The Royal has begun! Every year for the past 86 years, farmers from all over trek to the big city to join in Canada's largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition. The Royal Agriculture Winter Fair takes place in the Direct Energy Building at the Exhibition Place in Toronto from November 7-16. I had a peak around on Friday when I was at the Culinary Book Awards and snapped a couple of pics. The fair is bigger than ever! I love the livestock shows with the 4-H kids showing off their prized calves, hogs, sheep etc. I caught one of them giving a wash down and blow dry to his pretty calf's rear end right before judging! The show really has a bit of everything, food pavilions, wine tastings, best of competitions of everything you can imagine (the butter sculptures are always fun!). Last year I judged the jam and pickle competitions. The real highlight of Royal is the equestrian shows and rodeos. Well worth the ticket, but the popular ones sell out fast. And, there is a ton of good (and bad) things to eat! Homemade fudge as far as the eye can see, bison burgers, pemeal bacon sandwiches and they also have fine dining restaurants set up right in show grounds. Here are links to last year's posts from the Royal: Jam Judging at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Peanut Pumpkins! More From The Royal Enjoy the Royal, let me know if you go and what you find there. Don't forget to sign up to have the foodie-file delivered directly to your e-mail inbox, I have seven more cookbooks to give away!