New PNE Memories

The fluffy cinnamon sugared mini donuts

An annual event is already underway in Vancouver -- the Pacific National Exhibition, or PNE as it is known. For the last few weeks in August, people of all ages descend on the giant grounds to play games in the hopes of winning prizes, or buying tickets with the chance of winning a home, watch the Super Dogs show, go on the rides, eat lots of junk food, from hot dogs and cotton candy to snow cones and mini donuts.

When I was a child my dad would take us to the PNE, but we never got on the rides, like the rickety roller coaster because he deemed them too dangerous, which in turn made us too nervous to even ask to go on them; nor did we get to eat any junk food either because it was terribly unhealthy. 

Large dinosaurs that move and growl

So we'd just walk around, see stuff and then go home. My memories of the PNE weren't the greatest.

Then fast forward to around 2006 when I had a radio assignment to check out the newest rides at the PNE. The ride in question? Free falling from the height of a 10-storey building.

I had the microphone strapped to my hand and the mini disc recorder on record with me screaming for about 10 seconds before landing with a thud onto a giant air cushion. 

I survived to tell the tale.

Over 15 years later I went along with my cousins and nephews to the PNE and experiencing it again. 

We didn't go on the rides as the kids are under six years old, but we saw lots of large dinosaurs that moved their arms and heads and made growling noises. We saw the Super Dogs show which was lots of fun and inspired my cousin to try to train her puppy to do some tricks.

Coleslaw with ribs and brisket (underneath)

We saw some farm animals, like a giant pig with one of her piglets suckling, the other siblings resting together in the hay, and some fluffy yellow chicks that weren't afraid of human touch.

And yes we ate some food -- a stand serving barbecue meats had a decent serving of ribs and beef brisket along with some coleslaw and cornbread.

But it was the mini donuts that stole the show. 

The ones from Tin Lizzy Concessions makes pillowy, fluffy mini donuts that are coated in cinnamon and sugar that are just the best indulgence at the fair. We got a bag for CAD$8 but then I couldn't resist and bought the basket for CAD$15 to bring home!