I have always loved going to the ex! Growing up in Toronto for me meant the CNE but in Vancouver it is the PNE!
Chicky’s Chicken’s Big Pickle Dog
Every year various food establishments try and outdo each other with crazy foodie ideas.
The one I wanted to try the most was Chicky’s Chicken’s Big Pickle Dog!
I read all about it via The Georgia Straight’s website.
I had never paid $9 for a corn dog before but this was not just any corn dog.
It was a deep fried hotdog-stuffed pickle!
And it was amazing!!! I love corn dogs and pickles are one of my favourite foods on the planet. They went with a super sour pickle too so I was in heaven. My only complaint? So salty!!! Make sure you have a big old tub of something-or-other to drink when you tackle the Big Pickle Dog. I did not and I suffered…
After I ate it (it was so messy and wonderful) I asked Reg if he was horrified or impressed. He answered, “I was amazed.” This is NOT Reg’s kind of foodie treat but if it appeals to you in any way, I highly recommend paying the $9.
International Perogies’ Taco Perogies
Yesterday was free day at the PNE so the place was packed! You could barely shuffle from one foodie venue to the other but I wanted to try some un-traditional international perogies.
The Georgie Straight mentioned chicken teriyaki perogies at a food truck that is new to the PNE this year.
International perogies??!!! I was so intrigued! Can you make perogies even more delicious by adding international flare to them?
Holy crap… Yes! Yes, you can!
We decided to go visit Mexico and get the taco perogies instead and it came in a long thin box which I thought was a bit unusual until Reg started to eat.
That box actually made it much easier to make sure you could get a lot of toppings and sauce with each delicious perogie.
Imagine a deconstructed soft taco with potato dumplings… This was absolute foodie genius and so unbelievably yummy. Totally worth the $12 and I almost wished we each got our own box!
Market Place & The Gripstic
I love going to the market place pavilion! Especially if there is something I have not seen before.
Low and behold I discovered The Gripstic!
With these sticks you can seal almost anything.
Look at this salad that has safely been divided into three compartments using the Gripstics. So cool.
You can even double or even trip use them for other bags. I loved the idea and the people were so lovely.
Bring On The Fudge!
The main foodie event for Reg at the fair is always… fudge!
The hard part? What kind of fudge to get?!
The rootbeer intrigued Reg so Maple Leaf Fudge let us have a sample. Damn, if it did not taste exactly like rootbeer!
In the end it was the chocolate coffee bean fudge that won and it was divine.
Give Me An Iced Latte Or Die!
At this point I was just dying for an iced coffee or something cold and sweet to help quench my thirst. So many savoury treats and then fudge… I needed something cold right now!!!
I got an iced latte from Starry North Coffee & Espresso for $4.50. I took a sip and it was unsweetened! I paid an extra 50 cents to get two shots of hazelnut syrup and it did not really help with the bitterness. They did not have decaf so I was up all night as a result of drinking this disappointing beverage, damn it. Next time? I am going to get lemonade!
Everything Else
There is so much to explore at the PNE. There are rides and games of course.
And animatronic dinosaurs! Yup, I am not kidding.
I love seeing the animals in particular. My dad has severe allergies so I never could go to the agricultural building growing up so I made up for lost time and saw llamas!
And the cutest little pig in the world!!!
Getting Ready To Go Home
I wish we could have done so much more but my body was telling me it was time to go home but what a fun foodie day we had! The PNE never disappoints and it looks like we went on the perfect summer day in August.
There were so many other foodie treats to try so if the ones I mentioned do not appeal to you check out The Georgia Straight’s article. Looks like you can get a burger bigger than your head, deep fried coffee (I regret not trying that one) and even bacon cotton candy.
Have fun and enjoy the last foodie days of summer wherever you are!
What fun! And International Perogies — great idea! The most exotic perogy I’ve ever had was a Tex-Mex one so it probably tasted like your Taco one. And I love that photo of Reg sampling the fudge — a true connoisseur’s look of intense concentration!
PS — Just FYI, I have a foodie-themed post tomorrow!
Yes, it would have been a very similar perogie experience Debra! Yes, Reg knows his fudge, LOL. Oh good, I’ll check it out!
Oh my gosh. What a fun foodie day for you two lovebirds. Great post, Suzie.
Thank you and it was awesome! Still recovering from it though, LOL.