By Tricia White
The State Fair of Texas is known for taking culinary creativity to new heights, and 2024 is no exception. Fairgoers have the opportunity to taste all of the finalists of the Big Tex Choice Awards and decide if they agree with the judges’ selections for “Best Taste – Savory,” “Best Taste – Sweet,” and “Most Creative.”
In addition to the deep-fried delicacies that debut each year as part of the Big Tex Choice Awards, our concessionaires continue to create delectable new delights for fairgoers. For a full list of new foods that will be offered at the Most Texan Place on Earth and where to find them, visit BigTex.com/NewFoods.
NEW 2024 STATE FAIR OF TEXAS FOODS
* 2024 semi-finalist dishes will also be offered at this year’s Fair; 2024 semi-finalists listed below are marked with an asterisk.
BESO DE ANGEL*
Tony & Terry Bednar of Tony’s Taco Shop LLC
Located at Tony’s Taco Shop in the Tower Building and on Lonestar Blvd.
Inspired by the beloved flavors of traditional Mexican desserts, specifically the buñuelo and fresas con crema, a true masterpiece has been created that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Bite into a taco base made from a sugary fritter that’s generously filled with a family-secret sweet crema, delicious strawberry preserves, a splash of heavenly whipped cream, cajeta (caramel), and sweet condensed milk. Each one is topped off with fresh slices of strawberries that add a refreshing touch. This kiss of angelic sweetness will transport you to a dessert paradise.
BLUEBONNET BLISS
Brandon Coston of EMC New Beginnings LLC
Located at Dippin’ Dots® Ice Cream throughout the fairgrounds
Nothing says Texas like the new Bluebonnet Bliss by Dippin’ Dots®. Indulge in the classic Vanilla Ice Cream Dippin’ Dots® mixed with the fan-favorite Cherry ‘n Blue Razz Icee® flavor. This flavorful duo was created just for the Fair and is hand-mixed just for you! Stop by their Midway booth or at the newly renovated stand by the Front Gate.
CARAMEL MACCHIATO FRITTERS*
Clint Probst of Concession Staffing Services, LLC
Located at both Crazy Ottos and Gulf Coast Grill Locations on First Ave. and Big Tex Circle
A classic, heaping serving of delicious caramel forms the nucleus of these creamy coffee cake balls. Each cake ball is dipped in beignet batter and fried until golden brown. With three to an order, these Caramel Macchiato Fritters are garnished with whipped cream, caramel, and white chocolate drizzle. You didn’t think we forgot the coffee, did you? For a finishing touch, use your syringe full of espresso to inject into every delicious bite! Coffee chains, beware…there’s a new Macchiato in town!
CHEESECEPTION
Cheyne Hickey of Lil Red’s
Located at Stay Cheesy in the Tower Building
One heck of a sandwich! No—you’re not seeing double. This is a sandwich inside of a sandwich! Savory mushrooms, crisp arugula, and prosciutto with melty, sweet, and smoky cheeses, all in between classic grilled cheeses. All the flavors to make your taste buds and your stomach want more.
CHEESY BERRY
Jose Cano of FRUTERIA CANO
Located at Fruteria Cano throughout the fairgrounds
Calling all cheesecake fans! This delectable, sweet treat takes on the classic cheesecake by adding extra ingredients to make a flavorful blend you can’t refuse. Sweet strawberries in a tickled pink cream are layered with delicious bites of cheesecake pieces and a milky cookie. Indulge in this unique culinary creation that is sure to be “berry” good!
CHURRO CRUMBLE CHEESECAKE
Stephen El Gidi of Drizzle Cheesecakes Inc.
Located at Drizzle Cheesecakes in the Tower Building
Introducing the Churro Crumble Cheesecake, a decadent fusion of sweet and savory flavors that’s sure to fascinate your taste buds. A rich, creamy slice of New York-style cheesecake is complemented by a thick, luscious coating of rich Belgian milk chocolate, then generously rolled in a layer of crushed churro crumbles, adding an irresistible crunch and a hint of cinnamon to every bite, and topped with a drizzle of golden, silky dulce de leche sauce, enhancing its sweetness with a caramelized touch. Finally, a dusting of powdered sugar crowns this indulgent treat, and warm churro bites lay atop, creating a picture-perfect dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Savor the harmony of textures and flavors in the Churro Crumble Cheesecake, and experience dessert like never before.
COOKIE BUTTER NACHOS*
Shirley Weiss of Weiss Enterprises
Located at Big Al’s Grill and Texas Burgers, Dogs, and More on Lonestar Blvd. and Cotton Bowl Plaza
Discover a whole new level of nacho love with Cookie Butter Nachos! These nachos take the concept to a whole new level by using freshly fried flour tortilla chips coated in a heavenly blend of cinnamon sugar. The highlight of this indulgent treat is the generous scoop of homemade cookie butter cheesecake filling, which adds a creamy and rich element to the dish. To further elevate the taste, dollops of homemade cream cheese icing are generously added on top, followed by a drizzle of gooey caramel sauce. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of crushed Biscoff® cookies, providing a delightful texture to this extraordinary dessert.
CROOKIE*
Tammy Stiffler of Stiffler Concession LLC
Located at Stiffler’s Moms Cookie Factory on Funway
A Croissant meets a cookie to create the delicious Crookie! A flaky croissant is sliced and filled with cookie dough. Then, it’s closed up and topped with, you guessed it… more cookie dough! This sweet treat gets thrown in the oven to bake, and then it’s finished off with a drizzle of syrup. With three mouthwatering options to choose from, these Crookies are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you get one by itself or get three to share with family and friends, there are Cookies for all!
DEEP FRIED TABLITAS
Cody & Lauren Hays of Texas Holy Catering and Concessions LLC
Located at Texas Holy Fried Ribs and Fusion BBQ in the Tower Building
Battered, juicy short ribs are fried to golden brown deliciousness. Served with a fried jalapeño, fresh lime slices, a sprinkle of Cotija cheese, and three different dipping sauces to choose from, you’ll be sure to enjoy this State Fair of Texas twist on traditional Mexican-style short ribs!
DICKEL’S TRIPLE MEAT BIG BACK SNACK*
Tino Sosa of BBT Concessions Inc.
Located at Dickel’s Smokehouse at Cotton Bowl Plaza and First Avenue
This Texas-sized indulgence is presented with a boastful five layers and seven tantalizing flavor profiles. The base consists of abuela’s cherished elote street corn recipe, including a fusion of roasted sweet corn, lime, butter, cumin, and chili powder. Following suit is a portion of succulent smoked chopped beef brisket that paves the way for a delightful serving of gourmet smoked gouda mac and cheese. A buttermilk biscuit crowned with tender cubes of Hogzilla Pork Belly Burnt Ends, slow-smoked to perfection and coated in a house-made sauce, completes this tower of flavors. Still hungry? A savory, loaded nacho beef brisket sausage link is halved and adorns the cup’s interior, accompanied by heavenly deep-fried crinkle-cut maple waffle-flavored potato slices on top. Bon Appétit!
FAT BACON PICKLE FRIES*
Isaac Rousso of Taste of Cuba LLC
Located at Magnolia Beer Garden on Grand and First Avenue
These deliciously perfect slivers of dill pickles are battered and fried until golden brown. They are lightly dusted in a spicy ranch pepper seasoning. Lastly, they are ladled with the perfect blend of queso with just a hint of heat. As if it wasn’t perfect enough, this masterpiece is topped with thick-cut maple caramelized bacon chunks, sour cream, jalapeños, and chives for an explosion of flavor.
FERNIE’S FRUIT QUENCHERS
Johnna McKee & Christi Erpillo of Winter Family Concessions LLC
Located at The Dock on Nimitz Drive
Looking for a new twist to a simple fruity refreshment? Look no further than the brand-new Fernie’s Fruit Quenchers, a creative alcohol-free alternative for fairgoers seeking more than just lemonade or soda on a hot day. Winter Family Concessions has mixed the refreshing flavors of Jarritos® Mexican soda, club soda, and fresh herbs and fruit for three delicious options! Choose between pineapple jalapeño, rosemary mandarin, or grapefruit basil, and if you want it spiked, ask for it with Champagne, prosecco, or one of their wine-based vodka offerings.
FERNIE’S GOAT FUNNEL CAKE
Johnna McKee & Christi Erpillo of Winter Family Concessions LLC
Located at The Dock and Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory at Grand Area
Four Greatest of All Texas (GOAT) flavors in one dish? Fernie’s GOAT Funnel Cake has just that! A homage to the booth namesake, co-owners Johnna and Christi incorporated four of their mother’s favorites into one tasty dessert. A beloved Fernie’s funnel cake is loaded with creamy Blue Bell® vanilla ice cream, then drizzled with Cherry Dr Pepper® syrup. Topping it off are Fernie’s favorite El Fenix® pralines, making for a quartet sure to satisfy DFW-area natives and visitors looking for a taste of Texas alike. If you’re in the mood for something sippable, try the float alternative – Dr Pepper® with scooped vanilla Blue Bell® and topped with El Fenix® pralines. Craving that classic funnel cake flavor? Get it spiked with Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cocktail to give it a fair-time kick!
FRIED MATCHA
Keith Tran of Perfect Timing Concepts LLC dba Sandoitchi
Located at Sandoitchi in the Tower Building
Sandoitchi’s new State Fair of Texas creation, Fried Matcha, celebrates matcha in two delicious ways. The first is Fried Mochi Matcha Ice Cream, a crispy, deep-fried treat with a chewy mochi shell. The second is the Fried Matcha Sando, featuring deep-fried Japanese milk bread filled with rich matcha Chantilly cream, topped with fresh strawberries and matcha biscuit sticks for an extra layer of flavor and texture.
HAMMY PIMENTO MELTDOWN*
Michelle Edwards of J3M2Services
Located at Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in the Tower Building
A grilled pimento cheese sandwich with black forest ham is a delicious twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich. The grilled black forest ham joins the rich pimento cheese made fresh daily on Texas Toast and is then grilled to crispy, golden, gooey goodness. The combination of smoke from the ham and tanginess from the pimento cheese creates a harmonious balance of flavors that is sure to satisfy any craving for a savory, cheesy treat!
HOLY CHEESEUS
Stephan Nedwetzky of TEXAPOLITAN PIZZA
Located at Texapolitan on Lonestar Blvd.
Introducing Holy Cheeseus — a slice of pizza so large and savory, it could satisfy even Big Tex! This heavenly white pie starts with a three-day fermented dough, resulting in a perfectly crispy crunch with every bite. Layered with a rich seven-cheese blend including Pecorino Romano, mozzarella, sharp provolone, asiago, and Parmesan-Reggiano. In between the layers of cheesy bliss, a garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil flows like golden streams across the slice. Adorned with white peaks of a whipped ricotta and mascarpone blend, this slice of pizza is then finished with freshly cracked black pepper and a drizzle of Stefan’s hot honey. One bite will have your taste buds in pure paradise!
ISLAND RUMBLE
Lacy Phillips of Cooking With Lacy Mac Loaded
Located at Mac Loaded on Nimitz Drive
Sail away to flavor paradise with our Island RUM-ble Bowl! Dive into a medley of Caribbean flavors with a base of extra creamy mac and cheese and topped with juicy flame, grilled to perfection jerk chicken that is marinated in a special pineapple rum jerk marinade. Garnished with a tangy homemade pineapple pico salsa and a flavorful spicy jerk crema, each bite is a tropical getaway for your taste buds! Come on down and let your senses set sail with every delicious forkful! One Love never tasted so good!
IT’S BANANAS…. B-A-N-A-N-A-S*
Michelle Edwards of J3M2Services
Located at Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in the Tower Building
It’s Bananas…B-A-N-A-N-A-S. This classic banana shake with banana pudding on top is a delicious concoction that starts with a creamy banana-flavored milkshake base. An addition of banana pudding adds an extra layer of flavor and creaminess that is then topped with whipped cream, Nilla wafers, chocolate-covered bananas, and a caramel drizzle. This mixture of ingredients brings a delightful blend of creamy, fruity, and crunchy textures with a touch of chocolate decadence. Treat your taste buds to this classic shake with a Texas twist!
LAY’S® POTATO CHIP DRINK*
Milton & Grace Whitley of Homestyle Products, LLC
Located at Milton’s at Front Gate, Tower Building, and Lonestar Blvd.
See chips in a whole new light with the LAY’S® Potato Chip Drink – a daring blend where sweet meets a thrilling heat capturing the newest flavors of America’s favorite chip in every sip. This vibrant hand-shaken concoction combines the sweet lushness of mango and a signature blend of citrus juices with a fiery kick of hot honey, jalapeño infused syrup, and artfully placed strawberry drizzle. Each sip is smoothed over with a layer of cool, sweet foam, then topped with LAY’S® Sweet & Spicy Honey Potato Chips for a playful crunch and a spicy adventure. Sip it if you dare!
MACARON ICE CREAM TOWER
Sandy Duncan of Pound Cake Experts
Located at Pound Cake Experts in the Tower Building
Grab your passports and cowboy boots for this French cuisine with a country twang that’ll have you line-dancing between “Bonjour” and “Howdy.” This macaron tower features six decadent flavors – lemon joy, red raspberry, triple chocolate, vanilla bean, creamy caramel, and pistachio, soaring high above a sea of soft-serve vanilla ice cream. Don’t be a loner; drizzle with luscious caramel, strawberry, and chocolate syrup.
OKTOBERFEST PIZZA*
Tom Grace of TS Food Systems
Located at Pizza by the GIANT Slice in the Tower Building, MLK Blvd., and First Avenue
Did you say, “Sauerkraut on a pizza?!” Well, the great State Fair of Texas does take place every October, and no one celebrates like we do! Pizza and beer have always been a great match, and this pizza was created to thrill Oktoberfest and pizza enthusiasts alike. Take some of the most iconic culinary staples of German cuisine and pile them on State Fair of Texas style. A handmade pizza dough that bakes to a buttery crunch is topped with a crave-worthy base of spicy mustard-infused white cream sauce and covered with a gooey, tangy blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Lastly, that melty goodness is topped with thinly sliced German sausage, crispy, skillet-fried German potatoes, sautéed onions, green peppers, and, of course, SAUERKRAUT!
PORK BELLY CEVICHE TAMALES
Jesus Carmona of Milagro Taco and Chimichurri
Located at Milagro Taco Cantina on Lonestar Blvd.
A savory soft corn tamal is topped with fried, crispy pork belly, fried yuca, sweet plantains, and fresh pico de gallo, making for a savory mixture of delectable flavors. To top it off, this dish is drizzled with jalapeño glaze and garnished with micro greens that offer a slight kick of heat and spice.
PULLED PORK ARANCINI
Massimiliano Tosi of EATALY DALLAS LLC
Located at EATALY in Cotton Bowl Plaza
Sink your teeth into perfectly golden, crispy rice balls bursting with smoky barbecue flavor. Our Pulled Pork Arancini are the ultimate fusion of Italian and Southern comfort cuisine, crafted with perfectly al dente risotto, creamy scamorza cheese, and tender pulled pork. Enjoy this classic Italian treat with a Texas twist, which is sure to deliver an irresistible crunch and flavor with every bite.
STANDING ON BUSINESS*
Juan & Brent Reaves of Smokey John’s Inc.
Located at Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que on Funway, Nimitz Drive, and Cotton Bowl Plaza
When you’re standing on business, you lack nothing, just like this dish. Homemade salted caramel ice cream is placed in a sugar cone bowl, then topped with a freshly baked, spicy dark chocolate cookie created exclusively for the State Fair of Texas by Cookie Society. Resting on the decadent cookie is a piece of deep-fried sweet potato pie dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce, and topped with whipped cream and a cherry. This mammoth sundae is finished with an appeal to that inner child in all of us that solves the culinary dilemma of craving savory after the sweet: a few French fries and a crispy, juicy chicken wing. That’s why this new State Fair of Texas delight is Standing on Business.
VERY BERRY COCONUT PARFAIRY
Stephen Alade of Doc’s Catering & Grill, LLC
Located at Doc’s Street Grill on MLK Blvd.
This refreshing summer dessert starts with a tasty lemon pound cake alongside layers of fresh blueberry compote syrup, coconut cream custard, and vanilla yogurt. It’s then topped with fresh whipped cream, blueberry, pineapple, and shaved coconut. It’s a light and refreshing blend that shares some of the key components of a strawberry shortcake and yogurt parfait with a tarty twist along the way. You’ll be “berry” glad you indulged in this sweet treat!
WHOLE BUNDT OF KISSES*
Christopher Easter & Nicole Sternes of SouthSide The Realest
Located at Southside Steaks and Cakes in Cotton Bowl Plaza
This captivating creation features a deep-fried 7UP® bundt cake enveloped in a signature batter. Fresh from the fryer, the cake is filled with mouthwatering Belgian chocolate, resulting in a satisfying volcanic eruption of flavors. Adorned with crumbled homemade chocolate chip cookies and miniature kisses, dusted with powdered sugar, and crowned with a full-sized Hershey’s® on a pillow of whipped cream and a sprinkle of edible silver glitter, this dessert becomes irresistible to fairgoers of all ages.
Learn about all the new concessions here:
You can download a map on our website for all the locations of the 2024 New Foods at BigTex.com/NewFoods.
The 2024 State Fair of Texas will open on Friday, September 27, and run through Sunday, October 20. Daily admission tickets are available now at BigTex.com/Tickets.