Hungry? Here are the 2024 Texas State Fair food winners
AUSTIN (KXAN) — We have a winner!! Well.. three. Judges selected the best fair foods Thursday for the 20th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
There were 10 unique creations submitted, but only three categories to win.
This year’s panel of judges included:
- Brad Batson – Co-Founder, Karbach Brewing Company
- Leslie Brenner — Food and Beverage Personality
- Calvin Golden — Franchise Expert & Business Consultant
- Donovan Lewis — 96.7SportsRadio/1310 The Ticket Host
- Nikky Phinyawatana — Founder of Asian Mint Restaurant Group and ChefNikky.com
Best Taste – Savory
In the “Best Taste – Savory” category, the Dominican Fritura Dog by Justin Martinez came out on top.
The dish was described as having an “explosion of flavor” and includes fritura cheese and Dominican salami that is then double deep fried in corn dog batter, split open and topped with garlic plantain chips, top-secret Dominican sauce and cilantro.
“Hopefully, we’re opening another avenue for people at the State Fair to try something they don’t normally try. That’s what the State Fair is about,” said Justin Martinez, creator of the Dominican Fritura Dog.
Best Taste – Sweet
The “Best Taste – Sweet” category winner went to Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick by Isaac Rousso.
This cotton candy-coated bacon on a stick may sound simple enough, but was described as a “masterful combination of sweet and savory flavors.”
The dish includes a thick, 12-inch piece of bacon with a cotton candy glaze that is then spun inside a cotton candy machine and torched to caramelize the center and lock in the sweet flavor.
Most Creative
Heather Perkins took home the prize in the "Most Creative” category with the Texas Sugar Rush Pickles.
The cotton-candy-flavored pickle slices are coated in Lucky Charms, Froot Loops and Cap’n Crunch and then layered in cotton candy, cotton candy sugar crystals and powdered sugar. The dish is also served with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of strawberry sundae syrup.