Warning: don’t watch this hungry. The State Fair of Texas announced the 2022 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists on Wednesday, which include Chicharron Explosion Nachos, a Fried Charcuterie Board and Deep Fried Rocky Road.
The State Fair of Texas announced the 10 finalists for the 2022 Big Tex Choice Awards on Wednesday morning.
Thirty-six semifinalists competed for best taste in the savory or sweet categories, and all the dishes are going head-to-head for most creative.
The State Fair started awarding the Big Tex statues nearly two decades ago, and the competition is fierce.
Fresh pork rinds are fried and seasoned with Cajun-style seasonings. Next, it's topped with smoked beef fajita meat and covered with queso. Then it's topped with a full serving of savory barbeque chopped beef.
Crispy bacon and cheddar cheese is folded into a tortilla and fried. Then, it's used as sandwich bread by cutting it in half and layering lettuce, tomato slices, and mayo in between. It's topped off with garlic parmesan chips.
Ribbon pasta is covered with a mixture of ricotta, parmesan, provolone, and mozzarella cheeses, then topped with a homemade meat sauce. Next, more cheese is added and is delicately hand-rolled. The lasagna roll is dipped in a cheddar and herb batter and fried golden brown. The roll is then garnished with a touch of marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Served with a side of Deep Fried Zucchini Fries.
Chopped-up mozzarella, salami, and 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.
Slow-smoked shredded brisket and fire-roasted street corn queso is stacked inside a freshly baked biscuit. Then, thick-cut bacon is drizzled with Texas honey with a little bit of kick is added. It's topped off with crispy pickle French fries.
Inspired by iconic Texas bluebonnets, this drink includes freshly squeezed citrus juices and blueberries which are folded into a sugary base and then shaken well to achieve the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Then, the tasty concoction is poured over ice and topped with an optional lemon-mint-berry twist.
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 a top-secret horchata recipe. The creamy drink is then poured into a cup rimmed with caramel and cinnamon and topped with a Texas-sized dollop of whipped topping. Then, it's dusted with crushed candy, a sprinkle of cinnamon galletas de gragega, and deep-fried arroz con leche bites with a churro straw used to sip.
Rocky Road Kettle Fresh Fudge is coated with fluffy, lightly sweetened batter and deep-fried, stacked high, and drizzled with chocolate syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Mini marshmallows and chopped cinnamon glazed nuts are sprinkled atop with powdered sugar. It's served with Blue Bell Ice Cream® Homemade Vanilla.
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 Reese's Pieces, crushed Butterfinger, topped off with peanut butter cups, drizzled caramel, and powdered sugar.
The Ultimate Brookie Monster starts with crispy, chewy chocolate chip cookies, layered with Oreos and marshmallows. Then, it's covered in triple-chocolate brownie batter and baked together into a super brookie. The brookie is then battered and deep fried and showered in powdered sugar. It's served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and topped with cheesecake crumbles and strawberry sauce.
Get DFW local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters.
In the savory category, finalists include:
- Chicharron Explosion Nachos
- Deep-Fried BLT
- Deep-Fried Lasagna Roll
- Fried Charcuterie Board
- Holy Biscuit
In the sweet category, finalists include:
- Cha-Cha Chata
- Deep-Fried Rocky Road with Blue Bell Ice Cream
- La Bluebonnet
- Peanut Butter Paradise
- The Ultimate Brookie Monster
This year's theme is "Treats of Texas," highlighting the State Fair concessionaire's ingenuity when it comes to culinary creations, fair officials said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Among the 36 semifinalists, 51 entries were submitted for consideration. The State Fair said all competitors must have at least one year of experience as a concessionaire at the State Fair of Texas to enter the competition.
The selection process involves "blind judging" to ensure that the scoring is entirely based on the food, fair officials said.
Here's a look at last year's winners of the Big Tex Choice Awards.
The State Fair of Texas opens on Friday, Sept. 30, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022.
