50 New Foods at Calgary Stampede 2018

There will be 50 new foods and drinks at Stampede this year, including kangaroo pizza, deep fried pineapple rings and hot ice cream doughnut sandwiches. Vote for the ones you’re most excited to try.

Chicken hearts inside a crispy, cheesy pocket actually sounds pretty tasty.
photograph courtesy of calgary stampede

There are a lot of reasons to be excited about Calgary Stampede 2018, and one of the biggest ones is all the new Midway foods and drinks. This year’s 50 new dishes include two-foot mini doughnut towers, ice cream cookie dough sandwiches, buffalo chicken perogies and more unusual options like mini doughnut balls topped with a prairie oyster.

To help you navigate this year’s new foods and drinks, we’ve divided them up into some key categories: foods made with animal parts, oversized foods, hybrid foods, deep fried foods, traditional-ish foods, foods wrapped in carbs and dishes with a dose of fruits and veggies. Many of these foods would’ve fit into multiple categories, giving you the best of both worlds.

Read more about this year’s new Stampede foods (including additional items like a fish and chips dog and cotton candy lemonade that take the total to 63) at calgarystampede.com

Foods Made With Animal Parts

 

Cheesy Chicken Hearts

photograph courtesy of calgary stampede

Chicken hearts inside a crispy, cheesy pocket actually sounds pretty tasty.

 

Goat’s Head Soup

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This Jamaican dish is probably the only soup you’ll find on the Stampede grounds. It’s made with a goat’s head broth, dumplings, tripe, carrots and yams.

 

Prairie Oyster Balls

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

The name of this dish doesn’t lie – that’s a real bull’s testicle on top of a pile mini doughnut balls. There’s also blueberry compote, whipped cream and crushed nuts.

 

Oversized Foods

 

Foot-Long Hot Dog Grilled Cheese

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

For when you’re really hungry and can’t decide between a hot dog and a grilled cheese sandwich.

 

Giant Squid on a Stick

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Think of it like calamari, but giant and on a stick.

 

Stampede Sized Meatball

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Covered in tomato sauce and oozing mozzarella cheese, the only thing missing from this one-pound meatball is a mound of pasta underneath it.

 

Two-Foot Mini Doughnut Tower

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

For those times when a bag of mini doughnuts just won’t cut it.

Unicorn Buckets

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Share this two-litre drink with a friend to keep from getting dehydrated during Stampede. It comes in a bucket filled with fruit, bursting boba bubbles and soda.

 

Hybrid Foods

 

Beef and Chicken Pho-ritos

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

When pho (yes, the soup) and burritos collide. Imagine all the ingredients you’d get in pho (including rice noodles, protein and bean sprouts) tucked into a tortilla.

 

The Big Pickle Tornado

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This is the evolution of the Big Pickle Dog from last year’s Stampede. The main difference is that this year, the pickle-stuffed hot dog has a deep fried tortilla exterior instead of a corn dog exterior.

 

Hot Ice Cream Donut Sandwiches

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

You’re going to need lots of napkins to manage this treat – it won’t take long for the ice cream to melt between two hot doughnuts.

 

Ice Cream Cookie Dough Sandwiches

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This treat is basically two desserts in one.

 

Sushi Doughnut

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

The Happy Fish food truck lets you choose between crab meat or smoked salmon on a doughnut-shaped mound of rice.

 

 

Deep Fried Foods

 

Bacon Onion Bombs

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

There are lots of layers to this dish, which features a deep fried crispy exterior covering layers bacon, onion and meatballs.

 

Deep Fried Banana Peppers

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This mix of deep fried banana peppers and pickled hot pepper rings will keep you sweating.

 

Deep Fried Burger

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

A deep fried alternative to the rest of the burgers you’ll find at Stampede.

 

Deep Fried Pineapple Rings

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Sweet pineapple rings enveloped in deep fried batter sounds like a winning combination to us.

 

Kit Kat Fries

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

They’ve been deep frying Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for years, so why not Kit Kat bar sticks?

 

Wine & Cheese

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

No, this dish doesn’t come with a glass of wine. Instead, you’ll be dipping deep-fried, wine-infused cake and cheese curds into wine jelly.

 

 

Traditional-ish Foods

 

Chimney Cones

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Who needs regular cones when you can get a classic summer treat like soft serve in a cylindrical, doughy chimney cake cone?

 

Churro Fries

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

These are just like regular churros, only they’re the length of fries.

 

Cricket Caramel Apple

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

A carnival classic, this caramel apple shakes things up with a coating of honey-flavoured crickets instead of candy.

 

Deep Fried Bacon Wrapped Reese’s Cup

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Fans of sweet and savoury will probably enjoy this treat, which adds bacon to the already popular deep fried Reese’s Cups.

 

The Hangover Mac & Cheese

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This dish blends a few classics together, including beer, potato chips, pretzels and, of course, macaroni and cheese.

 

Inside Out Caramel Apple

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This is a way easier way to eat a beloved carnival treat.

 

Kangaroo Pizza

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Calgary’s Avatara Pizza is adding an interesting protein to this new gluten-free pizza: kangaroo. We tried it and it tastes similar to pepperoni.

 

Korean Tater Tot Poutine

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

They had us at tater tots, but we won’t say no to the kalbi marinated sirloin steak that comes with this poutine.

 

Mighty Zeus Poutine

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This dish has all the staples of a classic poutine, but keeps things fresh by adding gyro steak, tzatziki sauce and feta cheese.

 

Napolitano Soft Pretzel

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

A hand rolled pretzel with cheese? Yes please.

 

Pop Rocks Mini Doughnuts

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Forget a bag of mini doughnuts – Ogopogo takes this item to the next level with crackling pop rock candy, vanilla glaze and powdered sugar.

 

Smoking Charcoal Ice Cream in a Cup

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

One of this year’s biggest food trends, activated charcoal, makes an appearance at Stampede. Don’t be fooled by the colour – this soft serve ice cream actually tastes like coconut.

 

 

Foods Wrapped in Carbs

 

Bibimbap Dawg

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Imagine a bowl of Korean bibimbap, but on top of a hot dog.

 

Boneless Rib on Ciabatta

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

It just seems right to eat baby back barbecue ribs with coleslaw at a summer event like Stampede.

 

Buffalo Chicken Perogies

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This dish adds a bit of heat to the perogies by adding grilled chicken with hot sauce.

 

Cricket Grilled Cheese

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Crickets: the grilled cheese topping you never knew you needed.

 

Kangaroo Stuffed Burgers

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This could be a good way to try a protein that you don’t usually find in Canada for the first time.

 

Meatball Corn Dog

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

The classic corn dog gets a small refresh here.

 

Pulled Chicken Quesadilla

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

When lunchtime calls, this quesadilla with Mediterranean-spiced chicken answers.

 

Red Velvet Corn Dog

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Usually when a corn dog gets re-invented, it’s the filling that is changed. In this case, the batter gets a much more fun look.

 

The Spicy Chicken Arepa

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Local food truck Arepa Boss will be whipping up these gluten-free wraps featuring spicy barbecued chicken chorizo sausage.

 

The Sweetheart

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This is basically another dessert sandwich. It feature a peanut butter cup and regular peanut butter between two honey cruller doughnuts.

 

Szechwan Prawn Wrap

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

There isn’t a ton of seafood at Stampede, so try this wrap with panko crusted prawns if you’re craving some.

 

 

Dishes with a Dose of Fruits and Veggies

 

Banana Corn Dog

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Bananas get the carnival treatment with this dessert, which adds a battered coating, chocolate and powdered sugar.

 

Corn in a Cup

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

A cup full of corn, cheese and chili powder may be just what you need to get one of you daily vegetable servings in during Stampede.

 

Flaming Hot Cheeto Bowls

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Admittedly, the only vegetables in this dish are the pieces of sweet corn sprinkled over Flaming Hot Cheetos and hot cheese sauce. That still counts though.

 

Frozen Chocolate Watermelon Pops

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Watermelon is still healthy if you cover it in chocolate, right?

 

Mexican-Style Street Corn

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Cheese and chili powder give these corn on the cobs their bright colours.

 

Oreo Creamsicle Delight

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

Okay, it’s not technically the same as eating fruit, but you can pretend with this orange creamsicle smoothie with Oreo toppings. Plus, you get to carry it around in an actual orange.

 

Wat-A-Melon

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

It’s hard to top a piece of refreshing watermelon, but adding watermelon soft serve is a decision we definitely support.

 

Watermelon and Raspberry Salad

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CALGARY STAMPEDE

This is probably the healthiest dish at Stampede. And really, after a day in the sun, a bowl of refreshing watermelon and raspberries may be just what you need.

 

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