By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-922272.mp3
Dallas, TX – "Fried Beer" scores big in the 2010 State Fair of Texas taste test. KERA's BJ Austin says the winners of the annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced this morning.
In a first for the Big Tex Choice Awards, Brad Sham, play-by-play voice of the Dallas Cowboys did the honors.
Sham: The most creative new fried food is Fried Beer. Mark Zable come down and accept the award.
Fried Beer is a beer-filled pretzel pocket deep fried to a golden brown. Mark Zable operates the Belgian Waffle Stand at the Fair, and says winning is a dream come true.
Zable: It's fantastic.
Austin: How long did it take you to perfect it?
Zable: Almost three years to finally figure it out. I met with food scientists, no help. It was finally my four-and-a-half year old son who gave me the idea of what I could do to get it to work. I can't tell you that. It's part of the trade secret.
Sham: For the best tasting, new fried food at the State Fair of Texas it's Texas Fried Frito Pie from the Bert family, from Bert's Burgers and Fries on Cotton Bowl Plaza.
Nick Bert says he took a back-to-basics approach.
Bert: We wanted to find a good quality chili. You know Frito's got a name, good quality. And good cheese.
It's described as a medley of meaty, crunchy, salty, cheesy, and deep fried.
The 2010 State Fair of Texas opens September 24th.