State Fair of Texas 2010 - Dog Shows

Every year I attend the dog shows.  However, the last several years have been the same 2 shows (at least it seems to have been) so I wasn't really all that excited this year.  In essence, I was going to attend the shows more out of habit than anything.

But!  They updated the shows this year!  The "dancing dogs" show (which was cute but more silly than talented) was replaced by an "Amazing Dobermans" show.  It was FANTASTIC!  I'm talking people who don't even like dogs leave this show happy and impressed and cheering.  Yes, it was that good.

And to prove it - here's some video.

A little over 2 years ago, I enticed a big group of friends to go to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo with me.  We didn't really care about the rodeo (it was a first for most of us and ended up being pretty fun I must admit)... We were mainly going to see Whiplash, the Cowboy Monkey (who rides a dog.)  

I thought nothing would top that.  Until I saw this.

A little itty bitty dog (Chihuahua?) riding a Doberman dressed up like a horse.  PRECIOUS.  And no offense Whiplash, (I still love you I promise), you have arms and fingers in which to hold on.  That little dog had nothing.  Pure balance.  LOVE it.

I fell in love with this little dog.  Check out her balance.

I'm pretty sure Zoey was jealous when I got home.  She knew I had loved another from afar.  And while I know this show is called "Amazing Dobermans," the little dog steals the show.  Makes you want to steal her and hide her in your purse.

Jump! Ultimate Dog Show was also updated this year.  They still have the distance dive into a pool part but they replaced the weaving between poles part with a Jack Russell Terrier hurdle race.  I now have a mental image of what dog racing must be like.

State Fair of Texas 2010 (aka Fried Food Capital of Texas)

Nothing says "Fall" like the State Fair of Texas.  I've been going for as long as I can remember plus a couple years I was too young to remember.  Since college, it's become a tradition to go for the TX/OU football game.  It's also become a tradition to go try all the crazy new fried creations the Fair concessionaires (did you know that was a word?) come up with.  So eat we did.

There were eight finalists this year - Fernie's Fried Club Salad, Deep Fried S'mores Pop-Tart, Fried Lemonade, Texas Fried Caviar, Texas Fried Frito Pie, Deep Fried Frozen Margarita, Fried Beer, and Fried Chocolate.

I love fried food but I can only eat so much and some didn't sound appetizing to me so I narrowed down the choices and then off I went.

First up, Fried Beer which won "Most Creative."

Josh was really excited about this one.  It did sound interesting... but it turned out to be a flop.  The beer (which I successfully identified as Guinness!) was lukewarm, the pretzel dough never got crispy and just tasted undercooked, and then adding a cheese sauce just didn't make sense to me.

Second up, Deep Fried S'mores Pop-Tart.

This was delicious.  DELICIOUS.  It's a pop tart, battered in Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate cereal, fried, and then topped with cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate sprinkles.  Mmm... DELICIOUS.

Next, Texas Fried Frito Pie which won for "Best Taste."

This did taste good but it wasn't all that creative or difficult in my opinion.  It's beef and cheese chili battered with corn chips.  Exactly what a Frito pie is but now a finger food - yum!

And lastly, Fried Chocolate.

I went into this one with no expectations.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The chocolate remains a smooth texture - not liquid nor solid - and has little chocolate chips mixed in with a cherry in the middle.  Nothing fancy or crazy but the familiar is tasty.

In addition to these fried foods, add in 3 cooking demonstrations worth of food, free samples of quesadillas, a Fletcher's corn dog, strawberry milk, strawberry iced tea, and a strawberry chill.  Thankfully this was split between 2 separate trips to the fair but still... I've been eating a ton of vegetables this week to make up for this!