Who Wants To Get Fat?

This weekend the legendary State Fair Of Texas rolls into town once again for another month of debaucherous indulgence. Due to the amount of positive feedback from last year's Texas State Fair Food Preview, the Stay Classy staff has decided to make it an annual story. If you'll remember from last year, the new food that was getting so much pub was the Fried Coke, which turned out to look like this (see picture).
I think it left most folks a bit disappointed (unlike the previous year when the Fried Oreos stole the show). I tried the Fried Coke and the Fried Macaroni last year, and was only marginally impressed by each. My "go to" Fair fare has always been, and will always be the Turkey Leg, which is closely followed by the Fletcher's Corn Dog. As far as the rides go, the Pirate Ship is pretty much where it's at. However, last year I rode the ride that drops you from hundred feet in the air (it's adjacent to the Pirate Ship), it is pretty fun as well. I am gonna try and make it out the Fair before TXOU this year, that way I can make sure and try all the new foods and maybe this time I can offer a post-Fair recap.
Also, a new feature included this year is the location of each vendor... which is very important because one year it took me 45 minutes to find the chocolate dipped key lime pie. Alrighty, well here we go with the Stay Classy Dallas Fair Food Preview '07.

This year's new additions -

Deep Fried Latte - This one is the "Fried Coke" of this year's Fair. It has been getting a lot of publicity... Their buzz phrase is "they'll make you fat and keep you awake" and comes from the folks at Desperado's on Greenville, which has the best puffy tacos in town. Here's what you get... a fried pastry topped with cappuccino ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream and instant coffee powder. Sans the coffee powder, I think they are on to something here... Fried pastry - check... mocha icecream - check... caramel sauce - check. ****
Location: Nimitz Drive

Fried Cookie Dough - This is the new entry from the Fried Coke camp... when asked about the his new fried-confectionary monstrosity, Able Gonzalez Jr. said, "I'm not sure we have another Fried Coke" "I don't think I be able to beat that type of excitement again," "That was crazy."- so it looks like the Fried Coke folks are shaking in their boots. The cookie dough is chilled, then battered, fried and topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream... There will be an "everything" cookie dough with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans... and he's thinking about an oatmeal raisin. I enjoy cookie dough and think this one may pick steam once the Fair opens.****
Location: Nimitz Drive near the Embarcadero

Zesty Fried Guacamole Bites - This is a scoop of guacamole that is breaded, fried, and served with ranch dressing or salsa. I am interested in this one, as these are all things that I enjoy. The quality of the guacamole will be crux of this one.****
Location: Midway in the Thrill Zone

Peach Cobbler on a Stick - What we have here is basically a portion of peach cobbler and dumplings rolled in pastry dough, skewered and fried. It is then dusted with sugar and cinnamon. This one is kind of a stretch, why does it need to be on a stick? ** - for the schtick factor.
Location: Tower Building

Fernie's Fried Chili Frito Burrito - Chili and Fritos wrapped in a flour tortilla and fried. Topped with cheese sauce, grated cheddar cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, hot sauce and onions. Sounds like this is not one that you wanna eat early in the day. I will be eating this one at the fair this year.****
Location: Dock Restaurant inside the Embarcadero Building.

Fried Banana Pudding - This one also harnesses the genius of "tortilla technology"... banana pudding wrapped in a flour tortilla, fried and topped with whipped cream, sugar, and cinnamon. I enjoy banana pudding just as much as the next guy, but I don't know if a fried tortilla oozing banana pudding is what I want to chaw on while getting my picture screen printed on a T-shirt.**
Location: Tower Building

Mama's Fried Sweet Potato Pie - As does this one... Pie filling wrapped in a flour tortilla, fried and topped with sugar and cinnamon. I love sweet potato pie, bet this one will be pretty worth trying out.***
Location: Cotton Bowl Plaza & Midway

Here is a new Stay Classy idea that I would like to see on the Midway next year...

Deep Fried Strait Plate - We start with the Maudie's Strait Plate and dump the whole thing in a giant flour tortilla and carefully fold it up into a kind of big package, then we take the package and batter it in banana pancake batter and deep fry it. It is then sprayed with a maple syrup aerosol gun and served with a tiny American flag stuck on top.

Good Midlake Article.

I just read this interview by The Onion A.V. Club with Midlake songwriter Tim Smith. It is pretty interesting and addresses a lot of the inquiries I have had about Occupanther. You can read it here: Onion A.V. Club Midlake Interview

Wilco live @ the Paladium tonight!

Today brings reason for celebration on two fronts. One of my favorite bands and what I believe to be the best touring band in the world is playing a show in Dallas tonight at the Paladium Ballroom. I don't really feel the need to elaborate on this, as I know that most of my Stay Classy readers love Wilco just as much as I do... I haven't seen them do most of their new songs off Sky Blue Sky, so this is going to be really great. It may be my favorite Wilco album, in tough competition with Summerteeth, I really like Ghost is Born too.
Here is a link to a NPR Live Concert Series podcast featuring a set that Wilco did in studio last year, if you wanna listen to it - Wilco NPR Podcast.
The other reason for celebration is that last night, my good friend Sterling and his girlfriend Kristen got engaged. So... a special congrats to both of them.
Here is a sample from the new Wilco album if you are not familiar with them, but are intrigued...
Wilco - The Thanks I Get

First Game of the Year.