GET SET TO EAT YOUR WAY AROUND STAMPEDE 2017
From midway delights to craft beer and chef demos, there’s much to savour
It’s just a handful of sleeps until the 2017 edition of the Calgary Stampede charges out of the gate — and until the latest range of previously unimagined foods hits Stampede Park.
Never had cookie dough in a waffle cone surrounded by cotton candy and topped with sprinkles? Now’s your chance. Been dreaming of a mash-up of hotdogs and mac ’n’ cheese with bacon thrown in? Here it is. Been wondering what the latest deep-fried delicacy will be? Well, wait no longer. This year it’s Jell- O. Only the flavour remains a mystery.
That’s just a light skim of the dozens of midway delights available at Stampede this year, along with the traditional mini doughnuts and corn dogs. (They just seem so plain compared to the over-the-top concoctions.)
For food a bit more familiar and less dyspeptic, the Range in the lower level of the Big Four is a good bet. Away from the beating sun or the thundering clouds of Stampede, the Range is a pleasant diversion from the hubbub of the midway. From major chains such as Tim Hortons and Subway to local favourites Anejo, Holy Smoke and the always-popular Billingsgate, the Range has 18 diverse dining options. And this year the biggest one — the Big Four Station — is showcasing beer from 23 Alberta small brewers alongside Labatt offerings.
Craft brewing has hit the Stampede in a big way thanks to the Alberta Small Brewers Association, the Stampede and Labatt. The station will also offer 20 flavours of chicken wings to go along with the brews.
Some of the best food on Stampede Park is in the Western Showcase area of the BMO Centre. In addition to the Western Oasis wine bar, there’s the always-entertaining Kitchen Theatre. During practically every hour of Stampede, local and national chefs spark up Coast Appliances stoves and perform cooking demos for the assembled masses. And then they pass out the (free!) food they’ve cooked. (Note, the bleacher seats are comfy and this section of the BMO Centre has the best air conditioning in the park, along with all the great craft displays.)
Over 90 events are scheduled for the Kitchen Theatre this year, featuring local chefs such as Julie van Rosendaal (Dinner with Julie), Duncan Ly and Jinhee Lee (Foreign Concept), Jamie Harling (Deane House) and Darren MacLean (Shokunin).
Some of the demos are sponsored by groups such as Alberta Bison, Alberta Lamb and the Red Hat Co-operative, while others are from groups as far-flung as Grainworks, Master Chocolat and Jane Bond BBQ. Salted into the mix are demos from 4H clubs, a kids’ cook-off and a competition between police and firefighter chefs.
This year’s Duelling Chef competition features Jan Hansen (Hotel Arts), Dustin Shafer (Modern Steak), Michel Nop (Foreign Concept) and Paul McGreevy (Starbelly). And if that’s not enough, the Food Network’s Christine Cushing is coming to the Kitchen Theatre for a special ticketed event (Ticketmaster) on July 11. Special demos for Canada’s 150th will be featured, too.
The Kitchen Theatre is able to draw chefs away from their busy kitchens during Stampede not only because it’s good promo but also because it’s a lot of fun. I broke eggs for two decades for the Egg Farmers of Alberta in the Kitchen Theatre and always enjoyed the organization and enthusiasm of the volunteer kitchen team here. (I passed the spatula on this year.) Under the leadership of chairman Heather Seibel and vice-chairman Julianne Whitburn, the team makes life easy for the chefs, slicing and dicing whatever they want and cheerfully cleaning up after them, too. Backstage is almost as much fun as the theatre itself.
For full info on the Western Showcase Kitchen Theatre, check out westernshowcase.com.
The Chrysler Club in the Saddledome is another fine spot for a restful Stampede meal. Usually reserved for Chrysler Club members, the doors are thrown open during Stampede for very good food at quite decent prices.
But one familiar face will be missing from the Chrysler Club this year. David Picciotto, manager of the club and Dutton’s Lounge for the past 13 years, has moved on to Moose’s Nook Northern Grill at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
And another well-known personality will be absent from Stampede, too. Harris Dvorkin, who died in April, spelled the end of an era at Ranchman’s Cookhouse and Dancehall. Dvorkin will be missed, but a group of local business owners led by Doug Rasberry has purchased the business and will continue the Ranchman’s tradition. A veteran of Calgary’s restaurant and nightclub scene for over 30 years, Rasberry is committed to maintaining Ranchman’s as the home of country music and rodeo culture in Calgary.