The CORNY dog was invented at State Fair of Texas
The ORIGINAL ...
Since 1942
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Because all of you Fletcher’s Corny Dog fans should know the straight story, below is a little something about the “Corny Dog” history which you hopefully find informative and maybe somewhat amusing.
According to Skip Fletcher (the 2nd generation Corny Dog king), “The Fletcher Family’s Corny Dogs are a Texas Tradition.”
Neil Fletcher (“Papa”) and his brother Carl invented the Corny Dog in 1942. Officials from the State Fair of Texas had offered them a booth to rent under the condition that they come up with a food item to sell. As they began to brainstorm, the brothers established a few criteria for their future invention. They needed a food that could be produced in large quantities within a short amount of time and which required no utensils.
Starting with a hotdog and a toothpick, they worked tirelessly in Grandma’s kitchen testing every imaginable variation of batter until they finally came up with a perfect cornmeal-based recipe, one that stuck to the hotdog on the stick while frying in hot oil.
So there you have it…with an ounce of creativity, a splash of luck and some good ole' teamwork, they gave life to the “Hot-Dog-on-a-Stick.”
The same year, the Fletcher’s Corny Dogs were introduced to the world at the State Fair in Dallas, Texas. In 2011, we will celebrate our 69th anniversary at the great State Fair, and for that the Fletcher family is very grateful. We have been there a decade longer than “Big Tex.”
In memory of Papa’s passing, a resolution was adopted by the Senate of the State of Texas recognizing him as the inventor of the Corny Dog by a unanimous, rising vote.
It has been said, “The Fletcher Family is the purveyor of the world’s finest Corny Dogs.” The Fletchers who are loyal to their history and product like to believe they are. In order to serve the original, old fashioned, hand dipped Corny Dogs that Papa and Carl served, they still use the same secret batter and meat recipes, extra spice and smoke with a firmer bind.
During the 24-day Fair each year, approximately 500,000 Corny Dogs are sold at six Fletcher’s locations, requiring about 3,000 gallons of peanut oil. If laid from end to end along Interstate 45, these dogs could reach from Fair Park to the Gulf of Mexico. Mustard is still the proven favorite among condiments with 1,500 gallons used annually. The Fletchers are always surprised by the sheer number and speed at which the dogs fly across the counters and truly believe they were the first real “fast food.”
Another reason why Texas is the greatest place on the planet..
wheel,,
