Dallas, September 24, 2025
News Summary
Tony and Terry Bednar claimed the Best Taste – Sweet award at the 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards for their unique Colombian-inspired dessert, the Thrill and Chill Delight. Combining fresh fruit, mango sorbet, and vibrant boba, this dish showcases their culinary creativity. With plans to expand their taco stand presence at next year’s fair, the Bednars are solidifying their reputation for innovative Hispanic cuisine, garnering excitement and high demand from fairgoers.
Dallas
Tony and Terry Bednar won the Best Taste – Sweet award at the 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards for their Thrill and Chill Delight, a Colombian-inspired fruit dessert served at the State Fair of Texas. The award recognizes the couple’s dessert innovation and solidifies their growing reputation among fairgoers and fair management.
Key details
The Thrill and Chill Delight is a fruit bowl topped with shredded mango sorbet and red boba balls, inspired by the Colombian cocktail salpicón de frutas. The Thrill and Chill Delight is made with hand-cut fruit, including watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and peaches, soaked in watermelon juice. The Bednars dye the yellow boba with red food coloring by hand for their dessert.
The couple previously created a dessert named Sweet Encanto, which was a finalist in 2023. The Bednars’ deep-fried birria bombs were semi-finalists in the Big Tex Choice Awards. Their Drowning Taquitos, another finalist in 2024, consist of hand-rolled chicken taquitos with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
Operations and demand
Prior to their time at the Fair, the couple operated several food trucks in the DFW area, selling tacos at various locations including construction sites and office parks. The Bednars will have three locations of Tony’s Taco Stand at the Fair in 2025, expanding their footprint after repeated customer demand. Customers have shown high demand for their products, selling tens of thousands of items during previous fairs. This year, they prepared 10,000 Drowning Taquitos but sold around 6,000 within the first few days of the Fair.
Background and origins
The Bednars are known for crafting homemade food items and have introduced items like beef and chicken al pastor and fish tacos at the Fair. Terry Bednar, Tony’s wife, hails from Colombia and is behind most of their food creations. Their culinary creations blend different Hispanic cultures and are made lovingly, according to Terry Bednar. The Bednars are grateful for the support they have received from Fairgoers and are committed to creating Hispanic-inspired dishes.
The Bednars are known as the de facto face of Hispanic foods at the State Fair of Texas. Their journey at the State Fair began in 2019 after they completed the Big Tex Business Masterclass, following five unsuccessful applications to become concessionaires. The couple’s success captured the attention of Melanie Linnear, senior vice president of concessions at the Fair, who praised their hard work and innovation.
Personal history and team
Anthony “Tony” Bednar cried upon meeting a journalist in 2023 at Tony’s Taco Shop, located inside the Centennial Building at Fair Park. Tony and Terry met in a Home Depot parking lot while Tony was buying supplies for his food truck and Terry worked in another food truck. Tony Bednar’s past includes roles as an anesthesia technician, a mortician, and a worker at Presto Products, amongst other careers. Both Tony and Terry have experienced personal struggles, and Tony is a recovering drug and alcohol addict.
Product details and preparation
The Thrill and Chill Delight combines fresh, hand-cut fruit soaked in watermelon juice with shredded mango sorbet and visually striking red boba balls. The Bednars dye the yellow boba with red food coloring by hand for their dessert, ensuring a distinctive look and texture. Their Drowning Taquitos remain a popular savory offering, and they continue to test and introduce new items that reflect varied Hispanic culinary traditions.
Outlook
With multiple locations planned at the 2025 State Fair of Texas, the Bednars aim to scale supply while maintaining hand-crafted preparation methods. Their recent award and repeated Big Tex Choice Awards nominations have reinforced demand and highlighted the role of small vendors in introducing new flavors at large events.
FAQ
What award did Tony and Terry Bednar win?
The couple won the Best Taste – Sweet award at the 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards for their Thrill and Chill Delight.
What is the Thrill and Chill Delight?
The Thrill and Chill Delight is a fruit bowl topped with shredded mango sorbet and red boba balls, inspired by the Colombian cocktail salpicón de frutas.
How is the Thrill and Chill Delight made?
The Thrill and Chill Delight is made with hand-cut fruit, including watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and peaches, soaked in watermelon juice.
Who creates the Bednars’ food items?
Terry Bednar, Tony’s wife, hails from Colombia and is behind most of their food creations.
What is the Bednars’ history at the State Fair?
Their journey at the State Fair began in 2019 after they completed the Big Tex Business Masterclass, following five unsuccessful applications to become concessionaires.
What other recognitions have they received?
The Bednars’ deep-fried birria bombs were semi-finalists in the Big Tex Choice Awards.
What other menu items have been finalists?
The couple previously created a dessert named Sweet Encanto, which was a finalist in 2023. Their Drowning Taquitos, another finalist in 2024, consist of hand-rolled chicken taquitos with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
How many Tony’s Taco Stand locations will there be at the Fair in 2025?
The Bednars will have three locations of Tony’s Taco Stand at the Fair in 2025.
What are recent sales figures and demand?
Customers have shown high demand for their products, selling tens of thousands of items during previous fairs. This year, they prepared 10,000 Drowning Taquitos but sold around 6,000 within the first few days of the Fair.
Are there personal details about the Bednars in the record?
Anthony “Tony” Bednar cried upon meeting a journalist in 2023 at Tony’s Taco Shop, located inside the Centennial Building at Fair Park. Tony Bednar’s past includes roles as an anesthesia technician, a mortician, and a worker at Presto Products, amongst other careers. Both Tony and Terry have experienced personal struggles, and Tony is a recovering drug and alcohol addict.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | The couple won the Best Taste – Sweet award at the 2024 Big Tex Choice Awards for their Thrill and Chill Delight. |
| Signature dish | The Thrill and Chill Delight is a fruit bowl topped with shredded mango sorbet and red boba balls, inspired by the Colombian cocktail salpicón de frutas. |
| Ingredients | The Thrill and Chill Delight is made with hand-cut fruit, including watermelon, strawberries, grapes, and peaches, soaked in watermelon juice. The Bednars dye the yellow boba with red food coloring by hand for their dessert. |
| Other finalists | The couple previously created a dessert named Sweet Encanto, which was a finalist in 2023. Their Drowning Taquitos, another finalist in 2024, consist of hand-rolled chicken taquitos with guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. |
| Fair locations (2025) | The Bednars will have three locations of Tony’s Taco Stand at the Fair in 2025. |
| Sales | Customers have shown high demand for their products, selling tens of thousands of items during previous fairs. This year, they prepared 10,000 Drowning Taquitos but sold around 6,000 within the first few days of the Fair. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- D Magazine: Incredible But True Story Behind the State Fair of Texas Best New Dessert
- WFAA: State Fair of Texas Food Finalists
- CBS News: Success at the State Fair for Tony’s Taco Shop
- Axios: State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Awards
- Wikipedia: State Fair of Texas
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
