I like the history of  the Big Texas Choice Awards (BTCA) and the vendors who make them as much as I like eating the food!!

Every year when the finalists are announced, I try to guess which vendor submitted each entry. It’s getting harder with a wide variety of vendors that have multiple stands and food offerings, but I still keep trying. Below is each entry, what their stand is called, how long they’ve been at the fair, and whether I guessed them as the crazy food creator.

The next step in the Big Tex Choice Awards is a judging event (which is usually live-streamed) where three winners will be chosen. Awards are given for the Best Taste – Savory, Best Taste – Sweet, and Most Creative, which can be either sweet or savory.

What I look forward to most is the New Foods list, which comes out after the Big Tex Choice Awards, and includes new-to-the-fair vendors and their offerings, goodies from new stands by previously established concessionaires, and BTCA entries that didn’t advance to the finals. I’ll definitely have something to say about that as well as a number of articles about the State Fair of Texas. Here in Dallas, the fair is truly a whole season unto itself!!

SAVORY

Dominican Fritura Dog – Justin Martinez

Trio on the Green – Opened in 2015, but Justin’s dad Rudy opened a stand at the fair in 1978 and now the family has four stands. They’ve been frequent finalists, and have won Most Creative multiple times: Fried Bubble Gum (2011), rolled Fried Thanksgiving Dinner balls (2013) Funnel Cake Ale (2014) Cotton Candy Taco (2018)

Martinez is also a finalist in this year’s Sweet category. To my knowledge, this is the first time any concessionaire has had both sweet and savory finalists. I’m researching to see if this is correct.

Drowning Taquito – Tony and Terry Bednar

Tony’s Tacos – Opened at the fair in 2019. Last year they were finalists in the Sweet Category with their Sweet Encanto. I think they have multiple stands, but check the Big Tex Choice Awards map when it comes out.

Hippie Chips – Rose Mary and Tom Deschenes

Baileys (in the Tower Building Food Court) has been at the fair for more than 30 years. If I’m not mistaken this is their first time as a finalist.

Hot Chick-In-Pancake Poppers – Palmer & Amanda Fortune

Palmer’s Hot Chicken – This local Dallas restaurant first opened a stand at the fair in 2022. This is their first finalist award.

I guessed this one. (Easily.)

Texas Fried Burnt End Bombs — Nick and Vera Bert

Bert’s – The Bert family has had a business at the State Fair of Texas since 1919, and they’re now on the fourth generation of family owners/workers! 

They have had many previous finalists and won Best Taste in 2010 for their Texas Fried Frito Pie. In 2020 when the fair was canceled, the State Fair of Texas held a multiweek online poll called Fair Food Madness  The Bert’s fried Frito pie won the whole thing, so this dish is literally the Best of the Best  among Big Tex Choice Award Winners. (I eat these every year, and they’re still so, so good!)

More about the Bert family history.  

More about the craziness surrounding the Fried Frito Pie. 

 

SWEET

Nutty Bar-Laska – Tami Nevins Mayes and Josie Mayes

Nevins

This is the Nevins family’s 75th year at the fair. They’ve had semi-finalists over the years…maybe some finalists too, but I’m still checking. In 2022 they won Best Taste Savory for their Fried Charcuterie. 

Nevins runs multiple stands throughout the fairgrounds selling hamburgers, hot dogs, curly fries, ice cream and more. One of those is the Nevins Burger Place near the livestock barns.

Pro Tip: This stand will be open during the pre-fair horse shows at the Coliseum, which are free to attend. The Big Tex Choice Awards dishes can’t be offered before the fair opens, but there’s other great fair food available at the Nevins stand. This is a great way to experience part of the fair without ticket costs, parking issues, or large crowds.

Guessed this one.

Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick – Isaac Rousso

Magnolia Beer Garden is one of 9 (I think) stands the Russo family runs at the fair. They’ve been a frequent presence in the finalists and have won a few times. Their other stands include Cajun Cowboy and Holy Biscuit. Rousso has had nine previous Big Tex Choice Awards finalists and three winners. The most recent was Most Creative for their State Fair Cookie Fries in 2016.

Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignetffle – Justin Martinez

Trio on the Green – see above listing for Dominican Dog.

To my knowledge this is the first time a vendor has had finalists in both savory and sweet categories, but I am researching to confirm.

Texas Sugar Rush Pickles – Heather Perkins

Delicious Candy Pickles Factory opened at the fair for the first time in 2022. Last year, the first time they were eligible to enter the Big Tex Choice Awards, they had a semifinalist with the Fruity Pebbles Pickle, This is their first time as a finalist.

Guessed this one.

Tropical Two-Step Punch – Bihn Tran

The Pineapple Man – I can’t confirm how long this stand has been at the fair, but it’s a long time. They also have stands at Six Flags Over Texas, which have been there for many years. Their “newest” venture is at Traders Village in Grand Prairie, where their stands opened in 2020.

As far as I can confirm, this is their first time as a finalist in the State Fair of Texas BTCA.

Guessed this one.