State Fair of Texas announces finalists for 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards

DALLAS – The State Fair of Texas is just under two months away and on Wednesday morning, fair officials announced the top 10 finalists for the 20th annual Big Tex Choice Awards.

After the first round of judging, 10 savory dishes and 14 sweet dishes made it to the semi-finals . Winners will be named in three categories: "Best Taste – Savory," "Best Taste – Sweet," and "Most Creative."

Karissa Condoianis, senior vice president of public relations of the State Fair of Texas, said there were a total of 65 entries this year. The entries ranged from Texas fried burnt end bombs and an Oktoberfest pizza, to frozen limoncello and cookie butter nachos.

The selection process for the competition consisted of internal judges who blindly tasted the food items. Judges based their scores on three criteria: fairgoer appeal, creativity and taste.

Fair officials will announce the final three winners on Aug. 22.

The State Fair of Texas kicks off Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 20.

2024 Big Tex Choice Awards savory finalists

Dominican Fritura Dog

This double-deep fried dish starts with fritura cheese and Dominican salami, is split open and topped with garlic plantain chips, a top-secret Dominican sauce and cilantro.

The Drowning Taquitos

Served in a cup, The Drowning Taquitos are fresh and hand-rolled corn tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken before being deep-fried. The taquitos are then drowned in a tangy cream sauce, jalapeno, guacamole salsa, shredded lettuce, avocado, tomatillo, pico and Cotija cheese.

Hippie Chips

These potato chip nachos are topped with bacon bits, fresh green onions, sriracha, the choice of homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing and blue cheese crumbles.

Hot Chick-in-Pancake Poppers

This savory yet sweet treat consists of Nashville hot chicken and pimento cheese before being rolled into a ball, dunked into pancake batter and fried until golden brown then topped with sriracha honey and hot powdered sugar.

Texas Fried Burnt End Bombs

These bombs consist of brisket wrapped with shredded potatoes, bacon and cheese before it's deep fried and topped with a raspberry BBQ glaze.

2024 Big Tex Choice Awards sweet finalists

Nevins Nutty Bar-laska

The classic nutty bar is topped with toasted marshmallow, two Oreos, strawberry sauce and freeze-dried strawberry pieces.

Rousso's Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick

It's exactly what it's called – a thick, 12-inch piece of bacon with a cotton candy glaze on top. It's then spun inside a cotton candy machine and torched to carmelize the center.

Strawberry Pop-Tarts Beignettfle

This sweet treat is a combination of a fluffy beignet and a crispy waffle, topped with homemade strawberry filling, a sweet vanilla icing, fresh whipped cream and colorful sprinkles.

Texas Sugar Rush Pickles

These cotton-candy-flavored pickle slices are coated in three different cereals – Lucky Charms, Froot Loops and Cap'n Crunch. They're then layered in cotton candy, cotton candy sugar crystals and powdered sugar before being drizzled with strawberry sundae syrup and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tropical Two-Step Punch

This punch gives fairgoers a taste of paradise. It's marinated with citrus fruits, passionfruit and mango overnight to create a crisp cooler that's fresh, tangy, sweet, sour and spicy. It's available in alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.