Texas State Forest Festival - Hushpuppy Olympics

By: © Nelson Taylor 2008

Festival Location: Lufkin, TX, USA

Festival State: Texan Festivals

Festival Type(s): Food Festivals , Bizarre Festivals

If you think a hushpuppy is a type of squishy shoe, you might as well skip this entry, city loser. Since that probably didn't scare you away, I'll tell you this one thing before you have to skip to another page: hushpuppies are southern folks' answers to bon-bons. If you really want to know how important hushpuppies are in these parts, just ask any little girl what dances around in her head at Christmas. No, not pussy plums, try crispy little nuggets of deep fried cornbread. I'm telling you, they flit around in our minds like fat little fairies. And at Easter, we don't even hunt eggs, we pig...okay, you get the picture. And since you're already halfway through this, you might as well read on...pansy.

Every September since 1972, little Lufkin, TX, has paid humble homage to these mini golden globes. Part of the Texas State Forest Festival, contestants from around the state compete for the well-worshipped crown. And hey, anyone can enter. All you have to do is bring your cooking gear, because the good people at Brookshire Brothers/HYTOP provide all the corn and oil any good gut grenade needs. All you need to bring is your special fictions. You want to make the first peanut butter and jelly hushpuppy, well go right ahead. Trout and cauliflower? Cornbeef hash and spinach?

Whatever your pleasure, just step up to the plate. But know this: your ideas are disgusting. Conform you bastard. Pack that bitch with a little fresh corn, cheddar, jalapenos and beer. Then maybe, just maybe you might have a shot at winning. And what do you win? Cash money, honey. Good old American green. And if you can't cook worth a toot in a vacuum, there's a showmanship competition that gives every boob a chance to shine. Come one, come all.

The First (1972) Winning Hushpuppy Recipe Cecil Davis/Wichita Falls, TX

1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 well-beaten egg
¾ cup of milk
4 small chopped jalapenos w/ seeds
4 tablespoons chili meat
½ cup chopped onions
3 chopped boiled shrimp