Resident Chef Bio

Chef Pete Nolaso
Resident Chef, State Fair of Texas

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As resident chef, Pete Nolasco will be leading the Creative Arts Cooking Demonstrations all 24 days of the Fair. Audience members can enjoy this free activity where Nolasco will be cooking three mouthwatering daily recipes at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30p.m. Ingredients from the local Texas agriculture industry will be featured, including produce from our very own horticulture-based community initiative, Big Tex Urban Farms.

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A proud graduate of El Centro College, Chef Pete first got involved with the State Fair of Texas while completing his culinary apprenticeship in 1991. Over the years he has continued the relationship, returning as competition judge and celebrity chef for a cooking demonstration in 2016. In addition to these exciting roles, he has also participated in ice carving competitions and even assisted with the 2013 Guinness World Record butter sculpture.

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Outside of the Fair, Nolasco is a highly respected individual in the Dallas culinary and restaurant industries serving as a mentor for dozens of aspiring chefs. Chef Pete is a proud Texas native who grew up in the nearby city of Irving. He enjoys watching movies and discovering new gourmet popcorn recipes when he’s not cooking up a savory dish in the Creative Arts kitchen.