State Fair of Texas names food finalists for 2023

Driving the news: The fair — with all its fried foods — is less than 50 days away.

Why it matters: Everyone knows fried foods will help you fit back into your winter (remember that season?) sweaters.

Here are the finalists:

• Turkey ribs — fried turkey served with stuffing-seasoned fries and gravy.
• Ox'cellent soul roll — fried spring roll stuffed with beef oxtails, potatoes, Gouda and mozzarella.
• Loaded fries pizza — pizza topped with mozzarella, fries, cheddar and ranch dressing.
• Deep-fried pho — noodles, beef, bean sprouts and pho broth.
• Deep-fried cheesy crab tater bites — crab meat, shredded potato and cheese rolled into tots and fried.
• Biscoff delight — cheesecake coated with Belgian chocolate and crumbled Biscoff cookies.
• Bourbon banana caramel sopapillas — sopapillas topped with bananas, bourbon syrup, pecans and mascarpone cheese.
• Fernie's fried cherry pie in the sky — layered shortbread cookies and cherries, fried and topped with vanilla ice cream.
• Sweet encanto — a waffle with caramel dulce de leche, topped with fruit.
• Trail-ade — fruit, cucumbers and mint blended with lemonade, served in a boot-shaped cup.

What's next: The Best Taste - Savory, Best Taste - Sweet, and Most Creative winners will be announced Aug. 27.