Adam Richman cleans up in Dallas and talks about Texas women

Adam Richman with Butch Benavides
Image distributed for Bounty

Adam Richman, host of the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food Nation” and “Best Sandwich in America,” made an appearance at the State Fair of Texas® grounds this past Saturday in search of the “Tastiest Messes in Texas.”

Partnered with Bounty Paper Towels, Adam is making the rounds to food festivals and State Fairs around the country to talk about the "quicker picker upper" power to clean up messes.

State Fair employees were polled about which fried foods they thought were the messiest. Adam surveyed the top food vendors and took a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the tastiest messes. He then rounded up the Top Five and encouraged fair goers to help him crown the “Tastiest Mess in Texas.”

The Top 5 vendors and foods selected to participate included:

1. Abel Gonzales with his “Big as Texas” Fried Butter & Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Banana Sandwich
2. Skip Fletcher with his world-famous Fletcher’s Corny Dog
3. Butch Venavides  served up “Benavides Nachos”  - Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll
4. Isaac Rousso showcased a “Taste of Cuba” - Fried Pork Wing
5. Glory Dadiotis represented with her “Berrie Kabobs” - Chocolate Fruit Kabob

Congrats to Butch Benavides who was the WINNER of the Bounty Select-a-Size "Tastiest Mess in Texas" contest with his Bacon Cinnamon Roll. His prize? A roll of Bounty paper towels, a photo with Adam and bragging rights. You go, Butch!

The many faces of Adam Richman

I got a chance to visit with Richman after the event and found out he used to play lacrosse in high school and a bit in college.  My son is a lacrosse goalie and they had a great chat about the sport. "I used to get teased at the bus stop when I had my lacrosse stick in Brooklyn," Richman said. "People would say 'Are you going to catch butterflies with that stick?' Now everybody is playing lacrosse!" He is now infinitely cooler around our house.

Adam Richman and Cynthia Smoot

To see lots of great photos from Adam's visit to the State Fair of Texas, click here.

He has a new book coming out called Quest for the Best. Who has the best po-boy in New Orleans? The best ribs in Kansas City? The best bagel in New York? The best bone in rib-eye in Dallas? Quest for the Best has Adam taking on each city's iconic food and finding who does it best.  Look for it next year.

I had to ask the ultimate foodie what his favorite food was. "What's the one food or type of cuisine you could eat every day?" I asked. Richman replied - after some contemplation, "Tacos. They are brilliantly simple: a shell with a filling usually made from just a couple of ingredients, but the flavors are immense and there are infinite varieties you can make. If I had to pick a type of cuisine, it would be between Asian or Latin food."

Lastly, Richman told me that he has experience with Texas women (from his college days) and said, "If you are going to date a woman from Texas, you'd better bring your A-game. Texas woman have personalities as big as the state itself and that's a wonderfully exciting and awesomely intimidating thing."

Adam Richman, I think I love you. Let's go get a taco next time you're in town...