State Fair Fried Food Wins

Carrot cake twist beat 'em all at State Fair's 2015 fried food awards

State Fair of Texas' 2015 Big Tex Choice Awards gave top prize to the only sweet entry.

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

Dessert won big at the 2015 Big Tex Choice Awards, the annual fried-food contest hosted by the State Fair of Texas. Winner for Best Taste went to Fernie's Holy Moly Carrot Cake Roly; Smoky Bacon Margarita won the award for Most Creative.

The carrot cake was the only sweet entry in a field otherwise dominated by savory items such as chicken-fried lobster and fried beer-battered buffalo. Did it give it an edge? In previous years, sweet items have often made up half the entries.

The carrot cake consisted of cinnamon bread, flattened, then filled with carrot cake, raisins, and julienned carrots. Then it's rolled in cream cheese and breaded in a mixture of panko, graham crackers, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

It came from Christi Erpillo, who has history with the fair: Her family introduced the funnel cake to the State Fair of Texas in the early 1980s.

The Smoky Bacon Margarita was a drink entry, following a new tradition created in 2014 with the very first beverage, and an alcoholic one at that: Funnel Cake Ale, which also won the Most Creative award. Created by Isaac Rousso, the margarita is a frozen lime imbued with bacon flavor and topped with bacon crumbles.

The State Fair elevated the contest this year to a more foodie level with the inclusion of ingredients such as lobster and buffalo, and the drafting of chef John Tesar among its judges. Joining him was Dallas Mavericks Devin Harris, former Dallas Cowboys Drew Pearson, local TV personality Dan Rodo, city council member Tiffinni Young, and audience member Bridget Russell. Emcee was talk show host Donovan Lewis of Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket.

According to a release, the fair has a new Big Tex mascot. There is also an additional food competition allowing fairgoers to vote for their favorite finalist. The winner will be announced on the final weekend. The State Fair of Texas opens September 25.

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Coming attractions

Celeb-magnet restaurant Delilah is ready for its Dallas debut

Facebook/Dallas Design District

Delilah will debut February 3 in the Dallas Design District.

Delilah, the glam Los Angeles supper club known for its celebrity clientele, live music, and chic art deco vibe, will officially make its Dallas debut next month.

The restaurant is set to open its doors in the Design District, at 1616 High Line Dr., on February 3, according to its official Instagram account.

It’s the fourth location for the Los Angeles-born Delilah, which first opened in West Hollywood in 2016. It has since expanded to include outposts in Las Vegas, Miami, and now, Dallas, where it will serve up a glam, modern supper club vibe alongside chic cocktails and classic American cuisine.

The Dallas outpost will bring Delilah’s classic, Roaring ‘20s inspired aesthetic to the Design District, along with an equally convivial atmosphere.

The “immersive” restaurant will boast live music, dancers, and “multiple performance moments,” according to a description shared by a representative. Delilah has a no-photos policy that is seriously maintained, too, which has helped it attract a devoted celebrity clientele in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami.

Delilah restaurant Dallas Delilah’will bring its classic, Roaring ‘20s inspired aesthetic to the Dallas Design District.Facebook/Dallas Design District

According to Vanity Fair, Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, John Mayer, and more A-listers are all fans of the establishment, thanks in part to their ability to dine in privacy. If you’re busted taking photos or video in Los Angeles, you’ll be politely escorted out by security.

“We built this place to protect our friends,” owner John Terzian told the outlet in 2023.

Delilah has not yet released the menu for the Dallas location, but the Los Angeles outpost serves everything from lobster rolls to baby back ribs slathered in barbecue sauce and paired with cole slaw. There’s also a lineup of steaks including a massive 32-ounce tomahawk ribeye, plus roasted chicken and sea bass served with lime and charred onion chimichurri.

During late night hours, the menu is pared back significantly to shareable snacks like chicken fingers and a $15 order of french fries showered in house seasoning — or truffle for 3 bucks more.

Delilah is currently accepting reservations via the platform SevenRooms starting on February 3 — but you might want to act fast, because they’re already getting snapped up quickly. At press time, all tables on opening day had already been reserved, and for the following day, only one spot at 11 pm still remained.

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