the ex
#FIRSTLOOK: THE CNE IS BACK!
After a two-year break due to the Pandemic, our beloved Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is back! The celebration of the end of Summer is back on for 18 days, ending Labour Day (September 5, 2022) and 1.4 million+ visitors are projected for the run!
We were so thrilled to visit again and can we say it was even more bustling than ever for a Saturday? People have an appetite for fun after having missed The Ex, and also an appetite for fun, inventive foods you just can’t get anywhere else! Even popular local restaurants with actual store fronts use this opportunity to test creative menu items you can’t normally get at their stores.
There is no shortage of amazing food options. As soon as you pass through the iconic Princes’ Gates you are greeted with a long strip of Food Trucks and right now there is the Food Truck Frenzy & Craft Beer Fest (Aug. 25 – 28), with the new Celtic Food Truck Festival (Sept. 1 – 5) next.
Everything we love about The Ex is back. The Midway, the Gondola rides, the Superdogs Show (this year it’s a PAWVENGERS theme), all the vendors! It’s as if we never skipped a beat at all.
New this year, every night above the Food Building after dark, is a show consisting of 100 Drones putting-on a dazzling spectacle.
Get a good idea of it here:
Of course, the big culinary draw this year are Ketchup and Mustard Ice Creams, located on the south side of the BMO Field! The vendor is drawing long queues of curious guests looking to see what the buzz is all about! Check-out our Reel as my BFF Habeyah and I take you through our LET’S GO TO THE EX 2022 Adventure and see our reactions to Ketchup Ice Cream!
There’s still a bit of time to check-out The Ex. Tickets are available here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/The Ex)
#FOOD: KETCHUP AND MUSTARD ICE CREAM COMING TO THE EX!
THE CNE HAS JUST REVEALED ONE OF THE CREATIVE NEW FOOD CONCOCTIONS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FAIR THIS YEAR…
Get Ready for Ketchup and Mustard Ice Cream!
Each year, more than 1.4 million visitors flock to the Canadian National Exhibition to satisfy their taste buds, appetites, and curiosities for the zany new foods that have become synonymous with the CNE experience. And while organizers are tight-lipped around the full line-up of crave-worthy and crazy concoctions this year – the CNE has dropped a breadcrumb…Ketchup-Flavoured and Mustard-Flavoured Ice Cream!
It’s a battle of the condiments – in soft serve form! Local Toronto vendor Harrison Swift has been serving up some of the most memorable treats at the CNE Midway since 2013 (ala Pickle Lemonade). New this year, he has come up with a sweet and savoury twist on ice cream offering a ketchup-flavoured and mustard-flavoured soft serve with appropriately fun accoutrements such as a pretzel or fries. For those who love both ketchup and mustard – try them swirled together! The ice creams will be available at a new booth on the CNE Midway called So Cute Ice Cream.
While full list of new food items will remain Top Secret for another few weeks, CNE fans can start contemplating whether they are Team Ketchup or Team Mustard.
Stay tuned for more announcements!
The CNE runs August 22 to September 5, 2022.
#FIRSTLOOK: CNE AT HOME VIRTUAL FAIR
There’s less than two weeks left till September and what normally would be signalling the start of the CNE in Toronto, is instead a much more low-key affair this year. The CNE at Home Virtual Fair runs August 21 to September 7, 2020. The Portal accessible online gives fans of the Summer favourite a chance to still enjoy the Exhibition’s most popular shows, favourite food recipes, tricks of the trade from buskers, historical retrospectives, new music performances and much more.
Funnyman Howie Mandel is even feeling the loss this year. Did you know one of his first gigs was on the Vegas Chicks ride?
Recipes/How-Tos to be shared include:
- Bacon Wrapped Grilled Cheese by Bacon Nation
- Bulgogi Taco by Far East Taco
- Dim Sum Bao by Oriental Express
- Granny Smith Apple Fries by Event Foods
- Homemade Japanese Soufflé Pancake by FUWA FUWA Japanese Pancakes
- Lobster Roll by Jake’s Seafood
- Philthy Philly’s Cheese Steak Sandwich by Philthy Philly’s
- Primo 99 cent Spaghetti by Primo Spaghetti 99
- Rainbow Grilled Cheese by Mac & Cheesery
- Spent Grains S’mores Funnel Cake by Liberty Commons – is this a tutoriavl? I thought it is only available at the restaurant
Some activities to be enjoyed are:
CNE Jam sessions online featuring Toronto bands and artists
Gaming Garage powered by AMD online tournaments with cash prizes and giveaways up for grabs (Aug. 21-23)
Rising Star Youth Competition and online voting
Virtual rides, ghost walks, and retrospective specials including a look back at the history of the CNE Grandstand (Bandshell), Best Of the Aerial Acrobatic & Ice Skating Shows, President’s Choice SuperDogs and much more
Special online events include a commemoration the 99th Annual Warriors’ Day Parade with a look back at its history (Sat. Aug. 22); and a virtual edition of the Canadian International Air Show (Sept. 5-7).
Visit TheEx.Com for more! There’s also a 50/50 with tons of lucrative prizing!
(Photo credit: Canadian National Exhibition)
#FIRSTLOOK: NEW ATTRACTIONS AND FOOD AT THE 2019 CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION
Signalling the end of Sumner for Toronto since 1879, the historic CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION returns from August 16 to September 2, 2019.
The Ex as it is known affectionately by Torontonians, brings 1.4 million people to the City and for the first time ever features a Comedy Festival. Diversity is at the forefront this year with a diverse roster of talent including dancing troupe ILL-Abilities slated to perform.
A lantern exhibit titled SILK ROAD COMES TO LIGHT inspired by fables from Marco Polo’s travels along the Silk Road, celebrates cultures as they were and are. You can even download an App: CNE Night 2019 to learn about the installations.
The affair is a haven for gaming geeks as well! The AMD Gaming Garage and nostalgic Pinball Alley provide tons of cutting edge and retro fun.
For those athlete’s out there, The Ex Race gives one winner a $10k prize, but these contestants must go through a grueling and demanding obstacle course first!
Some of the exciting food offerings at The Ex this year which we got to try. The ones with asterisks we loved:
•The Cheesecake Factory‘s General Custard*
•Pickle Lemonade
•Fried Avocado from Bacon Nation*
•Calamari Fries*
•Flamin’ Cheetos Corndog*
•Red Licorice/Pink Lemonade Donuts and Timbits from Tim Hortons
•Rainbow Grilled Cheese from Pancho’s
•Maple Bacon Churros from Pancho’s
•Cotton Candy Tacos
•Spicy Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bacon Burger from Bacon Nation
•Rainbow Funnel Cake
•Cherry Fried Cheese Curds from The King of Curds*
•Beyond Guac Burger*
•Strawberry Dream Waffle Stick from Fudge Puppy
•Pickle Pizza from R&J Concessions*
•Super Snacker (Eight Beaver Tails stacked)
•Oreo Chocolate Cheesecake Chimneys from Eva’s
•Oh Hungry Dessert Dog (Sweet Jesus)
Bandshell Park also will feature a new value food experience, UNDER $6 in the 6 including Jerk Chicken Skewers, Tacos and more!
Some visuals. Hover cursor right to navigate each gallery:
To learn more about The Ex, click here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#FOOD: “THE CRONUT BURGER” AT THE 2013 CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION
Now in its 134th year, the Canadian National Exhibition, known affectionately by Torontonians as The Ex for the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day, promises novelty, guilty pleasures and an opportunity for Families and Friends to create memories together. I admit I’ve long outgrown my love for the rides at The Midway and arrive later in the day to take advantage of the $5 Admission Charge after 5:00 PM, enjoying the benefits of less congestion. I am drawn by the festivity, the lights and all that over-the-top charm.
The highlight for me every year is visiting the Food Building, which essentially is one gigantic Food Court filled with every single variety of not-so-great-for-you, whether it be Tiny Tom’s Donuts, Beaver Tails (a fried Pastry topped with lemon, cinnamon and sugar), Homemade Fudge, Fish & Chips or $0.99 Pasta. The rage this year, The Cronut Burger, combines the Pastry Craze which has consumed New Yorkers, The Cronut (combination Croissant and Donut) with an all-time favourite in The Hamburger. The item is available exclusively at the Epic Burgers & Waffles Food Stand only.
Although I’ve been on an all-Vegetarian Diet since January, I decided to make one meat-eating exception to try this Novel Delicacy. Splitting it with my BFF Fran after already being decidedly full, the $10 investment came with mixed reactions. Fran found it “not bad”, while simply it wasn’t a Love Connection for me. For one, the Cronut itself lacked any resemblance to a Croissant, sans flakiness and it appeared to have been sitting out for a while – tough, if you will. A Maple-Bacon Drizzle was completely unnecessary and did little to complement the flavour other than to cash-in on the Bacon trend, giving the Burger a bit of added relevance. The Patty itself was smokey though – not bad. Surely, acclaimed New York City Pastry Chef Dominique Ansel would be fuming if he saw for himself what we were doing to his prized Creation north of the Border. Consumers of the Krispy Kreme Donut Burger at $9, seemed much more pleased with themselves.
If you have $10 in your pocket and want a sure-fire Hit, I’d say go for Far East Tacos, which took noted Korean-American Chef David Chang‘s concept of the milk-infused Steamed Bun (Bao), which can be enjoyed at his Momofuku Noodle Bar in Toronto, fusing it with Asian-inspired fillings like Breaded Fish Filets, Kalbi Ribs and more. Add a bit of cheese, lettuce, tomato, hot sauce and Kimchi (Pickled Cabbage) and what you have is a sensational delight. You get two for $10 and you have the option of enjoying it in Taco form also. We learned sadly that the Shop only will be available at The Ex with no immediate plans to launch into a Restaurant just yet.
Learn more about The Ex and start planning your visit right here!
UPDATE 8/21/13 9:00 AM EST: Thank you for everyone’s concern as I’ve received multiple messages asking if I’m well after News of this broke this morning. Multiple Outlets are reporting that at least 12 people fell ill last night after eating at The Ex and some are reporting that these Patrons consumed The Cronut Burger.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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