There's a whole host of new fried delicacies and sweet treats to try at the State Fair of Texas this year and the NTX Now team ventured into Fair Park a few weeks ago to try some of the new offerings.
Here are some of their favorites:
Loaded Lone Star Rings
Located at The Dock on Nimitz Ave. and Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory on Grand Ave.
Loaded Lone Star Rings combine crispy, crunchy onion rings, spicy jalapeño popper filling, and smoky beef fajitas. They're served with a side of local Texas pickles and Fernie’s award-winning secret sauce.
"It's like Texas in a little fried ball," said NTX Now managing producer Bekah Morr. "I could eat 14 of those right now."
Texas Brisket Perogies
Located at Pierogizilla on the Funway
Fried potato and cheese pierogies topped with Texas smoked brisket, a creamy lime signature sauce, tangy pickled red onions, pickled Fresno peppers, and fresh cilantro.
"It's light, it's savory," NTX Now technical director Casey Cheek described. "The pickled onion, the sauces, the lime crema, the barbecue sauce — it's all working."
Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star
Located at Smokey Johnz Deli in Cotton Bowl Plaza & Smokey John’s on Nimitz Drive and the Funway
Hollowed out Twinkies® are filled with slow-smoked brisket, bacon, fresh jalapeños, and cream cheese. They are then dipped in special batter, rolled in panko breadcrumbs, deep fried and finished with a drizzle of raspberry chipotle sauce, bacon crumbles and fresh jalapeño slices.
"They take the cream filling out of the Twinkie, they stuff it with brisket," described host Ron Corning. "It's battered. It has a dipping sauce. It's really tasty. To me, the Twinkie sort of [tasted] like cornbread."
Matcha Parfait
Located at Sandoitchi in the Tower Building
This dessert combines layers of creamy matcha, soft sponge cake, and fresh seasonal fruit piled high into a colorful parfait.
"Super light, super fruity, super fresh," NTX Now host Miranda Suarez said. "If you are a matcha-hater, I think you would like this because it's really sweet and yummy. I could do about a hundred of these."
3D Fruit Ice Cream
Located at Yumi Ice Cream throughout the Fairgrounds
Creamy mango or peach ice cream is dipped in a thin chocolate shell shaped like a peach or mango.
NTX Now's live producer Julia Sewing was nearly at a loss for words when trying the peach flavored 3D fruit ice cream: "Oh my gosh, it looks like artwork," she said. "This is so beautiful. Shut up guys — it's so cute!"
Miranda Suarez and Ron Corning are the hosts of KERA's NTX Now. Got a tip? Email Miranda at msuarez@kera.org or Ron at rcorning@kera.org.
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