There's a familiar face coming to the CNE this year: Fran's, the legendary Toronto diner chain, has secured a spot at the Ex's food building, that vast temple to out-there carnival snacks, for this year's edition of the festival, which kicks off August 15. Since this is the CNE, and nothing can be consumed in its traditional form, the diner chain will be blending slices of its beloved pies (apple, specifically, as well as cheesecake, carrot cake, and brownies) into its equally beloved milkshakes.

Other Fran's offerings: peanut butter-sriracha balls, bacon and egg-stuffed maple french toast, and a waffle topped with turkey and all the Thanksgiving fixings (a nod to the diner's popular Thanksgiving dinner). Here's my question, Fran's: Why did you wait until the CNE brought you on board? Couldn't you have done this stuff when I was in college and eating your breakfasts at 1am three times a week? There's still hope for the younger generation, though, as Fran's staff tell the Star they're not ruling out adding these treats to the restaurant menu.