Commentary

by Bruce Felps

The State Fair of Texas opens in about a month, and once again the promise of culinary oddities tempt the palate.

Concessionaires set out on Labor Day to win over judges in the Seventh Annual Big Tex Choice Awards designed to select this year’s entries into the I Ain’t Eating That; Oh Try It Hall of Fame.

Last year’s winners were Fried Beer and Texas Fried Fritos Pie. Who could fforget?

This year’s finalists include Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack, Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake — dreamed up and whipped up by the same guy who created Fried Butter — Deep Fried Texas Salsa, El Bananarito, Fried Autumn Pie, Fried Bubble Gum, Han’s Kraut Ball, and Walking Taco, not Dead Taco Walking.

Contestants vie in two categories: Best Taste and Most Creative. All eight will be available at the Fair, and the winners receive, according to a State Fair spokesperson, bragging rights, the spotlight’s glare, and a trophy that looks like the body of the Academy Awards’ Oscar with a Big Tex bobble-head.

Based on the descriptions — browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, sauerkraut, mustard, and seasonings covered with bread crumbs, and deep fried — I’m rooting for Hans. Fried Bubble Gum might just take the Most Creative category.

Them’s good eatin’.

Bruce Felps owns and operates East Dallas Times, an online community news outlet serving the White Rock Lake area. Suddenly, his lunchtime plan for a ham-and-cheese sandwich seems rather mundane.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NBC, NBC 5, NBCDFW.com or its employees.