Beyond the traditional bull riding and cow-wrangling events at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo you'll also find the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards, an annual event that serves up some of Houston's most eclectic and delicious dishes. 

Every year, notable judges gather at the HLSR to determine the rodeo’s best and most creative fare, with twists on classic favorites and entirely new creations, fresh, fried, or on a stick.

This year’s panel of judges included some of the city’s most coveted chefs and restaurateurs, such as Ben Berg of Berg Hospitality, Top Chef finalists, Dawn Burrell and Evelyn Garcia, and Chef Nick Fine of Wild Oats.

In all, eighteen chefs debuted a wide array of unique dishes in categories like Classic Fair Food, Most Creative Food, and Best Food-on-a-Stick, and, as judges of this year’s competition, Houstonia got the inside scoop, sampling all the delectable dishes presented by the finalists.