It's State Fair time but put away those corn dogs and drop those turkey legs because the Sandwich Tour of Dallas continues!
We start with an item that mades its State Fair debut a few years back. Deep Fried Mac & Cheese Sliders can be found at the Steve Velasquez's food stand in the Grand Place Building (the building where they sell hot tubs, sewing machines and alpaca fur blankets). It's like a regular slider but includes a deep fried patty of three-cheese macaroni and cheese.
When I first heard of these I didn't realize that it came with the beef patty. I just thought the mac & cheese replaced it instead of accompanied it. I think they could have gotten away with that but I'm glad they didn't. The taste is great and the two components are great compliments to each other. Apparently it takes a while to cook, or maybe they haven't streamlined the process, so there was a wait after I ordered. But they are definitely a unique fair snack and worth a try.
Little Bob's B-B-Q inside the Tower Building (where the food court is) is a yearly stop for me at the fair. It may seem a little unusual (or perhaps too usual) but they've got a great thick-cut Bologna Sandwich. But this time I went for the chopped pork bbq sandwich.
Now, Dallas bbq is a whole other set of blog entries but I'm fond of Little Bob's and bbq sandwiches are a fair staple. This is a great option for those who might need a respite from deep fried shenanigans but still want to EAT. The sauce is a milder variety than you usually find and the meat is smokey and flavorful. It's filling but not too heavy and makes a great lunch.
And now on to dessert and since this is the State Fair of Texas it MUST be deep fried! You may think that the two elements of being deep fried and in sandwich form would narrow your options but not at the State Fair. I decided on the Deep Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich.
I've mentioned before that as great as peanut butter is, it becomes ten times better when it's heated up. The variety of flavors and textures meld together greatly and the batter is so good that it could be fried up and served on its own. Like many deep fried desserts it's dusted with powdered sugar and served warm. This one is definitely filling so you'll need to pace yourself.
These are only a small sample of what the fair has to offer. So grab your Fair Park map, come up with a good game plan and bring your appetite.
