This weekend I became a true Texan by attending my very first State Fair of Texas. I’m now officially offish. Don’t be expecting any cowboy boots around these parts anytime soon though. Let’s just take this one step at a time, shall we? I don’t need to be dressing like this guy! Hey, Big Tex! Whoever said everything’s bigger in Texas was spot on.
I’m no newbie to fairs so take my word on it when I say this one takes it to a whole new level with the food. It’s the norm to have all the fried things at fairs, but holy grease get in my arteries they seriously had fried everything here. I wouldn’t be completely honest with y’all if I didn’t say one of the reasons I wanted to go to the fair was for the food. And the beer of course. Because hi I’m a fat kid at heart and there’s no shame in my game.
I may be an official Texan now, but leave it to me to find the Louisiana food at the fair and stick to it. Some things just never change and my love for my home state food will never go away, so obviously I had to give this year’s winner, also known as fried gulf shrimp boil, a try.
And by golly it didn’t disappoint. Think everything you would have in a shrimp boil, like shrimp, corn, and potatoes all fried into one giant ball and you get this:
And then there were the fried crawfish pies from a local Louisiana booth with all the other south Louisiana fixins like gumbo, alligator, and red beans and rice, which never disappoints.
Now for the next reason why I wanted to go to the fair: the beer. But not just any beer, this girl had here eye on some funnel cake beer. As soon as I got to the fair, the search began to find this brewed cup of joy. After stalking nearly every food and drink tent, I finally found it, only to see a sign that read “OUT” in big ole red letters, which was enough to make me feel like a kid unwrapping coal on Christmas.
So now the journey continues to get my hands on this somewhere, anywhere, in Dallas. #desperation. I was a bit upset, but nothing a little live music couldn’t fix. Collective Soul happened to be playing right as I made my way to the main stage. Perfect timing if you ask me!
Now I have a year to count down til the next one and plan which fried things I’ll get my hands on!
Have you been to the state fair? What’s your favorite fair food?
Robin says
I want to go to a fair in Texas someday! My favorite food at the South Carolina fairs is fried mushrooms, and also the Fiske French fries.
Ashley @ Second Chances says
Wow–that looks like so much fun! Those crawfish pies look divine. That fair is MUCH better than those that we have in Mississippi. Ours' is very sad.
Dara @ The Southern Thing says
The crawfish pies were so good!! It reminded me of some from one of my favorite places in Louisiana! The fair out here is huge, you literally could use a map to navigate!
Emily says
Looks so fun! i've always heard the food at Texas State Fair is amazing!
Casey Aslan says
Oh how I missed having a Fletcher corn dog this year! Glad you enjoyed it! I didn't know they had that beer this year!
April says
Oh the fried shrimp boil was heavenly!! Glad you had fun!
The Siberian American says
Ah, I wish I had tried the fried shrimp boil! It looks amazing. 🙂
The Girl who Loved to Write says
Ahh how fun!
Samantha @ Life is But a Stream of Thoughts says
Oh my god that fried shrimp boil looks amazing. I'm going to the NC state fair tomorrow, but it's not nearly as big as this one!
Brittany says
The Texas State Fair is one of those things that is weirdly on my bucket list. It's like the king of the fairs, you know? I'd love to make it there at some point to try some really weird deep-fried food.
Kim Cargile says
So glad you liked the fair!! Us Texans are quickly becoming masters of fried foods. LOL
Mandy says
I'm glad you liked the fair! I hope you tried a Fletchers corny dog, those are the best! I tried the funnel cake beer. It wasn't anything spectacular. It just had powdered sugar on the rim.
Welcome to Dallas!
Dara @ The Southern Thing says
No Fletchers for me this year, but it's definitely on my list for next year!! I was kind of hoping the beer would be sweet. Well maybe I didn't miss much after all!?
Sam @ reddyorknot.blogspot.com says
Fried crawfish pies?!?! YUM!! The Texas state fair is definitely on my life bucket list!
Kate at Green Fashionista says
I keep telling myself I need to get my butt to Texas for this amazing fair. I want in on all the fried goodness and funnel cake beer?! Wowzers!! Hopefully you'll get to try it next time 😉