The anticipation is palpable as the State Fair of Texas prepares to showcase its latest culinary innovations at the 20th Annual Big Tex® Choice Awards. Presented by Karbach Brewing Company, this year's lineup features a diverse array of 24 semi-finalists, selected from 65 entries submitted by 40 seasoned concessionaires. These semi-finalists, consisting of 10 savory and 14 sweet entries, promise to deliver a gastronomic adventure for fairgoers this fall.
Among the savory contenders are creations like the Deep Fried Crispy Vietnamese Crepes, offering a crispy shell filled with savory meats and fresh veggies, and the Dominican Dog, combining crispy Dominican queso frito and salami frito in a corn dog batter. For those craving a taste of Mexico, there's The Drowning Taquitos, featuring shredded chicken, tangy cream sauce, and traditional toppings.
On the sweet side, highlights include Beso De Angel, a sugary fritter filled with sweet crema and strawberry preserves, and Cookie Butter Nachos, where flour tortilla chips are transformed with homemade cookie butter cheesecake filling and cream cheese icing. The imaginative offerings continue with treats like Frozen Limoncello, blending sweet and tart flavors in a refreshing Italian-inspired dessert.
Judging for the Big Tex® Choice Awards is a rigorous process, ensuring fairness and impartiality. All entries undergo blind judging, where judges evaluate each dish solely on its taste, creativity, and appeal to fairgoers. The finalists, to be announced in mid-August, will compete for coveted titles including "Best Taste – Savory," "Best Taste – Sweet," and "Most Creative."
Fair enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars for the State Fair of Texas, running from September 27 to October 20, 2024. For more information on tickets and event details, visit BigTex.com/Plan.
Stay tuned as the countdown begins to celebrate the Most Texan Place on Earth's culinary creativity and tradition at the 2024 State Fair of Texas.