BELLY UP FOR STAMPEDE EATS
Menu additions ‘pushing your limits’
What better way to kick off the Greatest Show on Earth than chowing down on a deep-fried tentacle attached to a giant squid?
That and more is available on this year’s Calgary Stampede Midway for the brave of (chicken) heart and stomach.
“We’re going to be creating a little bit of excitement on the Midway, and pushing your limits and getting you to think a little bit differently about how you eat your foods,” said James Radke, midway operations manager at the Calgary Stampede.
As a sneak peek to the more than 50 new tasty treats available, this reporter put away her vegetarian card for a day, pushed her limits and consumed lots and lots of meat.
I had never tried calamari before I stopped eating meat, so the squid was definitely a whole new world of taste and texture. But I’m sure those who enjoy calamari will also enjoy this meal, despite having your hands smell a little like the ocean for the rest of the day.
If you’re really into fish on the midway, you can also get a sushi doughnut from the same place that brought you the giant squid. Rice shaped into a doughnut with slices of fish delicately lining the outside — what more could you ask for?
For those with a sweet tooth, or who really want to disappoint their dentist, the cookie dough burrito is for you. Thanks to the cotton candy wrapped around the cookie dough, it is quite certainly a sugar bomb, the perfect treat for young children.
If you feel like trying something more outlandish and fun, try pizza from Avatara Pizza that features a topping straight from Down Under — kangaroo sausage. However, if you’re looking for a different, more crunchy type of protein, just add crickets.
And if those exotic options are not enough to whet your appetite — as Tuesday’s treats were just a sample of what to expect on the Midway — Stampede-goers have something special waiting for them.
It’s round! It’s blue! It’s prairie oyster balls! Sitting atop a plate of bear balls, actual bull testicles covered in blueberry compote, whipped cream and sprinkled with crushed nuts are ready for your consumption.
Other daring delicacies that will be available on the midway include cheesy chicken hearts and cricket grilled cheese. Other sweet treats include pop rock mini doughnuts, smoking charcoal ice cream in a cup and hot ice cream doughnut sandwiches.
And for those who have absolutely no sense of fun or adventure, a watermelon and raspberry salad will also be available.
A full list of the food and beverages that will either make you say “oh, no” or “oh, yeah!” can be found online at calgarystampede.com.