“We want everyone who eats our food to feel like family.”
Delicioso and Deep-Fried: A New Take on Fair Food
ABOUT MY ONE MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
by Drew Shaw
Every year during Texas’ state fair season, fairgoers can find Tony’s Taco Shop by following the smell of tortillas, pupusas and deep-fried takes on Latin dishes. Husband-wife duo Anthony and Terry Bednar have operated on the fairgrounds since 2021, finding quick success with their unique cultural foods and welcoming atmosphere.
At 2023’s State Fair of Texas, the couple found new success in fair culture as finalists in the Big Tex Choice Awards. Their signature dish, the Sweet Encanto, drew crowds as a lighter Latin-inspired dessert with sweet wafers sandwiching fruit and creams. To Anthony, the increased attention represented personal growth as much as business.
Before 2021, they spent years applying, and reapplying, to be a vendor at the fair. Looking back at the applications, Anthony said he could see stages of him growing “from a child to an adult.” When he and his wife finally made it in, they made their mission clear:
“We want everyone who eats our food to feel like family.”
This culture shows in the decorations hanging in their fair-restaurant’s walls – signs with encouraging messages and pictures of family. Among the fair’s parking and security workers, Anthony has a reputation for being generous with free lunches, all with the goal of promoting community.
“If we’re not improving other people’s days, why are we here?” he said.
And for the 24 days the fair is open, they do that through fresh food and oil-smeared smiles.
In the off-season, Tony’s Tacos Shop can be found catering special events across North Texas. The couple returns to the fairgrounds whenever an event books Fair Park’s Centennial Building, where they have a permanent brick-and-mortar location.
Meet Drew Shaw
Drew Shaw is a journalism and political science senior at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he currently works as the managing editor for The Shorthorn, a student-run newspaper. On top of writing, Drew loves reading long-form journalism and classic fiction. He spends most weekends slowly making his way through an ever-growing collection of magazines and books.
Between the words, Drew is either hiking, watering his houseplants, practicing photography, or spending time with his family. Before graduating in May 2024, he will spend the spring interning in Washington D.C. with the Archer Fellowship program.
About AMA+UTA CreateCollab
Since the Fall 2022 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art has partnered with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.
Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and brief audio stories.
Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith teaches the class. She values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.
“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to re-enforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”
