State Fair!

I have been going to the State Fair of Texas for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I loved standing next to Big Tex (above) when he would begin his quarter-hourly welcome: "Howdy, folks. Welcome to the State Fair of Texas!". His deep baritone voice of course produced a wildly exaggerated Texan drawl. The petting zoo, the new car showroom, and the corny dogs, were all among my favorites! It runs for a little over a month, and during the 2nd week October, the annual rivalry football game between the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma takes place! I discussed last year's game here. One of the highlights of living in the Dallas-area is that all students and teachers receive a free ticket to the fair, and a day off from school to attend. It's not required that you go this day, but it gives you a day to do so. Our day is tomorrow, so I will sleep in and wait until the big game next weekend (at ticket to the game also gets you in the fair!)...ahhh....sleep! The fair has always been at the forefront of heart attack inducing foods, but we Texans hold them near and dear. The perennial favorites (Fletcher's Corny Dogs, Funnel Cake, Sausage on a Stick) are still around, but here are some of this year's food additions to the fair (not for the weak of stomach): Cajun Shrimp On A Stick – Spicy shrimp in a custom Cajun batter, fried and served with a choice of dipping sauce. (Gigi’s Food - Coca Cola Food Court) Deep Fried Cosmopolitan - Contest Finalist – A delicious fried pastry is filled with rich cheesecake and topped with a sweet & tangy cranberry glaze and a lime wedge. Served on a stick. (Desperados – Nimitz Dr.) Deep Fried Latte – a fried pastry topped with cappuccino ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream and instant coffee powder. Fernie's Fried Chicken n' Waffle – A toasted 7" round waffle, brushed with melted butter and topped with three extra-crunchy honey-battered chicken breast tenders. Served with syrup or white cream gravy. Sweet and salty. (The Dock – Embarcadero Building) Fried Avocadoes – Hand-battered chunks of scrumptious avocado are breaded and fried to perfection. Choice of dipping sauces. A culinary hit in California. (Weiss Enterprises - Thrillway) Fried Baked Potatoes – French fries right out of the fryer are topped with a choice of queso cheese sauce, bacon bits, chives or butter. (Benz Food – Cotton Bowl Plaza) Fried Coke - Contest Finalist – Smooth spheres of Coca-Cola-flavored batter are deep fried, drizzled with pure Coke fountain syrup, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry. Served in souvenir contoured glasses. (Vandalay Industries – Nimitz Dr. and Midway) Fried Pancake Sundae – Tasty country sausage bites wrapped in a light pancake batter, deep fried to perfection , topped with whipped cream, lightly glazed with hot fudge sauce and finished with a cherry on top. Pineapple and strawberry glaze options available. (Smokey John's BBQ – Cotton Bowl Plaza & Midway) Melon Monroe – Honey dew melon sauce ladled over chocolate chip ice cream, topped with whipped cream then garnished with two fried-dough, shaped "legs" filled with a special caramel sauce. Served fresh out of the fryer. "Some like it hot !" (Midway - across from Lost Children) Texas Cajun Steak On-a-Stick – Tender morsels of steak coated in a spicy Cajun batter, fried golden brown and served on a stick with red or white dipping sauce. (Gigi's Foods – Coca Cola Food Court) Texas Trash – In response to fairgoers' requests, this to-go sack of less-than-whole Hast Texas Nacho chips is served up in a white doughnut-style bag. (Hast Texas Nachos – Coca Cola Food Court) Wedgee's – Frozen chocolate-covered Wisconsin cheesecake-on-a-stick offered in Turtle (caramel) and Key Lime flavors.