Warning: If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or are on a diet, stop reading this article now.
The Fair at the Pacific National Exhibition has returned for another year, and with it comes the promise of indulgent and sometimes fantastical foods.
“It’s probably not the best place to start your diet,” PNE spokeswoman Laura Ballance said, with a laugh.
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Slumdog Millionaire Mac and Cheese from Reel Mac and Cheese.
Of course, there are the classics that return to the fair each year. Bill Konyk has been selling his famous perogies and Ukrainian sausage for 50 years. Mini doughnuts — scenting the air with cinnamon-sugar sweetness — are another staple. Garlic fries have always been a personal favourite.
But some returning vendors keep it interesting year after year by featuring new additions to their usual lineup.
Reel Mac and Cheese owners Suzanne and Perry Poudrier have added a Bollywood-themed dish to their menu, adding mild curry paste, peas and crispy onions to their classic macaroni and cheese. The result is tasty.
“This one I love because it’s just a little bit different,” said Suzanne Poudrier. “It’s unusual and delicious.”
On the topic of mac and cheese, Handmade Burgers has stuffed the cheesy treat into a burger patty and served it up on a bun with all of the fixings. It’s hard to resist. But if that’s not filling enough, head to Gourmet Burgers for a Hercules Burger, which weighs 10 pounds, takes one hour to cook and feeds 15 people.
If sweets are your thing, try the the Oreo churros at Steve O’s Public House.
To keep devoted fairgoers and foodies interested, 20-30 per cent of the approximately 70 food vendors every year are new additions.
“Food has become so important and we want to keep it fresh and new,” said Ballance.
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Chicken teriyaki pierogies from International Perogies.
One of the newbies this year is International Perogies. Owner Ryan Carlos, whose family also runs TemptAsian Chinese restaurant in Vernon, decided to serve this year’s fairgoers pierogies with an international twist, including chicken teriyaki and butter chicken varieties.
Ogopogo Concessions has also set up shop at the PNE for the first time this year, offering what owner Lorne Beckett calls deep-fried coffee treats. Essentially, they’re deep-fried coffee-flavoured doughnuts with a variety of toppings — totally decadent.
Pete Male, vice-president of sales at the PNE, said his team searched far and wide to find the most “insane and outrageous” food for the fair.
“We think attendees are going to love what they see when they come to the fair at the PNE,” he said.
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