Stampede Food
Fear not foodies, included in our Calgary Stampede 2016 reviews we here at the Eagle went out to test some of the latest and greatest dishes that Stampede has to offer to ensure your snacking satisfaction.
Fruit from a Fruit
If you have gone this far in your life without ever drinking anything from a pineapple or watermelon, this is your chance. Starting off our review with a refreshing drink was the best and worst decision we made - if you happen to stop by this stand and purchase either of these fruits, be prepared to get stopped every five minutes by someone inquiring where you bought the funky drink. Overall, the drinks were light and refreshing (and allegedly the healthiest option on the Midway) but oddly filling. And pro-trip to those 18-years-old and older Stampeders, you can bring the drink into a beer gardens and add alcohol to it – Yahoo!
The Colossal Onion
Our first appetizer was one of the Stampede classics, an onion cut in the shape of a lotus flower, deep fried with the middle cut out to fit the chipotle dipping sauce. While kind of difficult to pull apart and too much for one person (or even two), it can be a great dish to share between a couple of friends or family – and the sauce is amazing if you like it slightly spicy.
Godzilla Mac & Cheese
If you are missing your sushi fix while cruising the grounds, the Godzilla mac & cheese with roasted seaweed, teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayo might be the dish for you. A unique twist on classic mac and cheese, the roasted seaweed adds an unexpected crunch and the extra mayo makes the whole dish creamier but if you are not a big fan of going out of the box for food maybe stick to the classic version.
Pickle Dog
One of the new foods to hit the Midway this year, a hotdog stuffed in a pickle and battered and fried in cornmeal, is everything you would expect from that description. Foodies should be warned, the first bite can be mouth-burning and the rest of the pickle dog can be messy so it is not recommended as an eating and walking food. If you like pickles and corndogs though, it is a definite win.
Salted Caramel Deep Fried Coffee
Coffee infused batter, deep fried and topped with salted caramel sauce, yes please! One of the new desserts to hit the Midway this year with talk about it being voted the best dessert for 2016, it is easy to see why. While the deep fried coffee is not a batter ball you bite into with liquid coffee inside, the also donut-like dessert is still delicious and a must for salted-caramel lovers. But be warned, the portion size might look small but you can get full fast, best to share.
Deep Fried Cheesecake
Another Stampede classic and with good reason as the tried and true dessert is the perfect amount of sweet and crunchy. Topped with icing sugar, this sweet treat can be a tad messy if you are not careful so make sure you wear light clothing. While the portion sizes are small so we definitely do not recommended sharing, the deep fried cheesecake can be the perfect way to end your Stampede binge fest.
Here are some other words of wisdom for our food-loving Stampede friends - while the list of interesting and new foods can be found on the Calgary Stampede website or in one of the pamphlets handed out at the grounds, other food that our bellies were too full to try included: teriyaki chicken perogies, non-alcoholic deep fried shooters, mac and cheese stuffed burger, fruit-infused grilled cheese and poutine corn dog (to name a few). We found finding the venues to be difficult in the busy crowd so it is best to try scope out where to find the dishes beforehand. Also do not expect to rush dinner as the line-ups can get long and wait times are not always short.
And our best piece of advice we have to give to anyone who wants to try all the different kinds of foods, wait until after the crazy rides.
