This time of year always reminds me of the EX! No I’m not getting nostalgic for my past love...what I’m talking about is much more exciting, the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. The CNE is a plethora of amusements; carnival games, rides, and every type of food you could ever imagine all housed under one roof appropriately named, “the food building”. Since my birthday is in August, my Dad would plan our annual trip to the EX as a dual celebration-kill two candy apples with one stone, if you will.

Meticulous planning went into our day at the EX. Proper foot wear and versatile clothing in the case of in climate weather was to be considered as was scheduling the appropriate amount of down time between food consumption and going on the rides. (FYI, trust me no one likes a kid with a full belly and bad case of motion sickness, I know from which I speak, but I digress.)

The food building was always a favourite spot for our family to explore. My Dad would wander around for hours and you could easily find him at one of the following favourites; the homemade donuts stall, the pea meal bacon on a bun place, and/or the toasted waffle ice cream sandwiches stand. The food building had meals from around the globe; Italian spaghetti and pizza, Greek souvlaki, Chinese noodles all in the same row. This was well before food courts were in every mall so the sheer excitement of each kid getting exactly what they wanted for lunch was simply remarkable to a family with nine kids.

I’ve tried to duplicate these summertime foods from my childhood but somehow they never quite taste the same. How did those toasted waffles not melt the ice cream filling? What mustard did they use on those amazing Montreal smoked meat sandwiches? Why do dill pickles taste so much better on a stick? Maybe they made all that food with a secret recipe; one part carnival air, two parts excitement and a dash of good old innocent fun. Things always taste a little sweeter in our memories I guess.

After a day filled with Crown and anchor, guess your weight and whack a mole games, and our arms filled with brightly coloured stuffed animals, we’d make the long pilgrimage back to our parking spot. Just before we’d leave the grounds through the big gates of Lakeshore, my Dad would give us the choice of an ice cream cone (which he would eat half of under the guise of cleaning up the drips) or a red candy apple to go...I always chose the candy apple-my theory was, it lasted longer. And every year my Dad would make sure the birthday girl got the special seat at the very back of our station wagon where I could let my head hang out the back tailgate window...he was a very smart man.

Tell me your vacation food memories!

Happy carnival food consumption all!

Jack

Keywords : Canada National Exhibition, carnival, carnival food, EX, food building

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