Five Vancouver-made bacon treats for Bacon Day

It's International Bacon Day on Saturday (August 31)—wait, you didn’t know? The holiday (my favourite following Thanksgiving and Christmas) is celebrated on the Saturday before Labour Day. Two years ago, I celebrated with a scoop of chocolate-bacon gelato from Bella Gelateria, and this year I plan on indulging in more pork-licious treats. If you intend on celebrating, here’s a list of foods available in the Lower Mainland that bacon-lovers will enjoy.

The Porker
I had the Porker—a melange of double-smoked bacon, sausage, bacon stuffing, goat Gouda, arugala, and apple chutney—at a food truck event last year. The sandwich wrap (which I don’t recommend to anyone currently seeing a cardiologist) is made by Pig on the Street, the bright pink food cart run by Krissy Seymour and Mark Cothey. On Saturday, they’re scheduled to be parked on Howe Street between Robson and Georgia from noon to 4 p.m. Don’t bother having breakfast before consuming the Porker (it's monsterous), and if you still have room afterwards, try their bacon-bourbon-caramel brownie, which is just as indulgent as it sounds.

Canadian Whiskey Bacon Doughnut and Apple Bacon Fritter
Last year, Vancouver went through a bit of a doughnut craze and up popped a bunch of artisan doughnut shops. At Cartems Donuterie (408 Carrall Street), the Maple Bacon Bourbon doughnut was a top-seller (trust me, it took me months to get my hands on one of those). Recently, the owners started offering a Canadian Whiskey Bacon doughnut. The deep-fried ring of happiness includes whiskey, bacon fat, and maple extract, and topped with double-smoked bacon bits. If that doesn’t make your heart sing, “Oh Canada”, I don’t know what will. Across town, Lucky’s Doughnuts (2902 Main Street) makes an Apple Bacon Fritter, and just before you dismiss this tiny wonder as “not a real doughnut”, just remember, a fritter is just code word for “more surface area” (hello, no hole!). The creation at Lucky’s is filled with apple and bacon and topped with maple glaze—and of course, bacon bits.

Bacon in Eggs
I had a chance to try these bacon-flavoured chocolates from Mink Chocolates (863 West Hastings Street; 15775 Croydon Drive, Surrey) a few months ago. Basically, they’re milk chocolate eggs with real bacon bits inside, dipped in white chocolate and made to look like adorable baby bird eggs. They’re a bit smoky in flavour, and will certainly appeal to those who love the combination of sweet and salty at the same time.

Maple Bacon Monkey Butter
I discovered Monkey Butter at the PNE marketplace last year. The East Vancouver-based peanut butter brand churns out several unique flavours (including Dark Chocolate Cherry and White Chocolate Pretzel), but by far, my favourite flavour is Maple Bacon. I’ve been spreading this stuff over my morning toast the last little while, and it really is the breakfast of champions (never again will you have to decide: peanut butter or bacon?). Find a jar at grocery stores across the province, including Edible Canada (1596 Johnston Street), Le Marché St. George (4393 St. George Street), and Urban Fare (various locations) in Vancouver.

Bacon Cheddar Scallion Scone
I know what you’re thinking, “Finally, something normal that’s supposed to have bacon in it”. The bacon-cheddar-scallion scone at The Last Crumb (3080 Main Street) is seemingly simple yet infinitely satisfying. It’s fluffy and tender and salty, and basically everything you want a scone to be. You can ask about gluten-free option too. If that isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is.