Fried Food News

Burnt ends make the cut in State Fair of Texas fried food awards finalists

State Fair Big Tex fried food burnt end burrito

That's a burnt end burrito.

Courtesy photo

The 15th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards, aka the "fried food awards," has narrowed down the list of finalists for the 2019 State Fair of Texas showdown.

The Dallas-based competition began in July, when 49 entries were submitted by 30 concessionaires. Of those entries, 33 were selected as semi-finalists, based primarily on whether they had a catchy name.

For this round, the entries were evaluated on four criteria: uniqueness, creativity, presentation, and taste.

On Sunday, August 25, three winners will be crowned in the categories of: “Best Taste – Sweet,” “Best Taste – Savory,” and “Most Creative.”

Here are the finalists:

SAVORY

Calypso Island Shrimp Bowl by Stephen Alade
Tropical cabbage stir fry with carrots, kale, scallions, ginger, and red bell peppers, served on yellow tropical rice topped with shrimp and a sweet and spicy tropical glaze.

Fernie’s Fried Burnt End Burrito by Winter Family Concessions
Burrito with burnt ends, pepper jack cheese, cream cheese, bacon, Mexican blend cheese, and diced jalapeños is fried, then cut in half and served with panko-crusted onion rings dusted with barbecue seasoning.

Ruth’s Stuffed Fried Mexi-Cone by Ruth Hauntz
Barbacoa served in an ice cream cone-shaped tortilla shell with black beans, and cilantro lime rice is topped with pico de gallo, queso fresco, and homemade salsa verde.

Southern Fried Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Ball by Greg Parish
Fried ball filled with fettuccine Alfredo, Southern-fried chicken bites, and mozzarella cheese; garnished with Alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese; and served with fried asparagus spears and a toasted garlic parmesan baguette.

Texas Cream Corn Casserole Fritters by Clint Probst
Cream corn casserole with a Texas twist: Cream corn, kernel corn, sour cream, cheddar cheese, cornbread mix, bacon, and diced jalapeños are formed into fritters and fried. Four to an order, served with a cream corn queso blanco dip.

SWEET

Big Red Chicken Bread by Brent & Juan Reaves
Fried chicken wing served on a doughnut that's frosted with Big Red-flavored frosting. So long, chicken and waffles.

Deep Fried Bayou Fruit Bites by Terrence & Lisa Henderson
Fruit wedges are battered, deep fried, and coated in a secret sweet confection, then finished with whipped topping and caramel sauce, with choice of additional toppings that include candy, chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, and assorted berries.

Fla’Mango Tango by The Garza Family
Fried mango pastry is drizzled with citrus glaze and whipped topping and served with strawberry mango sorbet.

Peanut Butter Cup Snookie by Michelle Edwards
Peanut butter cup cookie with vanilla ice cream adorned with caramel and chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and a cherry.

Quick Fried “Black Gold” Truffles by Glen & Sherri Kusak
Fried balls made from crushed thin chocolate cookies, cream cheese, and mini white chocolate chips, coated in a breading made from vanilla wafers, corn flakes, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Winners will be chosen on Sunday, August 25, at 2 pm in the historic Tower Building at Fair Park, Dallas. Tickets are $125 and are available online at BigTex.com/tickets.

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wave on wave

Exhibit on Jewish immigration to Texas lands at Galveston museum

Bryan Museum/Facebook

The Bryan Museum will open the new exhibit in November.

A new exhibit about the role Galveston played in bringing immigrants to Texas is set to open at the Bryan Museum. The exhibit will particularly highlight the wave of Jewish immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe in the early 1900s as they fled increasing persecution and pogroms.

Port of Promise: Jewish Pioneers of Texas explores the history of the Galveston Plan, sometimes known as the Galveston Movement. Between 1907 and 1914, roughly 10,000 Jews left Russia after a series of bloody pogroms sparked by conspiracy theories that Jewish leaders had assassinated Tsar Alexander II. Developed with support from the Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives at Rice University, it shows how these immigrants spread through Texas as pioneers and entrepreneurs, building communities in America.

“The impact of The Galveston Plan cannot be overstated. These determined individuals overcame tremendous obstacles to becoming some of the most successful and philanthropic people in the history of Texas,” said Charles C. Foster, immigration attorney and historian.

Port of Promise opens November 7 and runs through January 21, 2027. Admittance is included with general tickets.

Though the exhibit is primarily focused on the Galveston Movement, the island's role as one of the largest immigration hubs in the United States during the 1800s is also explored. Known as the Ellis Island of the West, Galveston handled around 200,000 immigrants between 1845 and 1948. For much of this time period, there were no restrictions on immigration into the U.S., and people from Europe, Latin America, and South America were all processed through the Port of Galveston.

According to Foster, the wave of Jewish migration sparked anti-immigrant backlashes in the Northeastern United States, prompting Jewish community leaders to direct migrants to Texas.

“With anti-immigration policies and anti-native sentiments rising, Galveston was strategically chosen as a great alternative to the crowded cities of the Northeast,” said Foster. “It wasn’t just a port; it was a plan. A way to welcome Jewish immigrants into the heart of the country instead of concentrating them on the East Coast.”

With immigration a hot button topic in contemporary politics, the Bryan Museum felt it was important to celebrate how much previous waves have contributed to Texas.

"Texas has always been shaped by people who arrived seeking opportunity and the chance to build a better future," said Melissa Williams Murphy, Bryan Museum executive director. "This exhibition honors the extraordinary contributions of immigrants whose impact continues to be felt across our state while ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations."

In addition to the exhibit, the Bryan Museum will also host three special public programs throughout the run. These include a panel talk with Foster on the Galveston Plan; a presentation by Robert Sakowitz on his family's luxury stores in the state; and a lecture by Dr. Nancy Katz on Jewish Texas before and after the Galveston Plan. Tickets for these events are separate from admission and must be reserved in advance through the Bryan Museum website.

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