EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Big Tex

Monday was the Big Tex erection at the State Fair of Texas. The erection lasted about three hours, so it’s safe to say that this 60-year old Texan is most definitely on Cialis. A ton of photographers were there, taking pictures of the event. I took a moment to ask…

Your Map(s) to Fried Heaven at the State Fair

If you’re going to the State Fair of Texas, it’s a given that you have to try the fried bubble gum and fried salsa and definitely obviously the fried buffalo chicken in a flapjack on a stick, plus all the other fried foods that were Big Tex Choice Awards finalists…

BW’s Fried Ribs and Fried Banana Pudding, Meet Face

Debbie Hays, from BW’s Famous Fried Ribs at the State Fair of Texas, tells me she’s been serving up fried ribs at the fair for 24 years. Twenty-four freaking years? How the dong have I never had these things? Hays says, “Seriously, how have you not tried them? They’re not…

Jerk Your Sausage to Island Spot’s Fried Bread Pudding

Island Spot is a new vendor at the State Fair of Texas this year and along with this open-flame-grilled jerk chicken, jerk sausage (note: it’s on the menu as “jerk sausage,” not “the hand job” or “the hanje”) and jerk tofu (for all you vegetarians), they’re serving up — wait…

Mmm. Do I Detect Corn Dog Notes in This Pinot?

Ho. Lee. Fried garnishes for your cocktails. Christi Erpillo, the supreme mega fried badass who brought us those glorious, award-winning fried peaches in 2009, just gave every wine-box-chugging lady American the only thing she’s ever wanted at the fair: wine plus fried. The photo of these beverages doesn’t do the…

Vegans Rejoice: Texas State Veggie Fair Fried Food Competition

The State Fair of Texas offers a millionty delicious fried food options, but if you’re vegan, food-wise you’re pretty much limited to sniffing second-hand funnel cake fumes.Well, fuck all that. It’s time vegans and vegetarians had a chance to join in the fun. And Jamey Scott, founder of DallasVegan.com, agrees…

Fried Chicken Skin and Fried Cake Balls?!? Thanks, Eat Crispies.

Meet fried chicken skin, brought to your State Fair of Texas by Eat Crispies. It’s just chicken skin, battered and fried for your face. Eat Crispies co-owner Phuong Le (who owns the stand with her sister-in-law, uncle and cousin) says, “The fried chicken skin was what caught the attention of the State…

Allan Weiss Wins Best Taste with Fried Chicken Flapjack. Eat It.

Allan Weiss won the Best Taste title at this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards. How much media coverage did Weiss’ fried buffalo chicken in a flapjack get before the awards ceremony? Almost zero. Fried salsa and fried pineapple upside down cake were the favorites going into the competition, based solely…

Fried Bubble Gum Wins, Tastes Like My Little Pony Turds

This Labor Day, winners were crowned for the Big Tex Choice Awards. ​And we were definitely a little (OK, maybe a lot) excited. Like, a lot a lot. Allan Weiss took home the Best Taste title with his fried buffalo chicken in a flapjack (more on that later). And most unshockingly, Justin Martinez won Most Creative…

Abel Gonzales Jr: Dallas’ Fried-Stuff Savior

​If the State Fair of Texas is Fried Christmas, Abel Gonzales is Fried Jesus. In 2005, Gonzales won Most Creative at the first Big Tex Choice Awards with his fried peanut butter and jelly and banana sandwich. In 2006, he took home a second Most Creative win with a little…

Meet Isaac Rousso, aka The Fried Salsa Dude

The finalists of the Big Tex Choice Awards have been announced, and we’re on a mission to tell you a little bit about each and every fried contestant (plus that walking taco one. Which isn’t fried. We’re not sure why. Pretty sure it’s a taco salad in a Doritos® bag,…

Zable’s Fried Biscuits and Gravy Looks Like This

Yep. That’s what happens when you fry biscuits and gravy. Zable, who announced his latest creation last week, just sent us this picture of the fried biscuits and gravy he’ll be serving up at this year’s State Fair of Texas. Mmmm. Just look at them biscuits. State Fair of Texas cometh,…

City Of Ate’s State Fair Hierarchy of Needs

The State Fair of Texas happens but once a year. It’s the largest state fair in the country. And that means there are a million bazillion food options to choose from when you get there. Let us all appreciate the seriousness of making the most of this most-glorious of food…