For over two decades, the State Fair of Texas has held the Big Tex Choice Awards, a contest to share the top Fair food creations for the season. This year out of a record number of 76 food entries represented by 50 concessionaires, two individuals have Oak Cliff connections.
The 2025 awards have expanded to include a new category, the Best Taste – Sipper, in addition to the classic Best Taste – Savory and Best Taste – Sweet finalists. Although the two finalists are not within the new category this brings the total finalist count from ten to 15.
Within the Savory category, Kendall Williams is a finalist with her Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders. A member of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church, Williams consistently caters to the congregation as well.
The sliders have a Cajun-seasoned Wagyu patty with aged cheddar and applewood bacon. The inside of the sliders hosts two deep fried, panko-crusted deviled egg halves and is served with a house-made ketchup-inspired sauce.
For the Sweet category, former Adelle Turner Elementary School student Heather Perkins’ Candy Lemon Sour Face was named one of the five finalists. Perkins won the Most Creative category of the 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards with her Texas Sugar Rush Pickles.
This year’s submission brings together sweet and sour with a candy-coated lemon.
A panel of judges will select the winners of each category along with a Most Creative awardee. All semi-finalists will be available at the Fair from Sept. 26 through Oct. 19.
Winners of the Big Tex Choice Awards will be announced on August 21 at 2 p.m.
Kendall Williams. Photo courtesy of Rosilda Amezquita.
Heather Perkins. Photo courtesy of Rosilda Amezquita.
