The State Fair of Texas has named the winners of this year's "Big Tex Choice Awards." This year, the State Fair of Texas says 51 dishes were entered.
"Fried Charcuterie Board" won for Best Taste--Savory. From a description provided by the contestants:
Meats, cheeses, fruits – oh my! Chopped-up fresh mozzarella, salami, and crisp green apples are tossed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Italian herbs. Then the ingredients are wrapped in a wonton wrapper and fried to a golden crisp, topped with creamy goat cheese and a drizzle of hot honey. Everyone’s favorite appetizer rolled into one perfect bite!
"I'm just floating right now," says Tami Nevins-Mayes. "I had to ask her what we won."
"It was all a blur, I think," her daughter, Josey Mayes, says.
The Mayes family has been participating in the State Fair of Texas 73 years. Josey Mayes says she represents the family's fourth generation to work at the fair.
"Our brains are constantly focused on this all year round," she says. "We may really work three months out of the year, but we are constantly doing things, constantly thinking of new ideas, thinking of how we can progress."
The winner for Best Taste--Sweet was "Peanut Butter Paradise":
Man cannot live by bread alone – he must have peanut butter. Peanut Butter Paradise starts with deep-frying a honey bun. Then, caramel is injected into the honey bun and then topped with creamy peanut butter. The treat is then layered with some fan-favorite peanut butter treats, Reese’s Pieces, Crushed Butterfinger crumbles, topped off with peanut butter cups, drizzled caramel, and a cloud of powdered sugar. Just another day in paradise!
Nicole Sternes and Chris Easter were entering just their second Big Tex Choice Awards.
"Man, it's a roller coaster experience," Sternes says. "We just came in here to have fun. We are the rookies."
"We're in this game. We're going to turn into the Tom Brady of the State Fair competition. I promise you that," Easter says.
Sternes says, even though families were competing against each other, she was welcomed to the fray when she was named a finalist.
"There was so much love," she says. "They kept saying, 'You guys got this. Your product, you're so creative.' They wanted us to be there. Normally in a competition, you don't prep your competitor, but here it was more like a family, like a friendly competition."
Most Creative went to the Garza family for "Cha-Cha Chata":
Sidestep all the others ‘cause it’s finally here – the milkshake that will make you Cha-Cha Chata all night long! Inspired by the cha-cha dance, the recipe starts with a triple-step of two kinds of milk and vanilla ice cream blended to perfection with the Garza family’s top-secret (but famously delicious) horchata recipe. The creamy drink is then poured into a cup rimmed with caramel and cinnamon goodness and topped with a Texas-sized dollop of whipped topping. To bring even more flavor to your tastebuds, the Cha-Cha Chata is dusted with crushed candy, a sprinkle of cinnamon galletas de gragega, and deep-fried arroz con leche bites. Take hold of the churro straw and take a sip, we promise it will cha-cha change your life!
The other finalists were:
Chicharron Explosion Nachos by Glen and Sherri Kusak
Deep Fried BLT by Tom Grace
Deep Fried Lasagna Roll by The Parish Family
Holy Biscuit by Isaac Rousso
Deep Fried Rocky Road with Blue Bell Ice Cream® by Cody and Lauren Hays
La Bluebonnet by Milton and Gracie Whitley
The Ultimate Brookie Monster by Juan and Brent Reaves
"We have people come from all over the world to see the State Fair of Texas because this is where you can celebrate all things Texan," says the State Fair of Texas' Karissa Condoianis. "This is about community. People from all walks of life are welcome here to come and have fun. It can bring joy to people and leave all the noise going on in the world outside the gates and just come, have a great time and create some great memories."
Condoianis says more than two million people will attend, and the State Fair of Texas has a $500 million economic impact on North Texas each year.
"We have hundreds of vendors out here who work the fair every year, and that turns into more than 7,000 job opportunities for people," she says.
The State Fair of Texas runs from September 30 through October 23 at Fair Park.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD