While the Stampede grounds are already known for inventive food truck bites and classic carnival eats, this year, the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth managed to turn its culinary programming up another notch. Fine dining enthusiasts, Food Network groupies and snacky rodeo-goers — feast your eyes and palettes on the inaugural Taste of Stampede.
This 10-day event takes place on a kitchen stage in the BMO Centre, showcasing an assortment of challenges, competitions and demonstrations with Alberta’s top chefs.
“We’re trying to create a hands-on, immersive experience that celebrates culinary leaders and producers of Alberta, and really showcase local Calgary restaurants,” says Elizabeth Middleton, the sub-chair, programming for the Taste of Stampede committee.
Free with park admission, each day of Taste of Stampede highlights a different homegrown ingredient: Alberta bison, beef, lamb, pork or grains.
The festivities fall into three main event categories:
Culinary Cup
In this bracket-style tournament, chefs from renowned restaurants like Major Tom, The Nash and Bar Chouette will compete for a $10,000 championship title over 10 days of timed challenges. Preliminary rounds (from July 3 to 7) will be point driven, and top point earners advance to knockout style quarter-finals (July 9 to 10), semi-finals (July 11) and podium finals (July 12), all judged by industry experts, media and even guests.
Community Showcase
These community cook-offs blend the creative constraints of shows like Chopped with the collaborative flair of shows like Dancing With the Stars. Chefs will team up with media reporters, classical musicians and Olympic athletes to cook from mystery baskets full of local ingredients. Winning teams for each cook-off will be crowned by celebrity judges, such as Andrew Phung from Kim’s Convenience and Michelle Morgan from Heartland.
Chef Demonstrations
Bored with repetitive meal prepping? Check out 30-minute culinary demonstrations by local chefs and get inspired by global cuisines that highlight homegrown ingredients. There will be demonstrations on how to make ginger beef, bison skewers, congee with pork meatballs, beef galbi and more. You can pick up some practical techniques and creative approaches, and even sample the final product.
For additional Taste of Stampede schedule information, visit calgarystampede.com
