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| Photo: Jessica S. Ralat. |
Both fried-food creators have State Fair pedigrees. For several years, each has placed as a finalist or won top prizes. These include Fernie's All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich in 2008 and Gonzalez's Fried Coke in 2006.
"I go on these kicks where I have to eat the same food, prepared in the same way for weeks," Gonzalez said. "Toast was one of them. I thought, 'What's so great about toast? Not the bread; it's the butter.' "
See the butter after the jump!
From there, it was a matter of experimentation, until he discovered that biscuit dough was the perfect vessel for a pat of butter. The dish can be ordered with cherry or grape sauce, garlic butter or original.
"The point is to create something not so outrageous that the average cook couldn't make it," Erpillo said. "We use tempura batter and panko breadcrumbs, items easily purchased at a local supermarket; for the peaches, drizzling it with raspberry sauce and a garnish of vanilla-butter cream sauce."
Scattered across 277-square acres, the other finalists' offerings weren't as pleasurable. There were Green Goblins and Sweet Jalapeno Corn Dog Shrimp, which were both surprisingly mild -- especially the former, which included cherry peppers. The Twisted Yam on a Stick was regrettable; the Texas Fried Pecan Pie and Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroons unremarkable; and Country Fried Pork Chips, supposed to be made with pork, were nothing more than fried-batter gut bombs.
But the winners -- oh, the winners! This blogger would gladly risk life and limb for more fried butter and peaches and cream.
| Yes, it's delicious. | |
|---|---|
| Once, not for me. | |
| No way! |
Texas State Fair 2009
Fried butter at the State Fair of Texas held in Dallas during the month of September, 2009.
Jose Ralat Maldonado
Fried cookie dough!
Jose Ralat Maldonado
Green Goblins, a Big Tex Choice Awards finalist.
Jose Ralat Maldonado
Chicken Fried Bacon (left) and Deep Fried Pork Chips (right).
Jose Ralat Maldonado
Fernie's Deep Fried Peaches & Cream, winner of Best Tasting dish at the State Fair.
Abel Gonzalez Jr. serves up his award-winning Deep Fried Butter.
Christi Erpillo (right), creator of Fernie's Deep Fried Peaches & Cream, with sister Johnna McKee.
Fern Wanda Winter, Christi Erpillo's mother, was the first cook to serve Funnel Cake at the State Fair of Texas.
Entrance to the Midway.
Jose Ralat Maldonado
State Fair of Texas mascot, Big Tex.
Jose Ralat Maldonado


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9-28-2009 @4:38PM Trae said... Fried Butter!! I'm still trying to get past that. Fried butter!?! Though I have to say, the way it's described, I would give it a shot, just once, depending on how my next cholesterol check goes.
Reply
9-28-2009 @4:58PM wiggydigs said... Sounds like they've fried their brains. Aw, dammit I just gave them an idea.
Reply
9-28-2009 @6:32PM Andrew said... I bet they'd sell really well at zombie fairs...
Reply
9-29-2009 @7:31AM captain underpants and the bringdown gang said... Don't show this to any jewish zombie:
http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/post/81700285/pork-brains-in-milk-gravy
Reply
9-29-2009 @11:53AM Kat Kinsman said... Oh Capt. Pants? We've already sampled the brains & eggs. For science. http://www.slashfood.com/2008/12/29/brains-and-eggs/
Reply
9-29-2009 @11:56AM JRalat said... I have a confession to make. I had Deep Fried Butter a third time. All for research and blogging, of course. How many miles will I have to ride my bike to burn off the calories?
Reply