The annual submissions for the Annual Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair of Texas are in, and there are "food" things like deep-fried bubblegum, something called a "Walking Taco" (hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and salsa served in a Doritos bag), deep-fried salsa, and deep-fried pineapple upside down cake.
This year's lineup is maybe not as crazy as last year's (what with the deep-fried beer and deep-fried salad), but it'll do. The contest is simply a "friendly food fight among Fair concessionaires." The winner is announced on Labor Day and gets bonus media buzz, possibly appearances on late night talk shows. Finalists for 2011 are:
The Finalists
· Walking Taco
· Hans' Kraut Ball
· Fried Bubblegum
· Fried Autumn Pie
· El Bananarito
· Deep Fried Texas Salsa™
· Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake
· Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack
And here are the descriptions of the dishes, via the State Fair of Texas' Facebook page:
Walking Taco - Stroll down the Midway with this concoction of seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream, and tasty salsa. Inventively served up in a Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos® bag!
Hans’ Kraut Ball - A conglomeration of taste: browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, a zing of sauerkraut, mustard, and tasty seasonings all rolled into a mouth-watering ball of delight. Covered with seasoned bread crumbs, deep fried, and served with your choice Spicy Mustard, Rasberry Chipotle, or Ranch.
Fried Bubblegum - You’ll swear it’s bubblegum! A light as a feather bubble gum flavored marshmallow is dipped in batter and lightly fried to perfection. Decorated with a swirl of icing. A final sprinkling of powdered sugar completes this treat! It will blow you away!
Fried Autumn Pie - Fairgoers will fall for this hard to resist puff pastry infused with a scrumptious combination of pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and fall spices. Deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon, and sugar.
El Bananarito - In case you are wondering, it’s a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla, topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, a dusting of cinnamon, and a touch of vanilla extract. Top it off with your choice of smooth, hot caramel or decadent chocolate syrup.
Deep Fried Texas Salsa™ - This spicy medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato, and pepper is rolled together, dipped in masa, and covered in crunchy tortilla chips. Into the fryer and served with warm, deliciously creamy queso.
Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake - Fresh and sweet pineapple rings are delicately dipped in cake batter, fried, and coated with a caramel, sugar, and cinnamon glaze. What tropical treat is complete without a cherry on top?
Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack - A buffalo chicken strip is coated in flapjack batter, rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs, deep fried to a golden brown, skewed, and served with a side of syrup. Crowd pleasing appetizer or a meal in itself!
· Finalists Announced In 2011 Big Tex Choice® Awards Contest [Big Tex]
· All State Fair coverage on Eater [-E-]