Crazy foods to tickle tastebuds at the PNE

Try pickle-flavoured candy floss or a Flamin' Hot Corn Dog at the Fair this year

Global, goofy, and gut-busting seems to be mantra for the creative culinary minds behind all of the new foods that you’ll be able to chow down on this year at the Fair at the PNE. But save room for some healthier eats – or at least eats without meats – and plenty of deep-fried goodness for 2019.

Last year was all about crickets and charcoal, while this year it’s all about pickles and ramen. And just when you thought French Fries couldn’t be anything extra, they’ve gone and made them foot-long.

For 2019, over 10 per cent of the food booths at the Fair are new, and there seems to be an increased emphasis on plant-based options. The now-ubiquitous Beyond Meat burger will be in two spots at the Fair (at the Handmade Stuffed Burger Booth on the Fair main food line or at the Lookout Grill in Playland).

Among the many new vendors showcasing veg-forward eats are Govinda’s Vegan Vegetarian Street Food and North Vancouver’s own Buddha-Ful Vegetarian Food, the latter of which will be parking their cool double-decker bus food truck on the Fair’s main food line.

With nearly-unspeakable things being done to good old cotton candy and corndogs, along with something called a “Tipsy Unicorn,” here are some of the standouts among the class of 2019’s new foods you can find at this year’s Fair at the PNE.

Banana Bread French Toast & Bacon Pancake Dippers

Try this tasty break-fast style treat — Banana Bread French Toast. Photo courtesy of the PNE

Butter Beer Ice Cream

Butter Beer soft-serve ice cream. Photo courtesy PNE

Foot Long French Fries

Freakk Fries! Photo courtesy PNE

Devil’s Ramen

Devil’s Ramen. Photo courtesy PNE

Mighty Zeus Onion

The Mighty Zeus Onion: whole onion cut and dipped in homemade batter and garnished with green pepper, red onion, tomato, feta cheese and more. Photo courtesy PNE

Cheesy Ramen Corn Dog

Cheesy Ramen Corndog. Photo courtesy PNE

Tipsy Unicorn Dry Ice Drink

The Tipsy Unicorn. Photo courtesy PNE

Chana Tater Tots

Chana Tater Tots: Tater tots topped with sliced onion, green chilies, diced tomato, chickpeas and sliced chicken, all tossed in a house-made chana masala sauce and garnished with fresh coriander and ginger. Photo courtesy PNE