To me, the Canadian National Exhibition, or The EX, has always been about food. Making yourself sick on the latest trend in fair food mixed with the classic favourites; ice cream waffle sandwiches, Tiny Tom Donuts, and all of the other calorie laden examples of the cultural phenomena that is one of the largest draws at the end of the summer in Toronto. Great people watching, the midway, the various buildings offering things to buy and animals to watch, and of course what we are here to talk about, the food. 

I had not been to The EX in a couple of years, but was invited to come down by The Dairy Farmers of Canada for the Grate Canadian Grilled Cheese Cook-Off, where 4 top chefs would compete for bragging rights as to who can make the best grilled cheese. Each chef prepared two original grilled cheese recipes, and were judged by quite the panel of experts -  food writers Lucy Waverman, Rita DeMontis, and everyone’s favourite snark, Corey Mintz. The chefs included Paul Rogalski of Calgary's Rouge Restaurant; Michael Howell, a slow food champion from Wolfville, Nova Scotia's own Tempest Restaurant; Melissa Craig, of the famous Bearfoot Bistro in beautiful Whistler, B.C.; and last but not least, the replacement for Corbin Tomaszeski was his team member from Holt’s Cafe here in Toronto, Chef Lucas.

So it began, the battle of the grilled cheese. Who shall prevail?

Chef Lucas, Holt's Cafe

Ham Grilled Cheese, Chef Melissa

Curry Me Brie, Chef Paul

Spicy Shrimp Grilled Cheese in the back, and Chef Corbin's Best Ever, Holt's Cafe

Our judges

Chef Melissa, figuring out the Panini press

Chef Michaels duck, ready for his Dark and Stormy

Chef Michael, and our host Gurth Pretty, self-proclaimed "Canada's Cheese Guru"

Chef Melissa's French Toast Grilled Cheese

Chef Michael working on his winning Panini Toscano

Chef Melissa getting serious!

Chef Melissa's plated creations

Close-up of the Ham Grilled Cheese

All of the chefs creations

The final presentation for the cameras. Note Chef Michael's trophy

The results:

Overall winner - Michael Howell - Panini Toscano

Most Aromatic - Lucas Castle - Spicy Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Most Gooey - Melissa Craig - French Toast Grilled Cheese

Most mouth-watering - Paul Rogalski - Cheddar Your Wagons

The cook-off was a very professionally organized event, and I had a lot of fun watching the chefs create above average grilled cheeses. Who doesn't love a good grilled cheese? My favourite had to be a tie between the French Toast Grilled Cheese, and the Chef Corbin's Best Ever, followed by the overall winner, the Panini Toscano. The only thing that would have made it better was to have included some of the smaller producers, to help them gain exposure. The only cheese I saw was from the big boys. 

Not Tiny Toms, don't be fooled!

One of my all-time favourites

The real deal, Tiny Toms coming hot out of the oil

Here is some deep fried Mac & Cheese we got. Quite tasty, but needed some habanero salt, which it got for breakfast the next morning

The line for deep fried butter. Yes, deep fried butter.

Said deep fried butter

A Twinkie given the treatment of an ice cream cone

Our friend Shawn, from itallstartswithbutter.com, not impressed with the deep fried take on his personal brand

It doesn't seem that Lauren is impressed either.

You will have to go to The EX yourself, and search out this freak of nature, to see for yourself. Not pictured is out friend LuckyPenny, whose site you should check it, but clearly was afraid of the treats being offered on the midway and left us after the competition. 

Now it is time for our very first giveaway* here at CommunityFoodist! Thanks to The Dairy Farmers of Canada I have a prize pack to give away featuring a cutting board, a cookbook, and an apron. To win just comment below as to what your favourite grilled cheese would include, besides great Canadian cheese, and I will draw a winner. Good luck and pass the word!

*The contest is only open to residents of the Greater Toronto area, and you must be following me on Twitter to qualify. One entry per person.