With this year's Canadian National Exhibition starting this Friday from August 18th to September 4th, I'm here to give you all an early preview of what outrageous and down-right crazy culinary concoctions you'll find this year at the CNE. From deep fried everything, to indulgent desserts, dragon breath crepes, chicken feet on a stick, and crunchy insects, you'll find an array of things to try. If you're feeling brave enough you may even find yourself experiencing something you would never have thought you would be digesting (I'm looking at you crickets!) But what the heck, food has become an unofficial "main event" at the CNE so now would be the perfect time to inhale something crazy and unexpected. YOLO right?
So remember to come to the CNE with an open-mind and an empty stomach this year, because below is a breakdown of the best and most outrageous eats you just gotta try!
1) Last Samurai from Yatai
Fried chicken with a burger patty in between a ramen bun.
2) Sugar Mountain from Cake Shack
Brownie stacked with a scoop of cheesecake, as well as a sugar cone dipped in white chocolate, confetti doughnut, cotton candy, powdered sugar.
3) The Juicy Oink from Hot Bunzz Street Cuisine
Slow roasted five-spice pork belly, slow roasted pulled pork shoulder, sweet longanisa, crispy pork skin, and a Shanghai pork soup dumpling, topped with Okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and honey apple slaw.
4) Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich from Chloe's Doughnut Ice Cream
Ice-cream available in a variety of flavours, served inside a freshly-baked doughnut/churro.
5) Double Crab Mac Burger from Fidel Gastro
A food truck serving up single or double deep fried crab patty burger for the East-Coast Kitchen Party.
6) All Canadian Red Hot Burger + Pancake Bacon Tacos from Bacon Nation
Fluffy buttermilk pancakes stuffed with a combination of fried and scrambled egg, topped with tomato, green pepper, onion and maple bacon strips, drizzled with chipotle syrup + Canada 150 inspired All-Canadian Red Hot Burger.
7) Dragon's Breath Crepe from Eative
Ice-cream crepe combined with liquid nitrogen.
8) Peanut Butter Sriracha Bites from Fran's Restaurant
Deep fried sweet dough stuffed with a peanut butter Sriracha filling, dusted with cinnamon icing sugar and drizzled with chocolate syrup.
9) Pancake Bowls from Eat My Bowls
A pancake breakfast bowl with scrambled eggs and maple syrup.
10) Cookie Monster & Campfire Smore's Cones from Chimney Stax
Rotisserie-baked breads filled with soft-serve, chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
11) Strawberry Shortsteak from Philthy Philly's
Cheesesteak covered in provolone cheese, topped with strawberry sauce and icing sugar, sandwiched between a sweet doughnut bun.
12) The Colossal Coliseum from San Francesco's Italian Sandwiches
Breaded veal and a pulled pork panzerotti on a Kaiser bun with sweet BBQ sauce, creamy slaw and jalapenos, topped with two deep fried brownies.
13) Deep Fried Chicken Feet from Coco Concessions
Crispy chicken feet served on a stick.
14) Cheese Stuffed Doritos from Farm to Fryer
Marble cheddar coated in a Dorito crust and deep fried.
15) Vegan Poutine from Dutch Frites
Crispy hand-cut fries in partnership with the vegan Toronto restaurant Planta.
16) Rolled Grilled Cheese Dippers from Melt My Heart
Grilled cheese, rolled up made for dipping, served with a sauce of your choice.
17) Cricket Cone from Bug Bistro
Vanilla soft serve, coated in toasted coconut, topped with chocolate roasted crickets.
18) Deep Fried Spaghetti Doughnut Balls from Fritta
Fried spaghetti ball tossed with sugar and cinnamon or mixed with fresh Italian herbs and parmesan cheese.
19) Deep Fried Cheese Curds from the King of Curds
Deep fried cheese curds sprinkled with icing sugar and served with pure Canadian maple syrup.
20) Deep Fried Frog Legs from Farm to Fryer
Served with tartar sauce.
Some other food events happening at this year's CNE will be the first-ever East Coast Kitchen Party (Aug 19 & 20) offering Maritime fare, entertainment, East Cost brews and spirits, as well as Newfoundland Screech! Then, from Aug 25 to 27, the French's Food Truck Frenzy and Craft Beer Fest will take over Princes' Boulevard with more than 25 different food trucks ready to dish out Toronto's best street food. Don't forget to also check out the Barbecue Bounty at the CNE's 9th annual RibFest taking place daily at Bandshell Park.
