The annual State Fair of Texas has come and gone once again.  This year marks the first year since Trey was born that we have not made our annual pilgrimage to the fair.  We had planned to go on October 10 since it was an early release day for McKinney schools, but something about Matt having a ginormous lymph node removed from his neck prevented us from going.  Sheesh…the things some people will do to avoid the crowds at the fair.

What that means is that I did not get my once-a-year fix of Fletcher’s Corny Dogs or State Fair Funnel Cake.  I didn’t get to enjoy Fried Coke, or Fried Cheesecake, or Fried Peanut-Butter-and-Jelly, or any of those deep-fried delicacies one can only find at the fair.  It’s probably just as well since I don’t think those foods are on the South Beach diet.

A friend of mine sent me a list of the foods you can find at the fair – and I thought all 10 of my readers might get a kick out of seeing this menu.  Enjoy, and feel your arteries clogging as you read through it.

State Fair of Texas New Food Locator

Chicken Fried Bacon – Thick and peppery Farm Pac® bacon is seasoned, double-dipped in a special batter and breading and deep-fried. Served with a creamy side of ranch or honey mustard sauce.   Served at  N30 located on Nimitz at MLK. Winner of Best Taste in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Banana Split – A mixture of banana and honey peanut butter is rolled in balls, battered and deep-fried and topped with assorted, delicious fixings, including powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, chopped peanuts, whipped cream and banana split flavored ice cream bites then fittingly crowned with the traditional cherry.  Served at the Auto Grill inside the Automobile Building. Winner of Most Creative in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich – An American classic with a State Fair twist.  Two slices of white bread filled with a blend of American and cheddar cheeses, dipped in an egg and milk batter and lightly coated with panko bread crumbs for extra crispness. Served with a side of shoestring potato sticks, a pickle spear and tomato soup dipping sauce. The All American Meal!  Served in the Dock Restaurant inside the Embarcadero Building.  Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Texas Fried Jelly Belly Beans – Jelly Belly Beans are rolled in funnel cake batter and fried to a crunch.  People can share the treat with friends and try to guess the flavors before biting down.  Enjoy at the Granny’s Funnel Cake stand C6 at the south side of the Coliseum and at Rico’s Burgers, stand C7, behind Gateway Pavilion. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Deep Fried S’mores – Marshmallow cream and chocolate chips are sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in a feather-light batter and fried to a golden brown.  The campfire-inspired treats are dusted in powdered sugar. Included in the menu at stand N9 located near the Embarcadero entrance. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fire & Ice – A pineapple ring is battered and deep-fried, then topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen. The smoking concoction is ladled with strawberries and syrup.  Fire & Ice is served by Abel Gonzales at the family-run stand on Nimitz Drive. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Chocolate Truffles – A silky-smooth, handmade, dark chocolate truffle is rolled in cocoa powder before being battered and deep-fried.  The melting chocolate goodness is dusted in cinnamon, sugar and cocoa powder. Located at  N24 stand located on Nimitz near the entrance to the Creative Arts Showplace Theater. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls – Plump fresh strawberries covered in a thick chocolate shell are dipped in a sweet, waffle batter and deep-fried.  Dusted with powdered sugar and served on a stick.  Served at the Belgian Waffle stand G39 located on the NE corner of the Esplanade. Finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards competition.

Fried Pop Rocks Fundae Blast – Ignite your senses with this explosion of Tastes.  Fried Ice Cream covered in Hershey’s Syrup and Pop Rocks.  Your fuse is a Twizzler rolled in Pop Rocks.  While you disarm it, you’ll find an Atomic Fireball inside . . .“Fire in the Bowl”! Stand FW-22 located on Fun Way across from Lost Children Building.

Fried Dinner Roll – A savory dinner roll lusciously filled with cream cheese and covered with a sweet batter, placed on a stick and deep fried to perfection.  Stand TB-14 located in the Tower Building.

Fried Cake on a Stick – A delicious, chocolate covered white cake filled with strawberry jelly and cream, dipped in sweet batter and deep fried until golden brown and served on a stick! Stand TB-14 located in the Tower Building.

Green Bean Fries – Fresh Green Beans lightly battered, deep fried, and served with a side of cucumber ranch dressing for dipping!  BW’s Fried Ribs stand TB-1 in the Tower Building.

Texas Bar-B-Que Eggrolls – BW’s Chopped Beef in an eggroll wrap, deep fried to a delicate crispness, and served with BBQ sauce for dipping or ignite your senses further with a splash of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. BW’s Fried Ribs stand TB-1 in the Tower Building.

“Jalapeno” Deep Fried Gorditas – Jalapeno flavored gordita cooked on the grill and then deep fried, stuffed with beef, chicken, or bean & cheese, and finally topped with lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and cheese.  Festival Mexican Foods stand FW-25 located on Fun Way St.

Fried Apple iPie – A warm, delicious crispy fried apple pie with just a hint of cinnamon, is smothered in rich vanilla ice cream and topped with an edible iPod “like” mp3 player and whipped cream. Real working souvenir “ear-bud” earphones complete this tasty iPie experience!  Desperado’s stand N-19 located on Admiral Nimitz Circle.

Fried Snowballs – Fresh from the fryer!  A lightly battered Snowball (cupcake) dusted with powdered sugar!  Shirley London and Sons stand M-19 located on The Midway at the intersection of The Midway and Martin L. King Blvd.

Fried Honey Bun – A lightly battered Honey Bun, served fresh from the fryer with a light dusting of powdered sugar!  Shirley London and Sons stand M-19 located on The Midway at the intersection of The Midway and Martin L. King Blvd.

Deep Fried Apple Bites ­– Fresh cut apples dipped in a homemade batter, deep fried, and then covered with a caramel sauce and cinnamon topping!  Puff Palace Concessions stand FW-9 located on Fun Way Street near the intersection of Fun Way and Martin L. King Blvd.

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce – An old favorite returning after several years absence!  Warm bread pudding chock full of real butter, cream, and rich cinnamon flavor served with a creamy rum sauce.  Newport Concessions stands G-13, G-23, FW-33, FW-1, M-22 located throughout the grounds.

Mini Chopped BBQ Slider – Sweet, tangy and juicy chopped barbecue beef brisket on a mini bun.  Just the right size for a taste of Texas barbecue. N-11 The Dock and N-10 The Cantina located inside the Embarcadero Building, and at G-1 The Funnel Cake Stand on Grand Ave. across from the Old Mill Inn.

Mini Chicken Fried Steak Slider – A miniature crispy chicken fried steak patty served on a mini bun with a side of cream gravy.  A bite size version of “Big Texas Taste”.  Stand N-11 The Dock located inside the Embarcadero Building.

Dessert Shooters – A 3 oz. serving of rich and decadent desserts.  Your choice of three fabulous flavors: Chocolate Oreo Mousse, a layer of Oreo cookie crumbs, creamy chocolate pudding, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, sprinkled with more Oreos and a cherry on top: Strawberry Cheesecake, Graham cracker crumbs, classic cheesecake filling, strawberry sauce, whipped cream and more graham cracker crumbs: and  Vanilla Caramel Supreme, crushed Vanilla Wafers, creamy vanilla pudding, rich caramel sauce, whipped cream, sprinkled with more Vanilla Wafers and a cherry on top. N-11 The Dock and N-10 The Cantina located inside the Embarcadero Building.

Jalapeno Tamaritto – Ignite your taste buds with two Pedro’s Tamales wrapped in a  warm flour tortilla, topped with chili, cheese, and Pedro’s spicy Jalapeno relish! Pedro’s Tamales stand TB-18 located in the Tower Building.

Ignited Moon Pie­ – The Original Moon Pie, lightly battered and deep fried, then gently sprinkled with powdered sugar! Stand N-9 located near the Embarcardero Building entrance.

Fruit Bag Drinks ­– Fruit, juice and ice combined in a clear bag with a straw for slow sipping. Savor the flavor of the juice and then eat the fruit!  Benz Food Company stand CBP-1 located in Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Beefy Fried Queso Bites ­– Queso mixed with taco meat, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried.  Stand FW-46, Guacamole Paradise, located inside the Thrill Way Area.

Chick-a-Mole Bites – Guacamole mixed with a taco-flavor shredded chicken and cheddar/Monterey jack cheese, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried.  Served at Stand FW-46, Guacamole Paradise, located inside the Thrill Way Area.

Crispy Fried Cantaloupe Pie – Diced cantaloupe seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and coconut milk, rolled in a flaky pie pastry, and then deep fried.  Topped with powdered sugar and whip cream.  Gigi’s Food stand TB-22 inside the Tower Building.