What to eat: Tackling some of the messier K-Days grub
Each year when K-Days comes around, food vendors bring out the latest in joyously excessive carnival cuisine.
On Sunday, I sampled some of the decadent foods new to the fair this year that, although we can never know for sure, I feel confident saying Caligula himself would have loved.
MEXICAN STREET STYLE CORN
This won the coveted K-Days New Foods Contest last Friday. Zdebiak Concessions gives the rather bland vegetable a delicious makeover with some mayo/sour cream and a flavour dusting of either Parmesan, jalapeno or hot Cheetos (or all three).
Recommended for everyone. Watch for crumbs on your chin.
There seems to be a trend over the last decade to craft increasingly complex hotdog creations, sacrificing easy handling for maximum flavour. Phat Dawgs knows the score and this year has both a bibimbap and a lobster option. I opted to take on the former and despite the lack of rice, the flavour of that dish with its chopped vegetables, fried egg, and Korean spice bestows the beef with a little personality.
Recommended for hotdog fans looking to spice things up.
CRICKET GRILLED CHEESE
Once upon a time, Joe Rogan would cajole contestants to eat an assortment of creepy crawlies on the game show Fear Factor. At Tin Lizzy Concessions, they’ve captured that taunting spirit by putting crickets on a grilled cheese sandwich, which, thankfully, are hardly noticeable between the thick toast and four-cheese blend but for the occasional muted crunch. It’s easy to forget how important texture is to a finely crafted meal — unfortunately, it’s not so easy to forget what that texture is.
Recommended for thrill-seekers, daredevils, and gardeners out for a taste of revenge.
VANILLA BEAN DEEP FRIED COFFEE
Ogopogo Concessions honours the ancient carnival tradition of deep-frying anything and everything with the Vanilla Bean Deep Fried Coffee. Chocolate-covered espresso beans with a sweet vanilla glaze and powdered sugar means when I do sleep again I will likely dream of mysterious monsters in the mists of the Okanagan.
Recommended for sweet-tooths and tired parents (but definitely not their children). Good to share.