Your Guide to the Best New Foods at the State Fair | Dallas Observer

Less than 10 days to opening day, the State Fair of Texas posted a list of new foods to try and the schedule for the Celebrity Chef Kitchen in the Creative Arts Building. Between all of that and the Big Tex Choice Awards winners, there’s a lot to consider, so we’ve put together a few tips for you.

If you refuse to make the day of the fair a cheat day (ahem, Mr. Mayor), we will have a list of suggestions for you a little later, as soon as the full guide to the state fair is published. But if you have planned your trade show visit in advance and have your stretchy pants ready, here are some places you will definitely want to hit.

Celebrity chef kitchen

Located in the Creative Arts Building

Perhaps Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs and OMG-them-fried foods are just too tempting, but for some reason, many people miss out on this great foodie opportunity. Four times a day, every day of the fair, some of the best chefs in Dallas cook real food and teach you how to do it at home. Best of all, they end up offering tastings.

Longtimer will be delighted that the opening day (September 24th) is the same as always with Allison Hodges & Katrina Warner from Tarrant County College, Janice Provost from Parigi, Sharon Van Meter from 3015 Trinity Groves and Uno Immanivong from Red Stix. Provost’s previous demos included fried arancini balls and homemade Nutella, and Immanivong may be handing out free hot sauces as they have in the past.

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Amber Fletcher from Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs is heading into the celebrity kitchen for the first time this year. The rest of the line-up is a veritable who’s who of chefs in the Dallas and vicinity. Tiffany Derry (Roots Southern Table), John Tesar (Knife), Nikky Phinyawatana (Asian Mint), and Meaders Ozarow (Empire Baking) are just a few of the local food stars you can see in action.

Wednesday October 6th could be a good day to take the day off from work to go to the show just to see this kitchen demo lineup. Diana Zamora, whose baked goods are on everyone’s lips, sets off at 11 a.m. and Brittany Bryant, whose pizzas are causing a sensation at Vector Brewing, takes the stage at 12:30 p.m. The afternoon demos will be from the Texas Beef Council, and that probably means free steaks afterwards.

Visit BigTex.com for the full schedule.

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Bailey's Bacon Jam Corn Bombs can be found in the Tower Building Food Court. - TEXAS STATE FAIR

Bailey’s Bacon Jam Corn Bombs can be found in the Tower Building Food Court.

Texas State Fair

Cotton Bowl Plaza

Located in front of the main entrance to the Cotton Bowl

This may be one of your usual cheap beer stops at Beer Barn, but this year the longtime foam seller has something special for you: your Frozen Ranch Water was a semi-finalist at the Big Tex Choice Awards, and if you’re looking for something easier to drink, this will a big hit.

Opposite the beer barn there are two new fair dishes this year. One of them is Jack’s Mexican booth that sells Deep Fried Toffee for those with a sweet tooth.

You can also find the Texas Cheesesteaks stand across from Beer Barn. It is served by Southside Steaks and Cakes, a fantastic restaurant that has been serving great cheesesteaks in the Fair Park area for six years. Owner / operator Chris Easter was delighted that his family business was accepted as a concessionaire for over 130 applicants. (Only four spots were available.) You can follow their journey on the Road to the State Fair on the Southside Steaks and Cakes Facebook page.

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Texas Easter Eggs are laden with meat, cheese, and peppers.  - STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

Texas Easter Eggs are laden with meat, cheese, and peppers.

Texas State Fair

Food court in the tower building

Located behind Big Tex

Always a must for fair food lovers, the Food Court in the Tower Building is home to 10 of the dishes on the new grocery list. Here are some to check out.

Baileys
Get your Bacon Jam Corn Bombs here. These crispy corn hush puppies are topped with warm bacon jam, ranch dressing, and homemade candied jalapeños.

Benavides food
In addition to a wide-ranging trade fair menu, this year Benavides is bringing Country Fried Shrimp Grits, a cheesy, deep-fried delicacy full of shrimp and with a lobster sauce.

BW’s Fried Ribs
At BW’s, brisket is served on a lightly roasted Vietnamese baguette for the Texas BBQ Brisket Banh Mi.

Gourmet Royale & Southern Fried Chicken
As the winner of the Big Tex Choice Awards for both the most creative and the best taste experience this year, Gourmet Royale brings its double award-winning Deep Fried Seafood Gumbo Balls. They’ll also be serving Southern Fried Lemon Icebox Pie Balls at their booths here and at several locations around the fairground.

Helmut’s Strudel
Are you hungry for strudel? Choose from apple, cherry and cheese at Helmut’s Strudel.

Highland Park soda fountain
The beloved, long-established nostalgia restaurant has finally closed, but it only comes back to life every year for the fair. Along with many favorites from their nostalgic menu, you can win this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards finalist, Texas Pumpkin Poke Cake.

Northern rancher
This longtime concession booth, run by the Garza family, has had multiple Big Tex Choice Awards finalists and has won several wins as well. They didn’t make it this year, but there’s great flavor in their Twice-Fried Albondigas (Mexican meatballs) and Fried Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding).

Scrumbscious pieshakes
Scrumbscious Pieshakes, another supplier with multiple Big Tex Choice Awards, has some creative options this year. Texas Easter Eggs are not cute and they are not eggs; they are fried balls filled with meat, spices, cheese and peppers and decorated with Easter-colored ranch sauce. At this stand, Deep Fried PB & Razbrûlée will also be offered, in which a children’s PB & J is mixed with a very adult crème brlée.

Tony’s taco shops
To prove that it doesn’t all need to be fried and that all the flavors of Texas at the show are better, Tony’s Quesabirria will be bringing Consomme to their booth in the Tower Building.

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The Dallas Hot Bird Dog must be enjoyed - STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

The Dallas Hot Bird Dog must be enjoyed

Texas State Fair

Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs
Some have said that if you don’t eat Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog, going to the fair doesn’t even count. With seven stalls on the fairgrounds (and one in the Cotton Bowl), there are plenty of ways to sample this annual treat.

But this year Fletcher’s has two new menu items to watch out for. The Make Mine Texas is a cheesy dog ​​as you know and love it, but from an all-beef and brisket mix.

A real departure from their traditional menu, the Dallas Hot Bird Dog is only offered at their huge booth near the Thrillway. (This is between gates 9 and 10 in the back of the Midway, where the rides take place.) You may want to try this extremely adventurous dish after you’ve done a tour of these rides. It’s a turkey Frank Corny dog ​​with a spicy batter that is then cut open and topped with mac and cheese, jalapeños, and cholula sauce.

Don’t miss any more stops
Yes, we know that’s enough food for five days, but of course there is more.

Ferris Wheelers
This design district barbecue playground is bringing its food to the fair this year. Find their Gobble Balls (deep-fried smoked turkey nuggets) at their stand in the middle.

Pearlie’s southern cuisine
One of the Big Tex Choice Awards semi-finalists that got a lot of attention was the Deep Fried Peach Cobbler Soul Rolls. You can find them at Pearlie’s (along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard behind the Cotton Bowl) along with another new dish, Deep Fried Shrimp Étouffée.

Bert’s concessions
Bert’s Texas Fried Fritos® Pie won an online poll for best fair food ever, and a stop at one of these food stalls is a must. They are also offering a new product this year, Lucky Duck Dumpling, which is similar to an empanada filled with cream cheese. (I’ve tried it; it’s amazing.)

We also heard that their fried cheesecake is heavenly, so put that on your already long list, too. Bert’s location is easiest to find near the Hall of State, where the parade goes by at night.

We are only a few days away from the trade fair with the complete visitor guide, which you can download from BigTex.com. You can also pick up a guide at any hospitality center (the big red barn-like information booths), but getting them in advance can maximize your foodie experience at the fair.

The hospitality centers are also the right place to go if you are in the mood for a particular meal and don’t know where to find it. With huge folders listing every booth and food at the show, they can take you to anything your heart (and taste buds) desires.

Even if you’re like Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, whose heart desires to eat keto (at the fair?!?!), There is something for you to eat at the fair. Keep an eye out for an upcoming story about healthier choices and different diet options at the show in Observer Food and Drink.

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