The Canadian National Exhibition is a century-old fixture marking the end of summer in Toronto. And innovative street food is one of the strongest traditions that make the big fair what it is. Herewith find our picks of the most creative and craziest new CNE snacks…
The superbly quirky Peanut Butter and Pickle Corn Dog…
All fall harvest fairs bank on the draw their nutty midway munchables create. That’s one reason they try to make the menu – as such – different every year. And the ‘news’ establishment waits with bated breath for the grand unveiling.
The new ‘dishes’ which will be available at CNE 2023 were introduced to the public earlier this week…
‘Barbie’ Pink Mac & Cheese
I think everyone is aware that the long-awaited, controversial live-action Barbie movie is out. And a huge number of food purveyors have jumped on the ‘pink’ bandwagon. One of the featured midway foods this tear is Malibu Mac & Cheese. The pink part if the sauce – described as pink champagne, concocted from White Cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses. And it’s served in a bread bowl. $13.99
Watermelon Burger
You heard right. And as you might have guessed, the ‘bun’ halves of this thing are actually grilled watermelon wedges. The obligatory cheese slice is a thick slab of feta. And the single standard burger patty is dressed with a Balsamic glaze. $17.00
Dill Pickle Cotton Candy
All things ‘pickle’ have been infesting bar and finger food menus for months, now. And the CNE midway lineup is no exception. Most notable among the offerings in this category is Pickle Candy Candy. The oblong pastel green candy floss swirls feature a sweet and mildly sour flavour. $10.00
Peanut Butter Pickle Dog
We’ve heard before, on more than one occasion, that some folks just love the combo of Peanut Butter and Dill Pickles. It’s described as a ‘sour/nutty corn dog’ with a pickle-wrapped hot dog slathered in Peanut Butter inside the deep-fried coating. Drizzled with Jam and Peanut pieces on the outside. $13.00
Cheeseburger and Street Corn Ice Cream
Start with a cheese-coated waffle cone. Add the unique Cheeseburger and Street Corn-flavoured ice cream. Top with pickle and crushed pretzels. $12.00
Four-Pound Taco
This one has been around for some time. But unlike other Falkl fair foods, it has with stood the test of time. A huge, deep-fried hard taco shell is stuffed with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, avocado tomatillo salsa, pineapple, Chorizo and French fries. A huge bite suitable for sharing, if you can manage the oozy-gooey double-handful. $30.00
And finally, a true Canadian delicacy:
Poutine Pizza
I guess it was inevitable. But it’s not your every-day mass-produced pie. Baked in a wood-fired oven on a hand-formed crust, it features all the trad Poutine trimmings. On top of fresh-cut fries, you’ll get gravy, Cheddar cheese curds, and diced green onions. $20.00
And that’s the skinny…
… On the best of the new fair foods at Toronto’s CNE this year. If you can get down there, DO indulge in any food fair offering that peaks your fancy. And make sure to pay homage to the butter sculptures in the Agriculture Building. That’s another must-observe CNE tradition…
Thanks to BlogTo.com for the source material used to prepare this post…
~ Maggie J.