The Canadian National Exhibition - one of the largest fairs in North America - is back and bigger than ever with new foods and fests to keep you sated all summer long. 

You’ve got 18 days and 192-acres to cover, but where to start?

Say hello to your 2019 food and drink cheat sheet:

FOOD BUILDING

Did you know that roughly 80 per cent of all CNE visitors head into the iconic structure featuring foods from around the world?

That’s because there’s so much to choose from. Walk the historic building celebrating 65 years to discover over 100 vendors offering everything from hot dogs and pizza to Thai, Indian, and Caribbean fare. Enjoy new iterations alongside fair classics.

In addition to the array of foods, you’ll also find wheat-free, dairy-, wheat-, gluten- and peanut-free options, as well as halal, vegetarian, vegan, and raw selections.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. There are a number of dishes available for less than $5, and Food Building Special Offers - printable coupons to be used for deals at over 30 vendors.

NEW + NOTEWORTHY

Every year a flurry of new food and drinks vie for your attention. In years past, made-for-Insta items (gold-leaf burgers and ice cream, charcoal lemonade) and extreme foods (Chocolate Banana Steakclair, anyone?) have captured the spotlight.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s crazy concoctions: 

Beyond Burgers

The popular plant-based burger of course had to make an appearance this year. Find it by way of the Beyond Guacamole by Bubs Bad@ss Burgers and a more excessive version, Beyond Nacho Burger by Coco Concessions.

Extreme Burgers

If a regular beef patty is too tame for your liking, look to the Peeping Pierogi Burger by Corrado’s Greek Italian Cuisine.

The heart-stopping combo features a burger festooned with potato-cheese pierogies, cheese, bacon, onions, and sour cream. 

Bacon Nation’s Spicy Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bacon Burger combines sweet with heat via their signature burger,  topped with chocolate chip peanut butter cookie dough and jalapeno bacon, tucked into a brioche bun. 

Staggering Sandos 

Hotbunzz’s Italian Stallion is an ode to Italy -  and their biggest bunzz yet - featuring a toasted 8” bun stuffed with sundried tomato pesto, balsamic glazed onions & mushrooms, Caciocavallo cheese, and get this: capellini alfredo pasta. It doesn’t stop there. Choose your heaps of protein “topping”: Pulled Beef Short Rib, Oink 4Sum, or Mello Portabello.

The name says it all. The Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich by Deep Fried Chicken Sandwiches features fried chicken, whipped cream and strawberry sauce, set between two funnel cakes. Dusting of icing sugar and cherry on top included.

Fries of a Different Kind

While there’s a slew of fry options on the fairgrounds, this year’s inventions are not like this others:

- Apple Cheesecake Poutine by Granny Smith Apple Fries
- Deep Fried Avocado by The Whole Enchilada Mexican Grill (also available in tacos).
- Pho Fries by Supa Fries – Spuds topped with Vietnamese marinated beef, cilantro, red onions, green onions, lime, sriracha mayo aioli, and bean sprouts.

With a Kick

Want something spicy? Look no further than Coco Concessions’ Flaming Cheeto Corn Dog and Scorpion Pepper Burrito from The Whole Enchilada Mexican Grill.

And thanks to Black Halo, you can get your fiery fix in the form of ice cream: Wasabi Spice Cream (made with spicy ingredients including wasabi, scorpion pepper, and Sriracha) and Smouldering Fire & Ice Bowl, with a black (charcoal) and red (spicy) ice cream swirl, set in a black bowl, complete with dramatic billows of smoke.  

Unicorns and Rainbows

Fantasy foods - unicorn frappuccinos, rainbow bagels, geo wedding cakes – have settled into the mainstream with such aplomb, it’s unlikely they’re going anywhere soon.

Thus, a boldly-hued grilled cheese sandwich - Rainbow Toast - by churro specialists, Pancho’s Bakery (they’ve also created an oversized lolly of sorts this year, a Maple Bacon Churropop) and Unicorn Funnel Cake by The Funnel Cake Shop, a rainbow explosion from top (ice cream, candy floss) to bottom (colourful funnel cake).

Sugar Overload

Sweet treats are always in abundance at the Ex, whether you’re walking the grounds or Food Building.

This year, Oreo cookie lovers will want in on Eva’s Original Oreo Cheesecake Chimney Cone, while Tim Hortons’ devotees will head straight for the Red Licorice Timbit Poutine. 

Cotton candy comes enveloped in a waffle cone taco, topped with crushed Oreos and two Pocky sticks, in Candy Time’s Cotton Candy Taco.

And you don’t have to choose between you love of cheese and dessert, thanks to Cheesecake Curds by The King of Curds -  deep-fried cheese curds topped with your choice of cherry or blueberry pie filling, cream cheese icing, and graham cracker pie crust crumble  

Other new dessert contenders this year:  The Cheesecake Factory Bakery’s The Custard and Fuwa Fuwa‘s Strawberry Mango Japanese Soufflé Pancakes.

Not Your Average Fare

You don’t see these everyday. And that’s what makes them standout, even in the crowd outrageous offerings.

Eative’s Frozen Cookie Dough Spaghetti was made for Insta with its clouds of liquid nitrogen and ice cream in long ribbons that look just like pasta.

Haggis is a polarizing food. After all, not everyone is down with a serving of sheep’s liver, heart and lungs mixed with oatmeal, suet and spices. So will you be digging into Chef Al’s Haggis Macaroni & Smoked Cheese this year – haggis and whisky gravy blended with cheese curds and hand-cut fries, topped with crispy onions?

Since pickles have appeared on pizzas (and in popsicles, ice cream, sprinkles, cocktails, etc.) across North America in the last few years, it’s about time Pickle Pizza by R&J Concessions arrived. The hand-tossed pie gets a homemade dill sauce base, topped with fresh mozzarella, thick dill pickle slices, and finished with dill weed seasoning. And it makes sense that briny concoction Pickle Lemonade by Splash gets the spotlight, not because it’s extreme (it’s not – you’ve been drinking kombucha, switchels and shrubs, haven’t you?), but because we’re long overdue for a modern day Arnold Palmer.

RESTAURANTS, BARS + PATIOS

In addition to the food building and fairground food and drinks, did you know can grab a bite/drink at a number of bars, restaurants, and patios on the CNE grounds?

This year’s roster includes:

Bandshell Bar
The Beach Bar
Casino Patio
Champions Bar
Craft Taps
Festival Bar
Glow Bar
Northern Comfort Saloon
Wine Garden

Under $6 in the 6 

To help keep you on budget, affordable fare is now the focus of the new Under $6 in the 6 stand, located in Bandshell Park. Stay tuned for more details.

EVENTS

In addition to a bevy of concerts and shows, Silent Disco nights and Woodstock Weekend, ever popular food-and-drink-centric celebrations return, including: East Coast Kitchen Party, complete with fiddlers and Newfoundland Screech, Food Truck Frenzy and Craft Beer Fest.

New to the lineup this year: Oktoberfest.

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