Big Tex Burned

Big Tex is a 52-foot tall Cowboy made of fabric over a metal frame. he has been greeting people at the Texas State Fair (in Dallas) since 1952, and the fair was celebrating his 60th "birthday" this year. But last Friday disaster struck, and Big Tex burned -- leaving only the metal skeleton. It is not yet know what started the fire, but it could have been electrical since the head and mouth are controlled with electricity.

The good news is that State Fair spokesperson Sue Gooding predicts Big Tex will be back on duty when the 2013 State Fair opens. She said, "He'll be back, bigger and better than ever."

NOTE -- The real surprise is that Texas Republicans have not yet blamed President Obama for the burning of Big Tex. But that will probably come. After all, they've blamed him for everything else.

New Fried Delicacies At Texas State Fair

It's getting close to time for the annual state fair here in Texas, which also bills itself as the Fried Food Capital of Texas because of all the fried food delicacies that can be found on the Midway. And it's also time to determine what the best new fried foods will be out of all the new concoctions submitted. Each year the Fair awards two prizes -- one for the best tasting new fried food, and another for the most creative new fried food.

This years award for most creative new fried food went to Deep-Fried Bubblegum. It's not actually bubblegum, but bubblegum-flavored marshmallows dipped in batter and deep-fried, then decorated with icing and powdered sugar. I think I gained a pound just thinking about eating that.

The food that won the best-tasting award isn't something on a dieter's menu either. It's called Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack -- a strip of buffalo chicken coated with flapjack batter and rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs before deep-frying. It is then served with a side of syrup. Yum.

Here's how the Fort Worth Star-Telegram described the other new fried foods that were submitted for judging:

Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake, featuring pineapple rings dipped in cake batter, fried, topped with a glaze made of caramel, sugar and cinnamon and served with a cherry on top. Deep Fried Texas Salsa showcased a medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato and pepper that are rolled together, dipped in masa and crunchy tortilla chips and deep fried. It's served with queso.

El Bananarito is a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. It's topped off with hot caramel or chocolate syrup. Fried Autumn Pie features a puff pastry filled with pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar and fall spices. It's deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon and sugar.

Hans' Kraut Ball melds browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, sauerkraut, mustard and seasonings into a ball that's covered with bread crumbs, deep fried and served with spicy mustard, raspberry chipotle or ranch. And the Walking Taco, which features seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream and tasty salsa that's served up in a Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos bag.

New Deep-Fried Treats For State Fair

The Texas State Fair will be cranking up again very soon. It is scheduled to run from September 24th through October 17th this year. That means it's time to see what new deep-fried treats will be available for Fair-goers. The Fair proclaims itself to be "the fried food capital of Texas for 24 days" and each year it offers prizes for Best Tasting New Item and for Most Creative New Item.

The prize winners won't be declared until September 6th but the eight finalists have already been named (out of 62 entries), and there's some pretty weird stuff being fried up this year. In fact, two of the new offerings will require the purchaser to show some ID before they can buy them -- deep-fried beer and deep-fried frozen margaritas. State Fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding said, "When you bite into it, the beer really does pour out."

Here are the eight finalists for this year's prizes (which will be judged by members of the media):

* deep-fried beer

* deep-fried frozen margarita

* deep-fried smores pop-tart

* deep-fried club salad (spinach wrapped around diced ham and chicken, carrots, lettuce, cheese and bacon)

* deep-fried "caviar" (made of black-eyed peas)

* deep-fried lemonade

* deep-fried Frito chili pie

* deep-fried chocolate (a white chocolate candy bar wrapped in a brownie and dipped in chocolate cake batter)

Gooding said she didn't know how many calories the individual items had. I would venture to guess though that none of the items would be appropriate for inclusion in a diet plan.

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UPDATE (2/7/10) -- The winners have been announced:

Best Taste Award -- deep-fried Frito chili pie

Most Creative Award -- deep-fried beer

State Fair's Newest Food Delicacy

Each year before the Texas State Fair opens, they have a contest to determine the best new foods to be offered at the fair. It's called the Big Tex Choice Awards, and awards are given for "best tasting" and "most creative". Yesterday, the winners of this year's awards were announced.

The Best Tasting Award went to Fernie's Deep Fried Peaches And Cream (pictured). The dish was created by Christi Erpillo and named after her mother. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, "The dessert was made by deep frying peaches dipped in a batter that included cinnamon, ginger and coconut, drizzling raspberry sauce on top and adding vanilla butter cream icing on the side for dipping."

Good grief, I'm getting fatter just thinking about it! Last year's Best Tasting Award went to Chicken Fried Bacon. The Texas State Fair just doesn't cut a guy on a diet any slack at all!

The Most Creative Award this year went to Abel Gonzalez for his deep fried butter dish. A lover of buttered toast, Gonzalez wrapped seasoned butter in a dough and deep fried it. He fixes the dish in four different flavors -- regular butter, garlic, grape and cherry.

Oh, screw the diet! I want some of everything!

New State Fair Treat

I can see I'm going to have to stay away from the State Fair of Texas this year. I've never been able to turn down food, especially something deep-fried. Just ask my doctor -- most of my check-ups are dedicated to discussing my eating habits, and I know she wouldn't approve of the new treats being offered at the fair this year.

I have a love affair with bacon, and a state fair vendor Glen Kusak has discovered a way to make it even unhealthier (and probably tastier) than it already is. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram describes this treat as "thick, peppery bacon that is seasoned, double-dipped in batter, breaded, then deep-fried. It is served with ranch or honey-mustard sauce."

I know I'd never be able to turn that down, or even stop with eating only a reasonable portion. And I'm sure I'd have to top it off by eating some other deep-fried treat (ice cream, candy bar, etc.), so I guess I'd better stay at home this year.

I actually like my doctor, and I'd hate to give her a heart attack when she reads my lab results at my next check-up.