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
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
Pickle Flavour Cotton Candy
Pickle Cotton Candy. Photo courtesy PNE
Rice Burgers
Rice Burger. Photo courtesy PNE
Plus these items:
- Pulled Pork Tater Tot Nachos
- Pickle Pizza
- Traditional Mexican Street Corn
- Watermelon Candy Floss
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Funnel Cake Pizza
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Jalapeno Lemonade
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The Snickly Dog
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Flamin' Hot Corn Dogs
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Pizza Perogies
The PNE Fair runs from August 17–September 2 (closed August 19 and 26). Info about tickets, hours, and programming is online here.