Ep 22. Everything's Bigger And Better In Texas

In this episode of Carnival Eats, host Noah Cappe travels to the great state of Texas to uncover its biggest and best carnival eats. His first stop is the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, which boasts the largest attendance of any state fair in the country. Noah tries his hand at the famous Fletcher's corny dogs, which have been a fair staple since 1942. These hot dogs are battered, deep-fried, and served on a stick, making them the ultimate portable snack. Noah also samples some of the fair's more unique offerings, including fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fried Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

Next up is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where Noah tries the ultimate Texan dish: barbecue. He visits the award-winning Salt Lick BBQ, which has been smoking meat for over 50 years. Noah gets a behind-the-scenes look at the pit room, where thousands of pounds of meat are cooked overnight, and then samples the famous brisket. He also tries some of the more unusual barbecue dishes, like brisket tamales and smoked bologna.

In San Antonio, Noah visits the Fiesta Carnival, which is known for its unique multicultural offerings. He tries the fajita parmesan cheese fries, which are loaded with grilled steak, peppers, onions, and plenty of melted cheese. Noah also samples some of the festival's Mexican-inspired dishes, including elote en vaso, a messy yet delicious Mexican street corn dish served in a cup.

Noah's final stop is the Rodeo Austin, where he samples the ultimate carnival dessert: funnel cake. He tries different variations of the classic carnival treat, including a peanut butter cup version and a bacon-wrapped funnel cake. Noah also tries some of Austin's other sweet treats, including kettle corn and apple cider donuts.

Throughout the episode, Noah chats with the vendors and carnival-goers, uncovering the unique stories and traditions behind some of Texas' most beloved carnival foods. From deep-fried delicacies to world-famous barbecue, Texas certainly lives up to its reputation of doing everything bigger and better.