Deep Fried Delicacies: State Fair Chooses Food Semi-Finalists

DALLAS, TX — The Texas State Fair is just around the bend, meaning concessionaires are off to the races with a new lineup of tasty (and sometimes questionable) snacks, ranging from sweet and savory, that will be available to fairgoers.

Now in its 14th year, the Vistaprint-sponsored Annual Big Tex Choice Awards has narrowed down a variety of potential snacks to a list of a mere 31 semi-finalists.

The semi-finalists will move forward in the competition, each vying for one of three winning titles: “Best Taste — Sweet,” “Best Taste – Savory,” and “Most Creative.”

2018's Semi-Finalists:

Savory

• Corn Dog Ale
• Deep Fried Bodacious Bacon Bombs
• Deep Fried Chicken Tetrazzini Parmesana
• Deep Fried Lobster Pops
• Deep Fried Ranch
• Deep Fried Shepherd's Pie
• Deep Fried Skillet Potato Melt in a Boat
• Fried Cup of Corn "Elotes"
• Fried Kool-Aid® Pickles
• Hoppin' John Cake with Jackpot Sauce
• King Crispy Coconut Crab Sliders
• Pico Frito (Deep Fried Pico de Gallo)
• Southern Fried Chicken Nachos
• Texas Fried Hill Country
• Texas Twang-kie

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Sweet

• Bacon Brittle
• Cherish Erbert Champagne
• Cotton Candy Taco
• Deep Fried M&M's®
• Deep Fried Raspberry Brie-ret
• Frosty's Frozen Hot Chocolate
• Fruity Dessert Nachos
• Kool-Aid® Pickle-Dilly Sangria
• Orange Julia's Beermosa
• Orange You Glad We Fried It?!
• State Fair Fun-L Cake Ice Cream
• Supra Stuffed Mini Sopapillas
• Sweet Bakin' Bacon
• Sweet Crispy Rice (Arroz con Leche)
• Texas Thai Delight
• The Roll Tide

The State Fair said the contest kicked off in mid-July with 49 entries from 30 concessionaires.

A panel of internal judges "blind" judges the morsels and scores the food accordingly. As the competition moves forward, a second round of preliminary judging which considers main ingredients, uniqueness, presentation, creativity and, of course, taste. The judges will also have to defend their rankings against the seemingly simple yet crucial question – how likely is a fairgoer to actually buy the item?

In August, 10 finalists will be announced. Another round of judging will choose the winner in each category.

Don't worry, even if your cuisine of choice doesn’t make it to the main event, concessionaires can still choose to introduce their food at their stand as a “new food” during this year’s State Fair.

The fair gates open September 28, 2018.

Image via Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas