The Calgary Stampede is not just a rodeo and exhibition. It is a culinary adventure showcasing some of Canada’s most innovative and delicious foods. This year’s lineup promises to tantalize taste buds with a mix of traditional favourites and exciting new creations. Here are the top 10 foods you absolutely must try at the 2024 Calgary Stampede:
1. Cowboyaki by Happy Fish
Happy Fish, pioneers of the “Giant Squid on a Stick,” introduce Cowboyaki. This dish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, brushed with teriyaki sauce and salad dressing. It is packed with meat floss, seaweed strips, big chunks of octopus, pickled ginger, and cabbage. Every bite is a journey through textures and flavours, showcasing Happy Fish’s Korean-Japanese-North American fusion cuisine expertise.
2. Gold Rush Bucket by Family Squeezed Lemonade
Family Squeezed Lemonade brings its award-winning creation to the Stampede with the Gold Rush Bucket. This refreshing beverage is made with fresh lemons and aloe and topped with edible gold, real cactus, and a miniature cowboy hat. It is not just a drink; it is a spectacle in a 976 ml bucket that embodies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede. With no mixes or concentrates, this Gold Rush Bucket offers an authentic taste of homemade quality that will quench your thirst and dazzle your senses.
3. Fire Roasted Gator Pepperoni Pizza by Avatara Pizza
Avatara Pizza’s Fire Roasted Gator Pepperoni Pizza brings a wild twist to pizza. This gluten-free thin-crust flatbread is topped with crushed tomatoes, low-fat mozzarella, artisan alligator pepperoni, caramelized onions, and sustainably grown basil. It perfectly exemplifies Avatara’s dedication to bold flavours, healthy ingredients, and environmental sustainability.
4. Spider Bao 2.0 by The Dumpling Hero
The Dumpling Hero, known for their bright blue food truck and award-winning dishes, presents the Spider Bao 2.0. This culinary masterpiece features a crispy soft-shell crab coated in a luxurious buttery garlic salted egg yolk sauce. The delicate balance of savoury flavours with a hint of sweetness is nestled between a hot, fluffy, steamed bao bun. It is a perfect representation of The Dumpling Hero’s commitment to fusion-style dumplings and baos made with top-quality ingredients and craftsmanship.
5. Ultimate Pickle by The Poutine King
The Poutine King takes Canada’s favourite comfort food to new heights with the Ultimate Pickle poutine. This dish features fresh-cut fries, cheese curds, and rich gravy, topped with sweet and sour pickle slices, baby greens, and a drizzle of jalapeno lime aioli. It is a perfect blend of traditional poutine with a tangy, crunchy twist.
6. Noodles Locos in a Bag by Wok N Go
Wok N Go presents a fusion of Asian and Mexican street food with their Noodles Locos in a Bag. This dish combines Asian noodles with nacho chips, topped with elote-style corn and bite-sized dumplings, all drizzled with a house Asian chilli mayo sauce. It is a handheld feast that showcases Wok N Go’s commitment to fresh, fast, and fun Chinese-inspired cuisine.
7. Chamoy Lemonade by Lemon Heaven
Lemon Heaven puts a spicy twist on their classic lemonade with the Chamoy Lemonade. This refreshing drink is infused with chamoy, topped with chilli lime seasoning and peach rings, creating a perfect blend of salty, smoky, and sweet flavours. It is a testament to Lemon Heaven’s two decades of delighting customers with innovative lemonade creations.
8. Irie Rolls by Jamaican Mi Juicy
Jamaican Mi Juicy brings the flavors of the Caribbean to Calgary with their Irie Rolls. These deep-fried delights consist of two 8-inch tortillas stuffed with shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, corn, and jerk chicken. It perfectly represents Jamaican Mi Juicy’s dedication to reinventing Jamaican culture through food.
9. Chicken 65 Bao Buns by Mumbai Bites
Mumbai Bites offers a taste of India with their Chicken 65 Bao Buns. This dish features crispy chicken chunks tossed in a signature Indo-Chinese 65 sauce, served in steamed bao buns. It is a perfect example of Mumbai Bites’ inspiring mission to bring non-traditional Indian street food to Calgary.
10. Jackie, La Vaquera by Arepas Ranch
Arepas Ranch presents Jackie, La Vaquera, a Venezuelan-inspired dish featuring an arepa filled with marinated slow-cooked brisket, coleslaw salad, and pickles, topped with a delicious homemade maple Jack Daniels sauce. This gluten-free option showcases Arepas Ranch’s commitment to authentic Venezuelan cuisine with a Canadian twist.
The 2024 Calgary Stampede food lineup promises a diverse and exciting culinary journey, blending international flavours with local ingredients and innovative cooking techniques. From Asian-inspired dishes to Caribbean delights and everything in between, there is something to satisfy every palate at this year’s Stampede.
