State Fair Fried Food Finalists Announced

by Steven Doyle    photo by Robert Bostick

Labor Day is when the State Fair picks the best fried food item that will lead the dining options on the midway this Fair season. We just received notice of the finalists, and it looks pretty delicious this year. Think about fried Nutella or fried millionaire pie. Yea, it will be a fun year. We will be on the scene to snap up photos and get a taste preview next week and let you know our picks.

Until then check out the list of finalists who are competing this year. And it made us laugh that multi-year winner Abe Gonzales named his company Vandalay Industries, after the bogus George Costanza company from Seinfeld. Remember, winning this coveted prize could mean as much as an additional $250,000 in sales during the State Fair.  

Awesome Deep Fried Nutella® – Cream cheese and Nutella® are whipped and spread over flaky Phyllo dough sheets, rolled up, and deep fried. Served with a drizzle of honey and shaved almonds. Abel Gonzales

Deep Fried Cuban Roll – A filling of slow cooked pork shoulder, chopped ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and secret sauce is spread onto a slice of Swiss cheese, rolled up in pastry dough, and deep fried.  Roll is served with a side of mojo sauce for dipping. Issac Rousso

Fernie’s Deep Fried King Ranch Casserole –This stick-to-your-ribs TEXAS SHAPED creation is melted cheese, salty, spicy, goodness that is dipped in a zesty southwestern egg wash and coated in panko bread crumbs.  Deep fried golden brown and crunchy on the outside; steamy and creamy on the inside! Served with a side of red, white, and blue tortilla chips and your choice of our homemade “salsafied” sour cream or cheesy queso.  Each one proudly flying the flag of the Lone Star State and deep fried in the Heart of Texas! Christi Erpillo

Fried Thanksgiving Dinner  – Mama’s homemade stuffing and diced roasted turkey are rolled in a ball.   Next it’s dipped in southern cream corn and rolled in seasoned corn meal – all fried to a crispy golden brown. Served with old fashion giblet brown gravy.   The zesty orange cranberry sauce fills your dipping needs and results in a complete thanksgiving dinner, FRIED!  Justin and Rudy Martinez

Golden Fried Millionaire Pie
– Sweetened, fluffy cream cheese filling is loaded with golden pineapple and Texas pecans then wrapped in a flaky pie crust and fried to a golden brown. Topped with whipped cream, toasted coconut, and candied pecans. Nick Bert Jr.

Spinach Dip Bites – Creamy and delicious spinach artichoke dip bites are coated with crispy tortilla chips and flash-fried until golden brown. Bites are served with salsa for an additional kick.  Mark and Norman Zable

Southern Style Chicken-Fried Meatloaf – Homemade meatloaf slices are coated in an authentic Texas chicken-fried breading and deep fried golden brown. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, Texas cream gravy, and a ketchup/brown sugar glaze for dipping. Clint Probst

Texas Fried Fireball – Pimento cheese, pickles, cayenne pepper, and bacon are rolled into a ball, dipped in buttermilk, covered with a jalapeno-infused batter and deep fried. Served with chipotle ranch for dipping. Butch Benavides