Some men are born to greatness. Some achieve greatness. Some have greatness thrust upon them. And then there’s Abel Gonzalez, Jr., who, through a singleminded pursuit of the perfect State Fair midway food, has invented deep-fried butter. That’s right, folks, step right this way and taste the newest snack sensation to hit the Texas State Fair since, well, since Abel pioneered Fried Coke (the cola, not the addictive alkaloid) at the same Fair in 2006. You see, Abel hopes to extend his multiple winner status at the Texas Fair’s annual Most Creative Fried Food Award.
What else is Abel known for besides the Fried Coke debacle experiment? Well, his two other triumphs are Texas Fried Cookie Dough, and the Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich. Does Abel stop there, though? With a culinary hat trick of this stature you’d think maybe so. But no, the call of the deep fryer is too strong. (Not to mention the prize: Your very own pocket thermometer, and a small scale copy of Big Tex. He’s trying to collect the whole set.)
Abel’s up against a tough lineup of competitors this year. To quote:
- Green Goblins: Cherry peppers stuffed with spicy shredded chicken and guacamole, battered, deep-fried and topped with queso.
- Twisted Yam on a Stick: A spiral-cut sweet potato, fried on a skewer, then rolled in butter and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
- Fernie’s Deep Fried Peaches & Cream: Served with a side of vanilla buttercream icing for dipping.
- Texas Fried Pecan Pie: A mini-pecan pie battered, deep fried and served with caramel sauce, whipping cream and chopped candied pecans.
- Country Fried Pork Chips: Battered, thin-sliced pork loin deep fried and served with sides of ketchup or cream gravy.
- Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp: Shrimp on a stick, coated with a sweet and spicy cornmeal batter, deep fried and served with a spicy glaze.
- Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon: A peanut butter cup wrapped inside a coconut macaroon, fried and then dusted with powdered sugar.
All eight creations will be judged in the categories of Best Taste and Most Creative. Winners will be announced on Labor Day.
So head on out to the Texas State Fair this year and enjoy the winner and all the also-rans while you cheer at the Texas-OU Game. Just remember, your Medicare won’t cover the angioplasty or the stents; if you try this stuff, you’re definitely on your own. Got private insurance, you say? Be sure to read the fine print on your policy and compare it to the notice on the back of your Fair ticket…
Enjoy the (Heart-Blocking) Heat!
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