What is this year’s PNE Fair serving? Here are some new items you can look forward to

The PNE is back in full swing, and some might say the best part about the annual fair is getting to try all the wacky, silly food creations vendors come up with.

There are 70 food vendors this year, and CityNews has tried a bunch of new items so you know what you can look forward to.

Up first: the Spamalot from Reel Mac and Cheese, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the fair.

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“It is our traditional mac and cheese,” said co-owner Suzanne Poudrier.

“We cut up Spam, fried, with a nice drizzle on top.”

Poudrier says Reel Mac and Cheese is a family-operated business.

“It is kind of fun to do it with my parents, husband, and two kids now,” she said. “It is not too hard, because we are doing it together.”

The PNE is known for its flavour mashups and globally inspired eats, and this year is no different.

One example is the smash burger poutine from Unroutine Poutine.

Another option: the crispy ginger beef perogies from International Perogies.

Then, foodies can head to Bomb Nachos, which is serving up gluten-friendly nachos.

“What we like about our nachos is, it’s pretty balanced,” said owner Michael Carlos.

“We have fresh-cut fresh fried chips every day, with different types of toppings.”

One example of those toppings is the hot heater honey with Nashville sprinkles.

Incidentally, Bomb Nacho owner Michael Carlos is the brother of the owner of Unroutine Poutine.

“He’s the sensei, I’m the grasshopper,” Carlos said.

“He’s been doing this a long time. Do I see him as competition? Probably not yet, but hopefully it will be there one day.”

Another item new to the fair this year is the Twister Roni, which is basically a fried pizza on a stick, stuffed with cheese and pepperoni and topped with garlic butter and marinara sauce.

And of course, no visit to the fair is complete without the famous mini-donuts.

“Throughout the summer, we’ve been doing a salted caramel brownie, and our black forest cherry is exclusive to the PNE,” said Jessa Bedford, owner of The Little Donut Bakery.

“It’s actually our 55th year as a family here at the PNE.”

And if you are stuffed after a full day of eating, you can top it all off with some Indigenous frozen treats.

“We just launched our gourmet freezies with our Indigenous flavours: sage blueberry, sweetgrass cherry, and then Bella Coola hibiscus,” said Inez Cook, owner of Salmon N Bannock.

“We decided to add coffee ones as well.”

There is something for everyone at this year’s PNE Fair, on now until Sept. 7.