State Fair News

State Fair of Texas reveals winners in 2022 Big Tex fried food awards

This is what you call a fried BLT.

State Fair of Texas

The 2022 batch of fried foods has arrived: The State Fair of Texas has chosen the finalists for its annual Big Tex Choice Awards, with 10 state fair vendors who will compete for acclaim with their various kooky concoctions.

This year's competition drew 51 entries from 36 concessionaires. Entries are evaluated on uniqueness, creativity, presentation, and taste.

The finalists will participate in a competition on August 28 when a panel of judges gives three awards, for Best Taste – Savory, Best Taste – Sweet, and Most Creative.

UPDATE 8-28-2022: The winners are as follows:

Best Taste – Savory: Fried Charcuterie Board
Best Taste – Sweet: Peanut Butter Paradise
Most Creative: Cha-Cha Chata

The finalists are:

SAVORY

Chicharron Explosion Nachos, Glen & Sherri Kusak
Fried pork rinds with Cajun-style seasonings topped with beef fajita meat, queso, and BBQ chopped beef.

Deep Fried BLT, Tom Grace
A 12-inch rectangular tortilla filled with bacon and cheddar cheese is fried, then used as sandwich bread to hold lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Served with garlic parmesan potato chips.

Deep Fried Lasagna Roll, Parish Family
Lasagna made with ricotta, parmesan, provolone, mozzarella, and meat sauce is rolled, dipped in cheddar-herb batter, fried, then garnished with marinara, mozzarella, and basil. Served with zucchini fries.

Fried Charcuterie Board, Tami Nevins-Mayes & Josey Mayes
Mozzarella, salami, and green apple wrapped in a wonton wrapper and fried, topped with goat cheese and hot honey.

Holy Biscuit, Isaac Rousso
Biscuit topped with brisket, street corn queso, bacon, honey, and fried pickles.

SWEET

Cha-Cha Chata, Garza Family
Horchata milkshake with caramel, cinnamon, whipped topping, crushed candy, cinnamon galletas de gragega, and fried arroz con leche bites.

Deep Fried Rocky Road with Blue Bell Ice Cream, Cody & Lauren Hays
Rocky Road fudge coated with batter and fried, drizzled with chocolate syrup, sweetened condensed milk, mini marshmallows, and cinnamon glazed nuts, served with a cup of Blue Bell Ice Cream vanilla ice cream.

La Bluebonnet, Milton & Grace Whitley
Citrus juice, blueberries, and sugary base poured over ice.

Peanut Butter Paradise, Chris Easter & Nicole Sternes
Honey bun injected with caramel, topped with peanut butter, Reese's Pieces, Crushed Butterfinger, peanut butter cups, and more caramel.

The Ultimate Brookie Monster, Juan & Brent Reaves
A "brookie" consisting of a brownie with chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, and marshmallows baked inside, then battered and fried. Served with vanilla ice cream, then topped with cheesecake crumbles and strawberry sauce.

The 2022 State Fair of Texas will open on Friday September 30 and run through Sunday October 23. Here's how to get every possible discount.

state-fair awards

Craft Beer News

Lakewood Brewing brings Fort Worth favorite Rahr beers to Dallas

Photo by Mary Tuab/Flickr

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands.

Longtime Fort Worth craft beer name Rahr & Sons Brewing is about to surface in a new location: The brewery, which exited its longtime brewery space in Fort Worth in 2025, has entered a new partnership with another acclaimed brewery: Lakewood Brewing of Dallas.

The new partnership will expand production capacity for select Rahr brands, bringing together two of North Texas’ most respected craft brewing pioneers.

"Rahr Brewing has been seeking additional brewing capacity to help meet increasing Dallas demand," their statement says. "Under this new agreement, Lakewood Brewing will produce certain Rahr brands at its Dallas facility, while Rahr will continue brewing beer in Fort Worth."

As an added benefit to the new partnership, Rahr beers will be served on tap at the Lakewood Brewery taproom.

Rahr left their Fort Worth location after 20 years, with a goal to find a new home. (Their space was taken over by Blue Flag whiskey distiller.) Rahr has continued to brew their beers, maintaining their availability in restaurants, bars, and stores.

Craft beer pioneer Fritz Rahr debuted his namesake brewery in 2004, back when Fort Worth was “very much a Miller-Coors town,” as he said in 2024. They went on to establish themselves as the godfather of Fort Worth's craft beer scene, thanks to an evolving roster of beers that range from classics like Texas Red American ale to newer favorites like Dadgum IPA — earning them critical nods such as a CultureMap Tastemakers Award nomination in 2023 for Brewery of the Year.

Founded by craft beer aficionado Wim Bens in 2012, Lakewood Brewing has become one of Texas’ most recognized independent craft breweries, winning numerous awards. Their tap room on the east side of Dallas is a popular beer hound haunt.

With the new partnership, the two brands will collaborate on brewing projects, special releases, community events, and initiatives that celebrate the vibrant culture of North Texas craft beer.

“This partnership is built on friendship, mutual respect, and a shared belief in the future of Texas craft beer,” says Fritz Rahr in a statement.

“Together, we can continue to innovate while honoring the traditions that have made both of our breweries successful," Wim Bens says. “Rahr Brewing has long been a cornerstone of the North Texas brewing community. We are excited to produce some of their brands here at our brewery.”

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Celestina Blok contributed to this story.

craft-beer openings