This year was the ninth time the rodeo’s Commercial Exhibits Committee hosted the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. The winning vendors receive a (wait for it) gold buckle, a plaque and bragging rights.
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This year was the ninth time the rodeo’s Commercial Exhibits Committee hosted the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. The winning vendors receive a (wait for it) gold buckle, a plaque and bragging rights.
3Classic Fair Food First: Cinnamon roll with icing (Stubby’s Cinnamon Rolls)
For those whose carnival wouldn’t be complete without a bite of decadence, the judges heard you. This simple delicacy, about the size of an average cowboy’s fist, is as warm, springy and gooey as you could dream. Stubby’s also won the Best Breakfast Food category for another rendition of this roll—hey, why not?
4Classic Fair Food First: Cinnamon roll with icing (Stubby’s Cinnamon Rolls)
For those whose carnival wouldn’t be complete without a bite of decadence, the judges heard you. This simple delicacy, about the size of an average cowboy’s fist, is as warm, springy and gooey as you could dream. Stubby’s also won the Best Breakfast Food category for another rendition of this roll—hey, why not?
This giant, soft potato comes covered in cheese, sour cream, spring onions and faux bacon bits—pretty good news for vegetarians. But meat lovers may want to go for the $15 option at Triple J’s Smokehouse, which is basically the same thing with ribs, brisket and sausage on top.
This giant, soft potato comes covered in cheese, sour cream, spring onions and faux bacon bits—pretty good news for vegetarians. But meat lovers may want to go for the $15 option at Triple J’s Smokehouse, which is basically the same thing with ribs, brisket and sausage on top.
7Best Food-on-a-Stick: Shrimp Diablo (Berryhill)
The chewy, smoky bacon wrapped around a meaty shrimp alongside a couple thin slices of bell peppers (gotta slide your veggies in) made for a burst of flavors upon first bite. The tangy sauce and the slightly pickled coleslaw adds a kick to it, too.
8Best Food-on-a-Stick: Shrimp Diablo (Berryhill)
The chewy, smoky bacon wrapped around a meaty shrimp alongside a couple thin slices of bell peppers (gotta slide your veggies in) made for a burst of flavors upon first bite. The tangy sauce and the slightly pickled coleslaw adds a kick to it, too.
9Best Fried Food: Crispy shrimp taco (Berryhill)
This crunchy take on Tex-Mex offers a nice balance between carbs, seafood and veggies, supplemented with a rich sauce. In all honesty, we did not taste it (not every judge is able to taste every dish), but judging from its close resemblance with the Shrimp Diablo we are going to give it a vote of confidence.
10Best Fried Food: Crispy shrimp taco (Berryhill)
This crunchy take on Tex-Mex offers a nice balance between carbs, seafood and veggies, supplemented with a rich sauce. In all honesty, we did not taste it (not every judge is able to taste every dish), but judging from its close resemblance with the Shrimp Diablo we are going to give it a vote of confidence.
11Most Creative Food: Nitro Pop (Cowboy Kettle Corn)
This steamin’ cold popcorn is as delightful as it is colorful. Pop a few in your mouth and savor the chilly sensation as you breathe out nitrogen! Be sure to do it quickly though—by our estimate, the magic only lasts for around five minutes.
12Most Creative Food: Nitro Pop (Cowboy Kettle Corn)
This steamin’ cold popcorn is as delightful as it is colorful. Pop a few in your mouth and savor the chilly sensation as you breathe out nitrogen! Be sure to do it quickly though—by our estimate, the magic only lasts for around five minutes.
13Best New Flavor: Chocolate-dipped oatmeal crème pie (Mad Hatter Funnel Cake)
How could this have never been offered at the rodeo before? If you prefer a shareable plate, Mat Hatter Funnel Cake also does a banana split— a blanket of banana slices, chocolate sauce and whipped cream over a thick bed of funnel cake.
14Best New Flavor: Chocolate-dipped oatmeal crème pie (Mad Hatter Funnel Cake)
How could this have never been offered at the rodeo before? If you prefer a shareable plate, Mat Hatter Funnel Cake also does a banana split— a blanket of banana slices, chocolate sauce and whipped cream over a thick bed of funnel cake.
15Best Dessert: Buckeyes (Fried What)
Don’t be deceived by the modest appearance of this little devil of a ball. The peanut butter core is deep fried in a thin layer of batter before being hand-dipped in chocolate.
16Best Dessert: Buckeyes (Fried What)
Don’t be deceived by the modest appearance of this little devil of a ball. The peanut butter core is deep fried in a thin layer of batter before being hand-dipped in chocolate.
17Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Fried nachos (Paradise Burgers, 3rd in New Flavors)
Depending on which cuisine you’re familiar with, this is either a samosa or a fried wonton made with quesadilla fillings. You can’t go wrong with any of the three dips—mild salsa, sour cream and queso—or all of them together.
18Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Fried nachos (Paradise Burgers, 3rd in New Flavors)
Depending on which cuisine you’re familiar with, this is either a samosa or a fried wonton made with quesadilla fillings. You can’t go wrong with any of the three dips—mild salsa, sour cream and queso—or all of them together.
19Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Deep-fried brisket balls (Yoakum Packing Company, 3rd in Fried)
The bite-sized brisket-potato hash is surprisingly juicy and flavorful.
20Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Deep-fried brisket balls (Yoakum Packing Company, 3rd in Fried)
The bite-sized brisket-potato hash is surprisingly juicy and flavorful.
21Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Fried brownie + Ice cream (Custom Confections)
It’s like the classic molten chocolate cake with ice cream except the lava is all solidified into a moist brownie with a crispy outer layer. Considering the temperatures, the cool relief may be exactly what you need.
22Off the list Recommendations/More Fried Food: Fried brownie + Ice cream (Custom Confections)
It’s like the classic molten chocolate cake with ice cream except the lava is all solidified into a moist brownie with a crispy outer layer. Considering the temperatures, the cool relief may be exactly what you need.
Making food choices at the Rodeo can be tough, especially when you are also trying to catch a ride, buy some boots and pet an alpaca while planning how to score the best seat in the concert. What if we tell you there is a cheat sheet to all the best food around the arena?
Last Thursday, a roomful of celebrity judges (read: hungry print, radio, and TV personalities) each sampled 20-plus rodeo dishes and picked their favorites in eight categories for the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. Commercial Exhibits Committee Vice Chairperson Brooks Bradford, our jovial server, confided to me that though more 70 food vendors are scattered throughout the arena, he is partial to those housed near the NRG Center.
“Food, shopping and carnival bring out most people. It just so happens there’s a rodeo going on,” Bradford said. “Everybody gets excited, they all have their tried and true favorites, they always want to try something a little bit different.”
Are these the best foods you will ever eat? Probably not. Will they fill you up and fuel your Texan spirit? Absolutely yes. Especially the fried brisket ball.
