There's only one place on earth you can eat fried bacon-wrapped cinnamon rolls, drink worldly wine and watch a 2,000-pound bull try and buck a cowboy off. That's right, I'm talking about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Beginning back in 1966, the Houston Rodeo has grown to become the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world bringing in almost 2.5 million attendants in 2018. Now that's a Texas-sized crowd.
The 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins on February 25th, but it's never too early to plan (or daydream) about which foods you'll be enjoying. Here's our list of what we are currently drooling over.
Gold Buckle Foodie Samples
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If there is one competition that makes the Houston Rodeo stand out its the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards. Judges from local media outlets join together and sample vendor's carnival foods in eight categories; Best New Flavor, Most Creative Food, Best Fried Food, Best Food-on-a-Stick, Best Specialty Food, Classic Fair Food, Best Value Food, and Best Dessert.
Some top contenders included Fried Bread Pudding On a Stick from Sudie's Catfish House, Minnepumpkin Pie from The Original Minneapple Pie, Fried Bacon-Wrapped Cinnamon Rolls from Fried What! and Harlon's Stuffed Turkey Leg from Harlon's BBQ.
Visitors are encouraged to take on the Gold Buckle Foodie Challenge by downloading the Rodeo Houston mobile app and scanning the QR code at each winning vendor's location. After trying all eight visitors may visit the NRG Center and claim their prize.
Alamo Tamale & Taco
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Considered a rodeo staple, Alamo Tamale & Taco have been in business for over 50 years serving up handmade and machine-made tamales and tacos. Go for the homemade pork tamale if you are really craving something special.
Anything on a Stick
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It's not a carnival without fried food on a stick. Last year we were treated to Fried Bread Pudding On a Stick from Sudie's Catfish House, Pizza On A Stick from Swains Pizza On a Stick and Chicken & Sausage Kabob from Burton Sausage as well as Deep Fried Cookie Dough On A Stick from Aunt Edmoes Cookies. Yea, you read that right.
Harlon's BBQ
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Winner of last year's Best New Flavor category, Harlon's BBQ has been a Rodeo staple for the past 29 years. In an interview about her win, Candice Brooks, co-owner of Harlon's BBQ shared that "The Rodeo is one of the best things we have in Houston - it's what all of us look forward to every year for the past 80-plus years."
Let's hope that their turkey leg is on the menu this upcoming rodeo.
Stubby's Cinnamon Rolls
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For forty years Stubby's has been feeding the crowds at the Houston Rodeo. Winner of 15 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards, Owner Stony Humphries shares that it takes 40 pounds of butter and 150 pounds of sugar to make enough cinnamon rolls for the day. That's 3,000 of the ooey rolls per day. We'll take five, thank you very much.
