Pickle ice cream and steak eclairs: CNE unveils this year’s wacky treats

The eclair is a mix of sweet and savoury, with a piece of steak accompanied by provolone cheese, banana slices, chocolate sauce and whipped cream _ all wrapped in a donut. ( File Photo: Marc-Andre Lariviere/Flickr,CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

TORONTO — Chocolate-banana steak eclairs, pickle ice cream, fried frog legs and s’more fried chicken sandwiches are among the crazy gastronomic concoctions revealed before the Canadian National Exhibition opens in Toronto on Friday.

The annual summer carnival is known for its wacky foods and the selection for this year’s event that was unveiled Wednesday is proving to be no different.

The eclair is a mix of sweet and savoury, with a piece of steak accompanied by provolone cheese, banana slices, chocolate sauce and whipped cream — all wrapped in a donut.

Besides the pickle ice cream, the CNE says other unusual frozen flavours will be on offer, including creme de la corn, which is served with a fresh piece of corn on the cob, and curry coconut, which is served in a coconut shell.

Those with finer taste can have the vanilla ice cream dessert covered in chocolate and edible 24-karat gold leaves.

The CNE also did not forget Toronto sports fans with the “Blue Jay Nest” — a waffle bowl stuffed with vanilla ice cream, pretzels, popcorn, caramel drizzle, cotton candy and a donut decorated like a baseball.

Other usual treats include deep-fried wine and cheese, deep-fried Ferroro Rocher and cotton candy ice cream burritos.