We're less than a month away from the State Fair of Texas opening its gates for the season. Over the weekend, the event organizers named the Big Tex Choice Award winners. All ten of the 2021 finalists will be available for purchase this year.
There are three winning categories: Sweet, Savory, and Most Creative. This year's champions are as follows:
Best Taste – Sweet
The Armadillo, James Barrera
Y'all will want to go home with the Armadillo Cookie Butter Ice Cream Sandwich! It is a made-from-scratch cookie butter semifreddo – an Italian take on ice cream that means semi-frozen. The treat is drizzled with cookie butter and sandwiched between two deep fried Armadillo-shaped cookies that are made with a branding iron. Finally, it is dusted with buttery sugar. Absolutely a velvety cream delight!
Best Taste – Savory and Most Creative
Deep Fried Seafood Gumbo Balls, Gourmet Royale
Using a family recipe that has been handed down four generations, the base is a dark, rich, and savory roux that represents the true essence of New Orleans. The balls are then loaded with Gulf Coast shrimp, stewed chicken, blue crab meat, and andouille sausage. The balls are then rolled in our saltine cracker and breadcrumb batter, then fried, creating an explosion of flavor. The balls are served with a side of dark gumbo roux sauce for your dipping pleasure and topped with chicken fried okra spears. The dish will be served with a small bottle of hot sauce and a package of saltine crackers.
Photos and details of all the finalists can be found here.
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