Bacon-wrapped delicacies deep fried on the Midway

The Calgary Stampede has released details of 31 new treats that will be taking to the Midway this July and it’s guaranteed that the menu is not for calorie counters.

There is something for everyone, says James Rackle of the Midway Programming.

“From delightful international flavours like flautas de pollo to downright daring offerings like pickle shooters; after nearly doubling our Centennial list of new foods, this year’s spread is not for the faint of heart.”

Featured on the Stampede’s website, the new foods include:

• Double Bacon Corndog - A hot dog is wrapped in bacon, deep fried, dipped in real bacon bit infused batter, deep fried again and served with maple syrup and more bacon bits.
• Sweet Corn Corndog - Fresh sweet corn is husked, cut off the cob and added to traditional corndog batter to create a fresh twist on an old favourite.
• Banana Bacon Ear - Elephant ear dough is wrapped around bacon and bananas, deep fried and served on a stick.
• Deep Fried Pickled Beans - Continuing the pickle craze, green beans are pickled, battered and deep fried.
• Deep Fried Butter - The old adage that calories don’t count during Stampede is put to the test with this treat. Cubes of butter are tightly wrapped in homemade pie crust before being deep fried to perfection.
• Deep Fried Pie - Homemade pie crust is filled with your choice of pie filling before it is wrapped, deep fried and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Soft service ice cream is available to top it all off.
• Deep Fried Doritos - A deep fried snack made of Doritos, beer and bacon, could it get any better? Doritos are dipped in a beer batter, sprinkled with bacon bits and deep fried.
• Deep Fried Bubble Gum - Despite the name, deep fried bubble gum is not of the bubble blowing variety. Puffy marshmallows are infused with bubble gum flavoring, dipped in a pink pastry batter and deep fried. The result is an unexpected gooey delight!
• Deep Fried Avocado - Pieces of avocado are coated in light tempura batter and deep fried.
• Deep Fried Philly Cheesesteak Rollup - The traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwich, which gets rolled up and deep fried.
• Chip Dog - Not your typical meat and potatoes. Take your hotdog on a stick and then surround it by spiral cut chips.

There are also a series of international delights designed to pique some different tastes:

• Eggroll On a Stick - A Chinese favourite gets the Stampede treatment when we take a classic eggroll and serve it on a stick
• Shrimp Chips - A mixture of shrimp and tapioca flour is rolled out, sliced, dried and then deep fried. A staple Asian snack!
• Naaco TNT - A sweet, salty, spicy, fresh & crunchy puffed rice based salad from India. It is made by mixing a variety of vegetables, sauces/chutneys, spice powders, fresh herbs, lime and puffed rice together and serving it in a waffle cone.
• Cochinita Pibil - A pork taco with Adobe salsa, lime, red onions, habaneros (for the REAL Cowboy)
• Flautas de Pollo - Rolled chicken tacos that are deep friend and with sour cream, Lettuce and Salsa on top

For those Stampede patrons who are looking to satisfy their sweet tooth there are also a number of new sweet treats to try:

• Chocolate Dipped Jalapeno - Just as it sounds. A jalapeno is dipped into chocolate to make for a sweet and spicy treat
• Chocolate Covered Bacon - Combining two of our favourite food groups, bacon is dipped in chocolate and served on a stick.
• Frozen Yogurt - This self-serve frozen treat comes with toppings galore. You are the boss of your yogurt destiny!
• B52 Fudge - Fudge with a buzz! Baileys fudge is topped with Grand Marnier fudge and then topped off with Kahlua fudge.
• Chocolate Cinnamon Bear Fudge - Cinnamon Bears are added to this crowd pleasing fudge to blend sweet and spicy.
• Western Cake Pops - Finally cake on a stick. Gooey chocolate cake shaped as cowboy boots and hats then dipped in milk chocolate. Giddy up!
• Dessert Fries - Home cut french fries are coated in cinnamon sugar and served with a side of special frosting dipping sauce.
• Chocolate Bacon Fudge - Bite into this decadent chocolate fudge and you will discover bacon bits that have been added to the mixture. Sweet and salty!
• Chocolate Bacon Apple - No fair is complete without a chocolate coated apple and Stampede is no exception. Roll that apple in bacon bits and you are on a new playing field.

There are also a series of good eats available for the traditionalist in you:

• Philly Cheesesteak - Thinly sliced pieces of steak, sautéed onions and melted cheese are all served on a hoagie roll for this Philadelphia favourite.
• Idaho Nachos - Idaho’s version of nachos starts with waffle cut fries that are then topped up with all the fix’ins.
• Godzilla Mac and Cheese - Classic gourmet Mac and Cheese with a Japanese flair. ‘Reel Mac and Cheese’ is topped with Nori (roasted seaweed), teriyaki sauce and a squiggle of Japanese mayo. Arigoto.
• Idaho Taco - A jumbo Idahoan potato is baked, opened and then loaded to the brim with your favourite taco toppings.
• Double smoked bacon wrapped cheese perogie skewer - Pan fried perogies wrapped with double smoked bacon, skewered and served with a dollop of sour cream and chives

Joining the regular Midway crowd will be 18 food trucks rolling onto Stampede Park for the Inaugural Food Truck Rally, July 11 to 13.

On each night, six unique trucks will be available, offering their wares to the famished Stampede goers.