Chip Truck #13---Poutine Krazee

Actually, we did go to a couple other trucks since my last review, but one wasn't really spectacular and the other was at a food truck festival. I was worried for this summer as there didn't seem to be anything new in Whitby. I know there's still trucks in Ajax and north Oshawa that we haven't gone to, but with gas prices, and food prices, this gets to be an expensive outing!

I was really excited to see that Kelly's Kitchen had disappeared and a new truck was in it's place. Kelly's was okay, but not exciting.  This new truck looked exciting, bright, attractive, and the name?! Poutine Krazee! How could you resist that?! I saw it in early spring, but we've had a wet, cool spring and it never felt like chip truck weather until recently. I saw them at the Whitby Food Truck Frenzy, but since they're local, my husband opted for another truck, thinking we could just run over and try them anytime.

That time came, and I messaged PK on Facebook, asking if they're always at the spot on Highway 2 or do they travel, or have a second truck for those festivals. I didn't want to head over with three hungry kids and have it not be there! Roger replied back really quickly saying that they left that spot and were focusing on travel and special events. Oh no! :( However, he was doing a corporate event in the next week and would I like to come over and try a sample?

Would I? Watch the Carnival Eats segment and tell me you don't want to sample that!  Double fried potatoes are the only way to go! Due to highschool exam week, I was able to bring my older two kids, who happen to be my pickiest. One doesn't care much for cheese, the other is just picky. I was a little worried that gourmet poutine would be out of their league. Could they handle it? We headed down to meet Roger and to find out.

Roger is definitely one of the friendliest food truck operators I've met. He answered all our questions. We were especially interested to know the "Carnival Eats!" process. We opted for three different poutines. I had the Parmesan-Garlic Bacon:

 Mmmm.  Look at that!! The fries were excellent. Top notch fries.  The garlic sauce was smooth and delicious. And freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top? Nothing shaken out a can here! This was a really nice variation on poutine without being too wild. I had been thinking about getting the Jalapeno Cheesy, but I wasn't sure if it would be "too" jalapeno-ish for me. Next time!

 My son wasn't too happy to be dragged out. He was studying for a grade 11 math exam. I don't care. When will you use grade 11 math? When will you eat poutine? Poutine education is much more importaner. (Just kidding! He's thinking about going into engineering. Poutine and math will both be very important in the next 5 years!).  He got the "Bacon Me Krazee" poutine. He felt it was a little rich for him (two types of cheese) and he had been snacking all morning during studying so he actually wasn't too hungry.

 Lucy is picky. She opted for the Cheese Poutine. We have mixed feelings on the use of shredded cheese in poutine. We love how it melts, but we also love cheese curds. So this is an awesome mix of both.

I was starving, but I will say I got defeated by this serving size! I was surprised. I think because the cheese is filling, and also I was sampling the kids'. I also wish I had a spoon. Note to self--pack a little "poutine pack" in the truck with spoon and wipes. The garlic sauce was a nice change to poutine sauce. And the double fried fries. Have I mentioned those? I don't know if a truck called "Poutine Krazee" could serve plain fries, but they should (I see in one of their FB pictures that they do and the prices are good!). The poutine sauce/gravy was also delicious. It was thicker than some trucks. Maybe it was thickening as it cooled but I think a good sauce should do that. We weren't left with "broth" at the bottom of the bowls, just sauce. However, something I noticed was that something on the poutines wasn't hot by the time we got over to the picnic area. Maybe the bacon bits, or maybe the sauce? I'm not a fan of cold bacon. Well, a bit in my Caesar salad is good, but the portion here was very generous--it was a main ingredient, not a "topping". If the bacon bits started out cold then maybe that's why the sauce cooled quickly. I wouldn't let that deter me from ordering one with bacon again though. It could simply have been a time-delay thing.

Hugh didn't eat much but said it was really good--though he felt there was too much bacon. What?! It is a bacon poutine, LOL! I left his on the counter and when my youngest got home she immediately warmed it up and gobbled it down and was mad she didn't get to come to the tasting. Oh well, sucks to be in grade six!

If you see this bright red and yellow chip truck (actually a trailer) at any event, line up. You might get lucky and there'll be a special menu item like cricket poutine. Seriously. I don't know if I can try that, but I know they're popular. I would definitely rate this as one of the top five spots for poutine. Sad we can't just drive over whenever we feel like it, but hopefully we'll see them elsewhere this summer.

UPDATE: 
I found out Poutine Krazee was going to be hanging out at a local garden centre a few weeks ago. I took my husband and youngest kid, since they missed the first tasting.

I got the one with crunchy Cheetos on top. I will admit I did pick off most of the jalapenos. I can only eat one or two at a time LOL. But I like the flavour they add. Again, the fries were awesome. You can't look at this like traditional poutine, but as an awesome edible adventure with potatoes and cheese.

I'm not sure what this one was. But it was devoured. My daughter ordered one with a summer name, I think. Except that she didn't get tomatoes on it, I think. She liked it. I thought it was a strange choice for her (it had sour cream on it), but it was her choice. She couldn't quite finish.

If you see this food truck at an event near you, GO! Roger is super nice, the food is super good and you will leave super stuffed!

Sky Zone "Sensory Sunday" Review

My son is proprioceptively hyporesponsive (among other issues) which has made him hold true to the "bouncing baby boy" cards. He bounces all the time. Not as much as before, but still a lot. And he turns 17 tomorrow!

Along with the proprioceptive issues were other things like sensitivity to sounds, lights, and smells. The only person I know that doesn't like the smell of baking buns at Subway! All these little issues are pretty big when you're a little guy, and we spent a lot of time avoiding places or modifying activities to keep him comfortable. Sometimes it was frustrating. Storytime at the library? He sat when the other marched, marched while they sat, played human bowling when they were supposed to be twirling. Etc. We missed out on a lot. Then add two more kids, and then a big move.

In 2014, I saw Sky Zone on "Undercover Boss". I had heard of Sky Zone but there wasn't any local to us. I was really impressed with the business after watching that episode! In 2015, one opened in Whitby. So even though my kids were now older (15, 12, 8), I was sure they'd still enjoy it. Me....meh. I'm not a jumper. Perhaps something to do with my body shape, LOL. Somehow I managed to convince the husband to take the three kids by himself.

They came back loving it, though Hugh said the music was annoying/too loud. For a kid with earbuds in all the time, he never talks about music, never wants to go to a concert, doesn't have a favourite song, band, genre. I don't know if he ever listens to music other than when we're in the truck.

Earlier this year, I heard that Sky Zone has special "sensory" jump times. Incredible. Where was this 14 years ago?! It's advertised as a "quieter, more relaxed jumping experience" with modified safety measures, less crowded environment, added staff to support all jumpers, and light and sound reduction.

I was invited to write about Sky Zone for this blog and I thought it would be awesome to check out the Sensory Friendly jump time. I know so many kids that would benefit. And not just kids--I'm one of those adults who doesn't do well in high energy environments.

At the Whitby location, the Sensory Friendly jumps are on certain Sunday mornings, 9-11am, (June 25th/2017 is the next one) and Monday afternoons, 3-7 (Monday June 5th is the next). Check the online calendar or call for more dates. On Sundays, they open to the general public at 10am and Mondays at 4pm. I arrived at about 10am on a Sunday to tour.

https://www.skyzone.com/ca-whitby
This photo is not totally accurate. Draw a line down the centre and ignore everything to the right. The court in the middle is dodgeball, and the main court, foam pit, and SkySlam are stretching back to the left.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the lack of music. I love music, but the combination of loud music and loud, happy children is too much for me. I had been into Sky Zone once before when my daughter was attending a birthday party, and it felt so bright, noisy, and overwhelming. It was none of that this time! The lights were dimmed to a comfortable level and it was not busy at all. I immediately relaxed.

For some great pictures and video of the actual Whitby location, click HERE. I like being prepared when I go new places.

Nicole gave me a tour and talked about the different zones and changes they make for Sensory Friendly jump times. There is a sign in the washrooms suggesting patrons do not use the hand dryers, because of the noise! Awesome! There were staff everywhere, interacting with kids, not just observing. There were only a few families there, so there was lots of space on the main court for the kids jumping. I also saw kids using the  SkySlam! area-- three basketball nets (different heights!), and saw the toddler zone. I could see into the foam pit and was amazed at the tiny little girl jumping in!

Photo fromhttps://www.skyzone.com/ca-whitby

I actually saw a child I know from my lunch supervisor job. I know he has autism and was happy to see him having a great time. I told him the next day that I saw him there, and he got SO excited. He says he loves Sky Zone, and his favourite is the "cheese pit". I assume that's the foam block pit!!  LOL!

One thing that would have concerned me when my kids were little was how to keep them all contained in one area. The layout is great though, and it would be easy for one parent to watch several kids while keeping an eye on the entrance ramp. I thought the ramp was awesome. Going up stairs can be tricky for little kids, or other people with spatial or physical impairments. I also noticed fluorescent tape accenting many features around the park. This is for their "Glow Party" nights, so you can still find things with the lights down.

There are activities on the main floor area, away from the trampoline, as well as a snack bar area with lots of seating. A good spot for a breather. 

I was even excited by the pricing. It's $6 +tax for 60 minutes and one non-jumping chaperone is free!

Normally, for open jump time, 60 minutes is $15.99 +tax. While Sunday mornings are not my optimal time for family outings, I would definitely consider going on a Monday. Many local support groups/services also co-ordinate outings, so if you're a member of any support group, ask about that. It's more fun to jump with a friend.

Waivers still need to be filled in (I'd do it online to reduce children's impatience once they get in there), and SkySocks are a must. If your child is sensitive to socks, I suggest wearing the SkySocks over their regular pair of socks. It took a bit of digging, but I also found that no outside food is allowed. Understandable, though frustrating for those on a budget. Really, for one hour of jumping, just have some snacks in the car. I assume there are water fountains though I will check.

I was really impressed with Nicole's enthusiasm; it totally matched what I had seen on Undercover Boss. Staff seemed happy to be there. I know Open Jump times might be different, due to the busyness, but if you're catering to kids with extra needs during Sensory Friendly jump times, you need staff that are approachable and excited to be there. If you're unsure if your child will enjoy it, at least it's not an expensive outing, and you're not committed to using up passes or coming every week at a certain time. Come once, and just be prepared for the big smiles, sweaty brows, and the constant question "When can we go to SkyZone again?".