14 Weird Stampede Midway Foods to try in 2019

Eat your way through the Calgary Stampede midway foods

Ready, set, eat! Get your appetites in gear for this year’s list of wild and weird Stampede midway foods! The 2019 selection of Stampede midway foods is bigger, better and more outrageous than ever. For those of you looking beyond mini donuts and onion blossoms, you’ll want to look at these quirky and different Stampede food options coming your way this year.

UPDATE: The Calgary Stampede food committee had me back to try even more wild and delicious foods on the grounds. Here’s the updated list of 14 weird stampede midway foods to try!

Flaming Hot Cheetos Frog Legs – The Happy Fish

The French delicacy of frog legs is getting the Stampede treatment in 2019. These ribbits are seasoned and breaded with a mixture of cheetos crumbs and flour, deep fried, then coated in more hot cheetos.

Surprisingly, these frog legs are quite tender and juicy – it tastes almost like chicken! If you’re looking to shock some peeps with an unusual culinary dish, this might just do the trick.

Raspberry Rose Lemonade – Family Squeezed

Named after the beloved family pet, the “Emmy Rose” is a refreshing raspberry summer treat. Perfect for a hot sunny day on the Stampede midway, the Raspberry Rose Lemonade is topped with edible flowers making it both a tasty and beautiful drink to enjoy. If you like a sweeter rather than a tart lemonade than this berry concoction is perfect for you.

Creamy Truffle Lobster Dumplings and Traditional Pork Dumplings  – The Dumpling Hero

This is the first time The Dumpling Hero is setting up on the Stampede midway, but it probably won’t be their last. This food truck is serving up dumplings a variety of ways. First up are their traditional panfried pork dumplings served up with sweet and sour pork. This dish is literally sooooo much pork and sooo filling.

Their pièce de résistance though has to be the creamy truffle lobster dumplings served up with a lobster tail to boot. Using deep fried wrappers, the outside is more consistent with a wonton than a dumpling, but the creamy inside is oh so good. Seafood fans will relish finding such a unique treat in the middle of a crowded parking lot.

Dill Pickle Ice Pop – Family Freezed

This is exactly as it sounds – housemade pickles and pickle juice frozen into an ice pop. If you like salty, if you like dill, then you need this ice pop.

I prefer to eat my pickles, but I get the appeal. Cold and salty is not a typical combination so is a one-of-a-kind dessert you won’t find anywhere else.

Cherry Bomb Pizza – Pizza 73

It’s the 10^th year Pizza 73 is taking part in the Calgary Stampede so they are bringing out all the goods for 2019.

A honey garlic Sriracha base gives this pizza a lot of sweet and heat. Pepperoni, bacon, and maraschino round out the main toppings along with a dash of pop rocks. You’ll find a little crunch and fizzle going on in your mouth as you eat this truly bizarre pie. At $6 a slice, I can see Pizza 73 giving all the other outrageous foods a good run at an affordable value.

Chocolate chip doughnut – Family Dough

If you have a sweet tooth, look no further than this “Long John” donut classic. Filled with Family Dough’s classic chocolate chip cookie dough, this dessert sandwich will give you a sugar high all day long.

Monster Bug Bowl – Monster Cones

What you see is what you get with this monster of an ice cream bowl. Inside the waffle cone bowl, you can choose any flavour of ice cream you want and it will be all topped off with mealworms, crickets, a giant beetle and other creepy crawlies. Get ready to crunch your way through this bug-worthy bowl.

Deep-fried chicken skins – Asian BBQ (Stampede midway foods winner)

Honestly, it’s the favourite part of the chicken so why not separate it, deep fry it and eat it? These deep-fried chicken skins are greasy deliciousness with the warm salty flavours you have come to love from chicken skin.  This booth was the winner for best new savoury food item on the midway and for good reason!

Octo Leg and Octo Lolly – Lobster Boilers

This seafood stand has not one, but two octopus-themed dishes that will definitely up your food ‘grams to the next level. Seafood lovers have probably never had their octopus on a stick before, but you’ll definitely like this. The Octo Leg is one giant octopus tentacle that is grilled to perfection and lightly seasoned. The Octo Lolly features three mini octopuses on a stick – you’ll definitely end up arguing over who eats the head versus the legs. These little guys have a little more crunch compared to the more chewy bites of the larger tentacle.

Fish Bowl – Family Squeezed

The fine folks at Family Squeezed hit it out of the park again (or the midway grounds in this case) with their refreshing Fish Bowl beverage. Using an fish-bowl shaped container, you will have the choice of all sorts of soda, flavourings, fruits, toppings and boba bubble tea pearls to include in your 84 ounce drink. Pictured here is the “Surf” that includes Sprite, mango, coconut and mango bobas.

 

Camel pizza – Avatara Pizza

If you’re looking for gluten-free options, Avatara Pizza always has you covered. All of their pizzas are made gluten-free with a variety of locally-sourced ingredients. Featured on this pizza is dry cured camel sausage – you’ll never want regular pepperoni after this!

If you are looking for a full vegetarian option, Avatara also offers up a Beyond Meat pizza as well.

Chicken feet – The Hungry Beast

These chicken feet were nothing like the ones I have seen at dim sum restaurants as they are much more claw-like in nature. If you’re looking for a cheap food adventure, these are an affordable option at $4 per foot or 3 for $10.

Butter beer ice cream –  Summerland Soft Serve (Stampede midway foods winner)

This new sweet treat is perfect for butter beer fans! This soft serve ice cream has a nice butterscotch taste without being overly sweet. It’s the perfect dessert for a hot day on the Stampede midway. Plus they also offer a dry ice version that will leave your cone smoking – literally! That’s why this ice cream was voted as the best new sweet on the Stampede midway.

Which Calgary Stampede foods are you most interested in eating?

___________________________________________________

#hosted: Thanks to the Calgary Stampede for having me at their midway food preview event and on their Daredevil food tour! My stomach may not be quite as grateful.

___________________________________________________