CNE’s line-up of new foods for 2024 pushes boundaries in every way

Here’s where to find the most outrageous food items at ‘The EX’ this year

Get ready to EX-cite your tastebuds at the CNE this year! The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is serving up an incredibly eclectic line-up of sugary confections, unexpected flavour combinations, and supersized portions of favourite fair foods. From Deep-fried Pickle Oreos to Fruity Cereal Chicken Tenders, a visit to the Food Building at the CNE will not disappoint when it comes to outrageous culinary concoctions!

Super-sized and Deep-fried is the order of the day

A giant foot-long samosa can only be outmatched at the CNE by a 15-inch diameter donut that is
made for sharing (to eat) and for the ‘Gram. Also, deep-fried creations have gone wild this year with a
deep-fried butter chicken lasagna, butter chicken corn dog, deep-fried pickle oreos, deep-fried
mozzarella stick hot dogs, and even a spiral-cut pickle on a stick that is deep-fried and tossed with
flamin’ hot Cheetos, or with crushed dill pickle chips.

How spicy?

Spicy food lovers can rejoice in everything from wasabi ice cream to jalapeno lemonade, and there’s
even a whole softshell crab-on-a-stick drizzled with ketchup, mayonnaise and of course…hot sauce.

Colourful

Everything at the CNE is coming up rainbows with many colourful foods such as a bright red Kool-Aid
sauce chicken sandwich, a tzatziki cheesecake, ube street corn smothered in purple yam, and a ‘unicorn’ street corn covered in rainbow queso.

As you will discover, when you visit the CNE this year, bring a large appetite! Esepecially, before entering the Food Building!

Now without any further ado, let’s take a close look at some of the outrageous food combinations that you will find at this year’s CNE!

Here are this year’s Top 25 most interesting CNE food offerings

Karaage Soft-Shell Crab on a Stick

Crunchy, saucy, whole crab on a stick! Japanese-style softshell crab coated with potato starch deep-fried and
covered in ketchup, mayonnaise, and hot sauce.

Vendor: Farm to Fryer, Food Building

Giant Samosa

A heavy-weight champion in its own class: Introducing the
Giant Samosa measuring 12 inches and stuffed with
potatoes and peas.

Vendor: Bombay Spice Street, Food Building

Wasabi Ice Cream

On the heels of ice cream flavours that have gone viral at
the CNE (ketchup & mustard) — a new condiment is
bringing the heat. Wasabi-flavoured soft serve ice cream in
a charcoal cone topped with orange sugar pearls and
roasted seaweed.

Vendor: Caf-Eh T.O., Food Building

15-Inch Diameter Donut

A supersized donut that measures approximately 15 inches
in diameter and more than 2lbs.

Vendor: Pancho’s Bakery, Food Building

Banh Mi Tacos

Bright, zesty flavors of the Vietnamese Banh Mi combined
with a Latin flair to create Banh Mi Tacos offered with a
choice of Saigon Fried Chicken or Crispy Fish.

Vendor: Los Vietnamita Food Truck, Concession

SpICE Cream Chorizo Fries Supreme

Spicy and Icy – fries tossed in LVT hot oil and seasoning
topped with cheddar cheese sauce, chorizo sausage, vanilla
ice cream, chipotle ketchup, pico de gallo, and crispy
jalapeños.

Vendor: Los Vietnamita Food Truck, Concession

Sweet or Spicy Mochi Funnel Cake

O-Mochi is coming to the CNE with an EX-clusive flavour
that will only be available for 18-days during the fair. The
classic funnel cake treat is reimagined with their signature
mochi donut in a sweet or spicy flavour – that is a mystery
in every batch.

Vendor: O-Mochi, Food Building

Kool-Aid Fried Chicken Sandwich

Perfectly battered deep-fried chicken filet topped with
choice of Kool-Aid flavoured reduction sauce served in a
hamburger bun with assorted toppings.

Vendor: Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Food Building

Crookie Sandwiches

“C” is for Crookie: A hybrid pastry of cookie & croissant
that is great on its own, or as part of a fried chicken
sandwich.

Vendor: Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Food Building

Tzatziki Cheesecake

Made from scratch (and with love), this New York-style
cheesecake is topped with tzatziki buttercream and pita
chips. Opa!

Vendor: Greekery Bakeshop, Concession

Deep Fried Birria Taco Bomb

Famous Birria beef and cheese tacos are now bite-sized;
stuffed into a corn tortilla ball and deep-fried golden brown
and served with consommé.

Vendor: Deep Fried Co, Food Building

Fruity Cereal Chicken Tenders

Have breakfast and lunch with fruity cereal coated chicken
tenders.

Vendor: Lucky Chicken, Food Building

Deep Fried Pickle Oreos

Oreos and pickles are the newest odd pairing to be deepfried.

Vendor: Sam’s Grill, Food Building

The Super Fly Noodle

Be Super Fly while you slurp extra-large portions of
“Floating” sauced instant noodles topped with your choice
of protein and unlimited toppings.

Vendor: Super Noodle Co, Food Building

Footlong Deep Fried Mozzarella Stick

Mouth-melting 100% Canadian mozzarella cheese served in
a hoagie hotdog bun drizzled with all kinds of toppings.

Vendor: Pizza Pizza, Food Building

Uni-corn

Freshly roasted corn covered with rainbow-coloured queso.

Vendor: Freshly Roasted, Food Building

Lavender Lemonade

Chill out with a unique mixture of lavender and lemonade
garnished with a slice of lemon and fresh rosemary.

Vendor: Real Fruit Splash, Concession

The Twisted Pickle

Pickle but with a twist! Spiral-cut dill pickle is deep fried ‘till
crispy and covered in choices of Flamin’ Cheetos or
homemade Dilly Ranch sauce with crushed dill chips.

Vendor: Twisted Pickles, Concession

Avocado Coconut Ice Cream

A tropical phenomenon of frozen dessert – avocado ice
cream garnished with coconut shavings and a chocolate
ball to reconstruct into the shape of an avocado and served
in a coconut bowl.

Vendor: Soo Cute, Concession

Butter Chicken Corn Dog

A carnival staple reimagined. A chicken hot dog coated
with masala batter and drizzled with butter chicken sauce.

Vendor: Sam’s Grill, Concession

Ube Sesame Street Corn

Take a bite of fire-roasted street corn coated with purple
yam and sprinkled with cheese, sesame seeds, chilli flakes,
and spring onions.

Vendor: Sam’s Grill, Concession

Tut’s Plus – 4 Sandwiches and Fries with Dukka

A new Food Truck vendor! Four sandwiches are better than
one: Grilled chicken, fried chicken, beef sausage, and falafel
sandwiches all served with a side of fries and Dukkah spice
blend.

Vendor: Tut’s Egyptian Street Food, Concession

Crème Brûlée Chimney Cone

Consisting of a rich custard base topped with a layer of
hardened caramelized sugar in a hand-rolled traditional
Hungarian Pastry ‘Chimney Cone.’

Vendor: Eva’s Original Chimneys, Food Building

Jalapeño Lemonade

Refreshing lemonade with a spicy kick of jalapeño.

Vendor: Alijandro’s Kitchen, Concession

Deep Fried Butter Chicken Lasagna

Hearty and comforting butter chicken layered in every bite
of lasagna, and deep-fried.

Vendor: Rick’s Good Eats Food Truck, Concession

Final thoughts

As you can see, there is a whole lot to sink your teeth into at the 2024 Canadian International Exhibition! “Come hungry, come all!” say the organizers at the Ex. The CNE opens this Friday August 16 and as Toronto’s end of summer tradition, it runs until Labour Day September 2, 2024.

For tickets to the Ex please visit: https://www.theex.com/tickets/. Let’s go to The Ex!!!!

by Terry Lankstead

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