Salty, sweet and everything in between: QCX food vendors ready for fair

Half the fun of a carnival is all the different food you can try.

Food vendors were setting up for the Queen City Exhibition on Tuesday morning in preparation for Wednesday’s opening day. The QCX runs through Sunday.

Seanna Pascal owns Saltspring NoodleBar and Chicky’s Chicken. Pascal and her team were just at Edmonton’s K-Days.

“It’s always a rush. We had a day to set up, get organized, and be ready for opening day. It just happens to be a really hot day, but we’re doing it,” she said.

Her food trucks were at the QCX in 2017, but they hadn’t returned until this year.

When she bought the business, she thought coming to Regina right after the Edmonton fair would be too difficult as a new business owner.

“Coming in more experienced now, I decided let’s do it this year because it’s been a good year so far,” she said.

Saltspring Noodle Bar has noodle boxes, teriyaki chicken, pad thai and more.

“Everything is not cooked with oil; it’s actually cooked with water. So it is a little healthier,” said Pascal.

They prep their veggies and sauces every day. She’s expecting a good turnout.

“I’m excited to be here. Regina is actually my hometown,” she said.

The Little Donut Bakery food truck at the QCX. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Jessa Bedford and her family aren’t strangers to the QCX.

“We are the family that introduced mini donuts to the Regina Ex back when it was Buffalo Days in 1968,” said Bedford.

“We retired for a little bit and then brought back a new business. This is our first year back; we’re excited to be back.”

They had a bit of a late start Tuesday morning but said they are getting settled and will be ready for opening day.

“The weather looks warm. There’s no reason to not come out. Get your donuts on the way home,” she said with a laugh.

Their truck has endless toppings that can be combined however a snacker likes, with sprinkles, icing sugar, chocolate sauce, cream cheese and more.

The Sweet Life ice cream truck makes its debut at QCX. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

There’s nothing like a cold treat on a hot day. That’s exactly what you can get at The Sweet Life food truck.

Jacqui Kennett-Peppler operates the ice cream truck that serves soft and hard ice cream, various ice cream treats, mini donuts and a mini donut sundae that all are made in the truck.

She was booked at the QCX in 2020, when the fair was cancelled due to COVID. This will be her debut at the fair.

“We’re happy to actually start getting at events again and get ourselves out there. We’re proud to be a part of the exhibition this year,” said Kennett-Peppler.

They have a permanent store in White City and take their food truck to different events across the city.

She hopes the good weather will bring out a big crowd.