State Fair News

Dallas restaurants sate your State Fair of Texas cravings with fried foods

Dallas will have plenty of State Fair-style fare.

Courtesy photo

The 2020 State Fair of Texas may be canceled, but Dallas will not lack for State Fair-inspired eats, with pop-ups and special menus galore.

The action kicks off on September 16, when the State Fair of Texas will install Big Tex in a big ceremony. The iconic statue is being erected, even despite the fair's cancellation, for two special drive-through events: a Big Tex photo opp and a fair food drive-thru. You can read all the details about those two events here.

The State Fair is also hosting "at home" activities such as cooking videos and virtual events, listed on their website under "Fair at home."

A number of restaurants and official State Fair vendors such as Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs have already started doing limited menus and pop-ups, most available from mid-September through October.

Here's another batch of places to get your State Fair-style corny dogs, funnel cakes, and more.

Ferris Wheelers
If any restaurant seems tailor-made for State Fair commiserating, it would be Ferris Wheeler, given the fact that they have a Ferris wheel on-site. The BBQ restaurant is hosting a State Fair-themed pop-up with their takes on Fair staples, along with their regular menu of smoked meats.

They'll set up vendor-style tents with the following:

Corny Dogs
Turkey Legs
Cotton Candy
Puffy Tacos

Texas-sized frozen margaritas seasonal craft beers will be available at the bar.

For the second year in a row, they're partnering with State Fair vendor Fernie's Funnel Cakes, who will be on site with funnel cakes and the widely successful burnt end burrito.

They'll also host an appearance by Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs on September 30.

Front Burner Restaurants
Several concepts in the Front Burner Restaurant group – including Haywire, Ida Claire, and The Ranch at Las Colinas – will offer curbside kits that feature original twists on traditional fair foods. These kits are available for curbside pickup, as follows:

Haywire's Country-Fried Mesquite-Smoked Rib Kit. Feeds four for $65. Includes Texas whiskey barbecue sauce, mac 'n cheese, creamy Napa slaw, cheddar jalapeño sausage, and cornbread. Oreo Fried Pies – Oreo icing filling and crushed Oreo cookies – can be added on for $5 each.
Ida Claire’s Southern Fare Kit. Feeds four for $40. Includes Andouille sausage corn dogs, grilled corn, beignets, and red beans and rice. Add peach cobbler waffle cones with bourbon buttercream for $5.
The Ranch at Las Colinas’ Country-Fried Mesquite-Smoked Rib Kit. Feeds four for $65. Includes Texas whiskey barbecue sauce, mac 'n cheese, creamy Napa slaw, grilled cheddar jalapeño sausage and, cornbread. Add an Oreo Fried Pie for $5.

Legacy Hall
Plano food hall has Fair-inspired items available at two of its food stalls:

Son of a Butcher will offer a funnel cake milkshake.
Brisket Love will have smoked turkey legs.

Mudhook
Duncanville gastropub has launched a limited-time menu inspired by Fair food.

They've taken inspiration from carnival food to bring a series of favorites to Duncanville until mid-October, including delicacies such as smoked turkey legs, although they'll still serve their regular menu of burgers and craft beer.

The special menu includes both snacks and cocktails as follows:

smoked turkey leg
corn pups – 10 mini corn dogs
chicks n' a cone – popcorn chicken and bacon, with maple syrup drizzled in a waffle cup
fish on chips – beer-battered cod on waffle hash browns with boom boom sauce
churro funnel cake – cinnamon & sugar with caramel drizzle
don michelada
mangonada
caramel apple shot

The Rustic
Uptown Dallas hangout is hosting a pop up from September 23-October 18 with foods, contests, games, and live music.

It'll launch on September 23 with a contest-style tasting starring Dallas influencers, ooooh, emceed by Rustic owner Kyle Noonan and TV personality Courtney Kerr.

The special menu includes:

Fried Brisket Mac & Cheese with ranch
Wood-Grilled Hot Cheetos Dusted Elote
Fried Pecan Turtle with Bourbon Whipped Cream
Lone Star Draft served in It’s Not Fair Stadium Cup

Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs will make three appearances, from 3-8 pm on September 23, October 1, and October 8.

Throughout the pop-up, fans who come dressed up will be entered into a costume contest with a chance to win a $50 gift card. Every Friday at 9:15 pm, the night's headlining artist will pick and announce the lucky winners.

The Rustic will also have "various animals" on its front yard for socially distanced photo opportunities. Exploiting animals by using them as props for our shallow selfies, there's an idea.

State Fair of Texas online awards
The State Fair of Texas is doing an online Big Tex Choice Awards bracket thing, in which you can vote for your favorite prior winner on BigTex.com/Madness. The First Round began September 15 and the whole thing ends on October 12.

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RIP Al

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat dies at 69 after ALS battle

Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, RIP

Beloved Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, founder of the acclaimed local steakhouse Al Biernat's, passed away on November 13, following a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease; he was 69.

Biernat was one of Dallas' all-time great hospitality figures, dating back to his days at The Palm steakhouse, for whom he worked in Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas.

Biernat founded his namesake restaurant in 1998 on Oak Lawn Avenue, where his standard of excellence and doting charm made it a destination for special occasions, Park Cities swells, and celebrities in town.

His sense of hospitality had little competition in Dallas. He was a charming and personable host who genuinely liked people, and it didn't matter whether you were Conan O'Brien, David Crosby, or one of the other high-profile diners that visited his restaurants — or else just a regular schlub: He had a knack for making everyone feel special and remembered.

Biernat was born on August 20, 1955 and grew up in Michigan, then lived in Colorado, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, before moving to Dallas to work at The Palm in the West End, where his dynamic presence gave the restaurant an incomparable vitality; it closed in 2017.

He opened Al Biernat's at 4217 Oak Lawn Ave. in 1998, followed by a second location in North Dallas at 5251 Spring Valley Rd. in 2017.

He began to experience ALS symptoms in May 2023, was diagnosed in December, and revealed his condition in February 2024. The revelation was met with an outpouring of sympathy and well wishes from the hospitality industry — a sign of the high regard in which he was held.

The average life expectancy for people with ALS is two to five years after diagnosis. Symptoms can begin in the muscles that control speech and swallowing, or in the hands, arms, legs, or feet. He began to have difficulty communicating in September, and spent his last days in a hospice.

On September 18, he broached the topic of dying, before ending on a note of gratitude to friends and family.

"Having Bulbar ALS I am realistic about my future," he said. "Friends and family have asked me if I’m afraid of dying, and this is what I say to them. Because of the salvation of Jesus, I will be rejoicing in my spirit to see him in all of his glory. Since we are all flesh, soul, and spirit, only my flesh is being left behind. But don’t get me wrong, I have a blessed life in this world, with a loving wife, and a beautiful family and many wonderful and caring friends. I am grateful!"

Both Al Biernat's locations will continue to remain open under the management of Biernat's nephew Brad Fuller, as they have for nearly the past two years.

Biernat is survived by Fuller, as well as his wife Jeannie and three daughters: Angelica Saylor, Kaitlin Biernat Connell, and Jess Biernat and grandchildren. According to family members, details regarding a celebration of his life will be announced soon.

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