State Fair Food News

Fried Jell-O takes it at State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Awards 2016

Fried Jell-O was a winner at the State Fair of Texas.

Photo by Jason Hays

Weirdest won the prize at the 2016 Big Tex Choice Awards, the annual food contest held by the State Fair of Texas. Fried Jell-O won the award for Best Taste. And the award for Most Creative went to State Fair Cookie Fries.

The awards were presented at an open-to-the-public event on August 28 in the Tower Building at Fair Park.

Fried Jell-O was submitted by Ruth Hauntz, who's been a concessionaire at the State Fair for 28 years. It's a classic cherry-flavored Jell-O in a panko-crusted breading that is fried, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with whipped cream and a cherry.

State Fair Cookie Fries have the appearance of classic crinkle-cut French fries, but are actually cookies, in chocolate chip or sprinkles flavors, served with strawberry or milk chocolate sauce. They're made by Isaac Rousso, who's been a finalist in the Big Tex Choice Awards for the past seven years; he won last year's Most Creative award, for his Smoky Bacon Margarita.

They won over a field of semifinalists that included Caribbean Pineapple Korn-a-Copia, Bacon Burger Dog Slider on a Stick, Pulled Pork Funyun Dings, Chicken Pot Pie Pocket with Mac 'n' Cheese Dip, Injectable Great Balls of BBQ, and Southern Fried Chicken & Dumplins.

Judges this year included bull rider Don Gay, blogger Mai Lyn Ngo, radio personality Dan O’Malley, chef Kent Rathbun, and Dallas City Council member Tiffinni Young.

The sixth judge was Jon Gonzalez, an audience member whose name was picked from a random drawing at the event.

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Taco News

Award-winning Dallas chef launches taquito concept at Oomi Kitchen

Yelp

Revolver Taco Lounge is known for its tacos.

An award-winning Dallas chef is taking on taquitos: Called Taquitos Ross, it's a new brand from Regino Rojas, owner of Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum, who will bring his celebrated flavors and techniques to Oomi Kitchen, the digital food hall on 3510 Ross Ave.

Taquitos Ross will be available through the oomi ordering platform and will make its debut on November 19 — bringing a fresh addition to Oomi’s diverse lineup of food concepts.

The focus will be on taquitos filled with premium carefully-prepared ingredients. The opening menu will feature:

Carnitas taquitos
Chicken Tinga taquitos
inventive nachos

Taquitos consist of a rolled-up tortilla filled with ingredients and deep-fried until crisp. So far, they have not been "elevated." The partnership with Oomi promises not only to elevate the taquito experience — taking it from crunchy snack to refined, flavorful dish — it will also bring Rojas' food to a wider audience. Rojas opened Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum in 2017.

Oomi founder Markus Pineyro says in a statement that "We’re incredibly honored to work with chef Rojas on Taquitos Ross. His passion for quality and tradition aligns perfectly with our mission to bring exceptional, creative food to our customers. Taquitos Ross is a brand that we believe will not only bring people together but also spark a love for taquitos like never before.”

Pineyro is a career innovator who previously founded the Urban Taco chain in 2007, helping pave the way for chains such as Velvet Taco. He founded Oomi Kitchen, a digital food hall just outside downtown Dallas in 2022, as a one-stop shop for bold concepts, with a focus on delivery and take out. Customers can order from multiple concepts at once — providing a solution for groups with varying tastes — with $2 delivery.

His innovation has put him on the national radar — even landing him an invitation in October to participate in a foodie promotion by the Nickelodeon channel that celebrated popular cartoon Spongebob Squarepants, along with a limited number of restaurants across the U.S.

Oomi house brands include: include Bodega Sandwiches & Wraps, Okie Dokie Smash Burgers, Love Bowls, Clucky’s Damn Good Chicken (fried chicken & wings), Savage Rabbit (salads), Hot Lips (Asian-inspired dishes) and Bowlrito (bowls and burritos). Partner brands currently offered include Urban Taco, Pacuigo, and Tribal Juices.

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