August 25, 2015

CNE Food Review 2015

Hello! I haven't posted in a while but I thought I'd do a quick post on my thoughts on a selection of food available at the CNE this year. If you don't know what the CNE is (or the Ex), it's the Canadian National Exhibition held each year in Toronto. It's basically a giant carnival filled with carnival goods (to devour).


I'm trying to blog on my phone so let's see how this will work with the images attached.... It didn’t work, at all... So back to the desktop I go.

More pictures after the jump.


One of the first items we tried are the Poutine Balls from Vienna in the Food Building. It's $7 and change for the regular size. They are balls of mashed potatoes with cheese, rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried, and then topped with gravy and cheese curds. These weren't bad but they could be WAY better. The mashed potatoes inside the balls were way too runny;I wish they would have been more starchy like real mashed potatoes. The gravy was good but it tastes like the ones from the cans... The cheese curds were disappointingly not squeaky.


Next item we had was the Thanksgiving Waffle ($12) from Fran's in the Food Building. We tried this item last year and loved it but sadly it was very disappointing this year. The portion was smaller and the quality was just not the same as its debut. The waffle was dry. The turkey was dry. There wasn't enough gravy to forgive the dryness. Enough said.


One of the items we had to hunt down, as it was not in the Food Building, was the Chicken Waffle on a stick ($8). It is outside, near the children's ride area, and next to the Press building. There was also no signage for said item but do look for the giant smoked turkey legs as it is under the same tent. The chicken looked questionable being kept in a warming oven but the overall product is very good. It is topped with maple syrup and hot sauce (or was it a combination... I am not sure). And finished off with a dusting of icing sugar. The combination of sweet and salty with a kick of spicy is mouthwatering.


Look for this on the counter.


The last item we tried is the Frosted Flake Battered Chicken on a stick ($10) from Iron Skillet Sirloin Tips in the Food Building. Simple yet so good. The best part is the really crunchy coating and the tender white meat chicken. The only downside is the batter doesn't stick to the chicken during consumption.


There was one item I really wanted to try because it sounded so good but when we found it and saw it… well, that’s a different story. Lo and behold it was the Cake Poutine ($5). You can find it in the International Building, I believe it’s near where they sell giant TVs and in the area of “As Seen on TV” products. It is essentially what I believe to be pound cake cut to resemble straight cut fries, topped with syrup, topped with a topping or two, and whipped cream. For example, they had one called Fireside or what not and it was yellow pound cake, topped with chocolate syrup, topped with graham cracker crumbs, and whipped cream. I mean, come on, I can make assemble this at home from pre-made items found in the grocery store. No thank you.

To summarize, I would definitely recommend that you check the chicken on a stick items out if you're heading to the Ex this year. I will definitely be going back to try more items, possibly the Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese from Bacon Nation. ;) Follow me on Instagram (@justa9url) for quick verdicts. Let me know if you've tried anything new from the Ex this year or any recommendations you have.

Thanks for reading!


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