Photos: Texas State Veggie Fair ‘11 in Dallas was smashing success

by Teresa Gubbins

• Tweet
• Email
• Print
• 12 Comments

Long lines and good vibe showed the strength and cohesiveness of the local vegan community.

Texas Veggie State Fair attendees congregate at Winfrey Point.

DALLAS — The 2011 rendition of the Texas State Veggie Fair turned out to be an exciting and surprisingly mobbed success. Drawing more than 2,500 attendees, some of whom came from out of state, it served as a declaration of the strength and cohesiveness of Dallas' vegan community.

The fair, which took place on an idyllic Sunday afternoon at Winfrey Point at White Rock, had vegan food vendors, speakers, yoga, animal and environmental groups, and rock bands.

Denton Vegan Coop's tamales were among the most popular items, but there were also long lines for Gennarino’s and Jackalope food trucks, plus Hail Merry, Spiral Diner, Little Eden Bakery, and NadaMoo!

A few folks grumbled but most were good-natured about the lines, recognizing that the event was all-volunteer and drew far more attendees than anticipated.

Seven contestants entered a Vegan Fried Food Contest, judged by a panel that included Kim Pierce of Dallas Morning News, Nanci Taylor of Edible Dallas-Fort Worth, Arnold Wayne Jones of The Voice, guest judge Robert Tracy, and myself. All of their items -- chocolate-pecan fried pie, fried risotto balls, fried pizza dough, fried pina colada, cool fried grapes -- were better than the finalists at the regular State Fair of Texas. Winning items were Fried Banana Pie for Most Creative, and for Taste, faux spicy chicken that was extra-extra hot.