SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY Research by: Kate Schwass-Bueckert TASTY TREATS Fried Bubble gum Red Velvet Funnel Cake Deep Fried Rice Krispy Krispy Kreme Burger Deep Fried Coke Chocolate Covered Bacon Jack Daniels Fudge Texas Fried FRITOS Pie At this years’ CNE you could tempt your taste buds with a Deep Fried Rice Krispy treat. Deep Fried Kool-Aid Bacon Sundae Funnel Cake Chicken Fried Bacon Deep Fried Butter IN MINUTES News and events — visually Carnivals have always been associated with wacky food inventions, but never have the treats been as outlandish as they are today. Here’s a look at some of the crazy food you might find at your local fair. 2010 best taste winner at the Texas State Fair Texas Fried FRITOS® Pie Balls of cheese and chili rolled in corn chips and then battered and deep fried. Chicken Fried Bacon won the award for Best Taste at the 2008 State Fair of Texas food contest. Deep fried coke showed up at the CNE in 2011. A 16oz. cup of deep fried coke syrup, topped with whip cream and a cherry runs close to 1,000 calories! In 2010, Deep Fried Butter made its way to the CNE in Toronto. This year, the Calgary Stampede had a number of yummy treats to mark 100 years including: Deep fried Kool-Aid: various flavours are added to a finger-licking dough and fried to a golden crisp Jack Daniels-soaked fudge: A distinctive and flavourful fudge Red velvet funnel cake & bacon sundae funnel cake Fried bubble gum won most creative at the 2011 Texas State Fair. But it’s not really bubble gum, just a bubble gum-flavoured marsh- mallow dipped in batter, fried and served with powdered sugar. Why not grab a piece of chocolate covered bacon? A very Canadian mix of flavours, the bacon sundae funnel cake is topped with whipped cream, maple syrup and bacon bits. The Krispy Kreme burger — with nearly 2,000 calories — the hamburger, cheese and fried egg wedged between two sugary doughnuts hit the Calgary Stampede and the CNE in 2011. Odd food is not only a big tradition at fairs and carnivals, but has made its way into fast food. FAST FOOD 2010: KFC double-down is a hit with Canadians In the U.S., Friendly’ s releases the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Burger Melt. A burger with grilled cheese sandwiches for buns. This year, Burger King launched its bacon sundae (U.S. only)