How do you enjoy food at the fair?  Yes, the State Fair of Texas is traditionally known for serving up wild variations of fried food delicacies (that might also cost a pretty penny) for fair-goers.  These items have included dishes like Chicken Fried Lobster with Champagne Gravy, Deep Fried Alligator's Egg Nest, and oddities like Fried Bubblegum (right?!?).  This year's Big Tex Choice Awards for Best Taste award went to the Holy Moly Carrot Cake Roly, and the Most Creative award winner was the Smoky Bacon Margarita.  (A penny for your thoughts on these!)  The map below highlights this year's finalists and where to find them at the fair. But now we'll move on to how you can enjoy food at the State Fair of Texas in other ways.  There are 24 cooking / baking contests held at the fair in the Creative Arts building, where judging begins daily at 10:30 AM.  There are plenty of  competition category options, including Cake, SPAM, Southern Comfort Food,  Honey, Farm to Fork, Pizza, Youth Cooking, Bread, Pie, Bacon & Egg, Party Foods, One Pot Meals, and even a Red River Showdown Biscuit Cook-Off (among many others).  Something for everyone! The complete list of Competition Categories and Daily Schedules are available on the Big Tex website for the state fair (and there is still time to enter - so check it out and let us know if you decide to head on over for one).  It's always fun to see the various dishes brought in and prepared for judging, and many of the recipes are available in the State Fair of Texas Cookbook as well as on the Big Tex Recipes Blog. [caption id="attachment_13677" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Competition Kitchen at State Fair of Texas[/caption] We are proud to partner with the Texas 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Program as they share recipes among contestants and 4-H members across the state, preparing for the National 4-H Food Challenge Contest at the State Fair.  In this challenge, contestants are scored not only on the Food Preparation, but also for knowing information such as the Serving Size details, Cost Analysis, Nutrition, Safety Practices, as well as their Creativity, Communication Effectiveness, and Teamwork.  Congratulations to the 2015 winners - 4-H Starr Chef team from the Rio Grande City area in Starr County (members Brandon Guerra, Crystal Alaniz, Garrett Gonzalez, Janay Rocha and Jason Gorena)! photo courtesy of Yolanda Morado   Last but not least, daily Free Cooking demos (many of them offering samples, too!) are available in the Celebrity Kitchen by local area chefs; see one each day at 11:00, 12:30, 2:30 or 4:30.  Here are just a few of the wonderful chefs you could see during the fair (see the complete list and schedule).

Chef Karel Anne Tieszen of Kitchen Friends Cooking School Loves sharing cooking with people in a hands-on participation class.

Roosevelt Pierre of Pierre's Mardi Gras Catering Relatively new to the area from New Orleans - offering catering and even online ordering of special dishes.

Anastacia Quinones, currently of Kitchen LTO "I'll give you your queso and chips, but with 3 types of handmade cheese and fresh ground corn tortillas!"

Chef Jeannette Prasifka - Crosby Catering & Coffee Full service catering specializing in vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

Sean Alvarez - Del Frisco's Prime flavor meets perfect taste.

Chris LaLonde - El Centro Community College Culinary Team Leader, teaching food preparation and cuisine; former executive chef at Westin Hotel Galleria in Dallas.

Robert Bifulco - Texas Chef's Association

Cassondra Armstrong - The Healthy Chef Master of Culinary Concepts

Katherine Clapner - Dude, Sweet Chocolate Visionary of the Dude, Sweet concept, as well as chef and co-owner of the company

Roe DiLeo - Henry's Majestic

Regardless of where you live, do you attend your local or state fair?  Have you ever won a baking or cooking competition?  Do you have favorite memories around fair food (eating foods at the fair, competing in cooking or baking competitions, memories of relatives competing or winning)?  We would love to hear your favorite stories in the comments below! And you can always save and share your favorite recipes digitally right here in your own online cookbook at Dish Dish.