In the end, nothing could top deep fried bubblegum or buffalo chicken in a flapjack.
Those are the two dishes that took home the prizes for most creative and best taste Monday, during the 2011 State Fair of Texas Seventh Annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
The fried bubblegum - which claimed the creative prize - wasn't actually gum but bubblegum-flavored marshmallows dipped in batter, fried and decorated with icing and powdered sugar.
And the Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack, which earned the prize for the best tasting food, was a buffalo chicken strip coated with flapjack batter, rolled in jalapeno bread crumbs and deep fried. It was skewered and served with a side of syrup.
This year's other deep-fried contenders:
Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake, featuring pineapple rings dipped in cake batter, fried, topped with a glaze made of caramel, sugar and cinnamon and served with a cherry on top. Deep Fried Texas Salsa showcased a medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion, tomato and pepper that are rolled together, dipped in masa and crunchy tortilla chips and deep fried. It's served with queso.
El Bananarito is a deep fried banana rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with whipped cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. It's topped off with hot caramel or chocolate syrup. Fried Autumn Pie features a puff pastry filled with pumpkin, cream cheese, powdered sugar and fall spices. It's deep fried and rolled in ginger, cinnamon and sugar.
Hans' Kraut Ball melds browned pork sausage, onion, garlic, sauerkraut, mustard and seasonings into a ball that's covered with bread crumbs, deep fried and served with spicy mustard, raspberry chipotle or ranch. And the Walking Taco, which features seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, onion, fresh tomato, grated cheese, sour cream and tasty salsa that's served up in a Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos bag.