crunchy and a bit of kick.  Served with a jalapeno ranch dipping sauce.  The combo of flavors along with the pretzel breading was fantastic.

Lone Star Pork Handle by Justin Martinez

A fairly large pork chop with a bone in that acts like a handle —  marinated in pork rub then dipped in batter made from Lone Star Beer then smothered in toasted bread crumbs and deep fried and finished off with a coat of bourbon barbeque glaze – the glaze and coating is delicious.

Pork Chop

Cowboy Corn Crunch by Isaac Rousso

Another fried ball of yumminess – a mixture of sweet corn, minced jalapeno, cream cheese and bacon then coated and fried.  Melts in your mouth.

Deep Fried Alligator’s Egg Nest by Cassy Jones

I was initially put off by the words egg and alligator but this turned out to be very tasty. I guess the “egg” was to describe that the alligator ball looked sort of like an egg on top of the shoestring potatoes.  The alligator meat is mixed with Monterey Jack cheese, jalapenos, onion and garlic then rolled in bread crumbs and deep fried and served on top of the nest of French fries.  Finally drizzled with chipotle sauce. To me the alligator tasted like chicken!

Chicken Fried Lobster with Champagne gravy by Abel Gonzales

I have to say that this was my very favorite dish.  An entire lobster tail is breaded and deep fried and served with lemon butter, champagne gravy and a small corn relish.  The gravy was really good and helped make this concoction one of the best.  I would not miss this one.

Chicken Fried Lobster

Of course this is according to my taste buds.  All of the above along with all the staples at the Fair – Fletcher’s corny dogs and tons of other great food including past winners and finalists – means you probably need to plan several trips to the fair to take it all in!