The most anticipated tasting event of the year has arrived: the 21st Annual Big Tex® Choice Awards, presented by Karbach Brewing Company, showcased the state’s most inventive and mouthwatering Fair foods. After sampling and evaluating fifteen standout creations, the all-star panel of judges finalized their selections, honoring the dishes that pushed the boundaries of flavor, creativity, and sheer indulgence. The winners reflect both technical skill and imaginative twists, delivering bites that will linger in memory long after the Fair ends.
Taking home Best Taste – Savory is Stefan T. Nedwetzky’s Crab & Mozzarella Arancini. These rice balls are a masterful combination of Maryland Blue Crab, mozzarella, spring onions, red bell pepper, lemon, and black pepper, all delicately seasoned with garlic, coriander, and basil. Each arancini is coated in a golden breadcrumb crust and fried to perfection, served alongside a house-made marinara sauce that balances the rich, creamy interior.
The title of Best Taste – Sweet goes to Tony & Terry Bednar’s Chill & Thrill Delight, a refreshing, fruit-forward creation inspired by Colombia’s Salpicon de Frutas. Juicy chunks of mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries are soaked in watermelon juice with a hint of lime, then crowned with a scoop of handcrafted mango sorbet. The interplay of fresh, tangy fruit and creamy sorbet delivers a playful, cooling treat ideal for a hot Fair day.
Brad Weiss captured Best Taste – Sipper with his Cookie Chaos Milkshake, a decadent celebration of cookie flavors. This creamy cookie butter milkshake is loaded with snickerdoodle pieces, Golden Oreos, and classic Oreos, finished with whipped cream, a scoop of edible cookie butter cookie dough, a perched Biscoff® cookie, and a drizzle of cookie butter. A rim coated in crushed Biscoff® adds a crunchy counterpoint, making each sip an over-the-top delight for cookie lovers.
Kendall Williams earned Most Creative with the Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders, a daring reimagining of the classic slider. Cajun-seasoned Wagyu beef is topped with aged cheddar and applewood bacon, then sandwiched between two deep-fried, panko-crusted deviled egg halves. The resulting bite is simultaneously crunchy, creamy, and savory, served with a house-made ketchup-inspired sauce that underscores its playful ingenuity.
Even with these winners crowned, the competition was fierce, featuring other inventive finalists like Deep Fried Deli Tacos by Brent & Juan Reaves, Hans Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzels by Glen & Sherri Kusak, Vietnamese Crunch Dog by The Le Family, Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake by Stephen El Gidi, Tex’s Toast á la Mode by Michelle & Jayse Edwards, and Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up by Tom Grace, among others.
This year’s celebrity judging panel included Jeff Allen and Marissa Allen, co-founders of Cookie Society; content creator Keandre Hopkins; Chris Meyer, General Manager of Karbach Brewing Company, all of whom lent their expertise and appetites to the challenging task of identifying the most memorable Fair creations.
