Deep fried pho, loaded fries pizza among 2023 State Fair of Texas food contest finalists

If you’re on a diet, look away.

When the State Fair of Texas opens this fall deep fried pho, loaded fries pizza or bourbon banana caramel sopapillas will be there to tempt, no, taunt you.

The fair announced the finalists of the 19th annual Big Tex Choice Awards food competition on Wednesday. The annual competition pits concessionaires vying to have their food featured at the fair.

In total, 57 entries were entered into the competition, all vying for one of the three winning titles: “Best Taste — Savory,” “Best Taste — Sweet” and “Most Creative.” The 36 semifinalists were announced in early July and now 10 remain a month later.

The winners of the three categories will be announced on Aug. 27.

Deep Fried Pho

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Michelle Le

Noodles, sliced beef, bean sprouts, herbs and a taste of pho broth is rolled up and deep fried. The dish is served with a side of pho broth, lime, jalapeños, cilantro, hosisin sauce and sriracha.

Deep Fried Cheesy Crab Tater Bites

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Isaac Rousso
  
  

Minced crab meat, shrededd potato, cheese and spices are fomed into tater bites. The bites are then fried and served with a cheese Cajun crawfish sauce.

Loaded Fries Pizza

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Tom Grace

Pizza dough is ladled with buttermilk ranch, covered with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, add bacon bits and topped with french fries. Once baked, the pizza is topped with chives.

Ox’Cellent Soul Roll

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Kerston and Shawn Thorns

Chunks of simmered oxtail, cornbread, butter, celery and onions are rolled into a spring roll and fried.

Turkey Ribs!

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Abel Gonzales

Turkey ribs are fried and served with stuffing seasoned fries, giblet gravy and salsa.

Biscoff Delight

• Section: Sweet
• Created by: Stephen El Gidi

New York-style cheesecake is coated with Belgian chocolate and topped with Biscoff drizzle and a cookie.

Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas

• Section: Savory
• Created by: Cody and Lauren Hays

Sopapillas are topped with vanilla-caramel infused bananas, bourbon syrup, crushed candied pecans, mascarpone cheese, Nilla wafers and powedered sugar.

Fernie’s Fried Cherry Pie in the Sky

• Section: Sweet
• Created by: Christi Erpillo and Johnna McKee

A pie tart mold is lined with buttery pastry dough and layered with shortbread cookies, cherries, blended shortbread cookies and more pastry. The dessert is fried and served with Blue Bell ice cream, cherry preserves, whipped cream and dark sweet cherries.

Sweet Encanto

• Section: Sweet
• Created by: Tony and Terry Bednar

A round waffle is sweetened with caramel dulce de leche, specialty cream and fresh fruit. The waffle is then topped with raspberry jam and sweet condensed milk.

Trail-Ade

• Section: Sweet
• Created by: Ruth Hauntz

This non-alcoholic cocktail is made up of summer fruits, cucumbers and fresh mint blended with lemonade. Served with a souvenir cowboy boot cup.

Even if a dish 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 State Fair of Texas opens on Sept. 29 and runs until Oct. 22.

This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 6:37 AM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.