Traditional corn dogs and deep-fried doughnuts are still on the menu but Calgary Stampede organizers say theysa国际传媒檙e being joined by giant squid on a stick, cheesy chicken hearts and even prairie oysters for foodies attending the 10-day event.

Midway operations manager James Radke says the Stampede menu has to have something for everyone but itsa国际传媒檚 the craziest combinations that tend to spark the most interest.

sa国际传媒淲e look for those foods sa国际传媒� crickets on your candy apple, crickets in your grilled-cheese sandwich. How can you take those traditional foods and turn them upside down and really make people think about what theysa国际传媒檙e eating?sa国际传媒�

The so-called giant squidward, complete with tentacles, is about the size of a baseball mitt and deep fried.

The prairie oyster balls, which are calf testicles, are braised in a savoury sauce, sliced and served over sweet doughnuts with a blueberry sauce along with whipped cream and crushed nuts.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e talking real prairie oysters,sa国际传媒� Radke said. sa国际传媒淲e push peoplesa国际传媒檚 taste buds.

sa国际传媒淲hether their reaction to it is positive or negative, that actually doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter. What matters is itsa国际传媒檚 generating an emotional response to food and you know yousa国际传媒檝e got them right away.sa国际传媒�

Yan Situ from the Happy Fish Catering food truck expects the squid will be a big seller.

With 50 new foods on the Midway, you cansa国际传媒檛 try them all in one day. The Stampede SuperPass gets you unlimited admission for all 10 days and 10 nights for just $39 sa国际传媒� your belly will thank you.

sa国际传媒� Calgary Stampede (@calgarystampede)

sa国际传媒淚t looks a little scary but it tastes good though. Itsa国际传媒檚 nice and juicy inside and then we put on our special bread crumbs so itsa国际传媒檚 really crunchy outside,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淚t comes in two flavours sa国际传媒� salt and pepper and curry pepper. That onesa国际传媒檚 a little bit spicy, gives a little more heat for the street.sa国际传媒�

For those with a sweet tooth, there will be deep-fried, bacon-wrapped Reesesa国际传媒檚 Peanut Butter Cups, Pop Rocks mini doughnuts, smoking charcoal ice cream in a cup, hot ice-cream doughnut sandwiches and Kit Kat fries.

Only eight or 10 years ago, Radke said, Stampede food was a secondary consideration.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 changed with the advent of food television, of the Food Network, the foodie movement, restaurants changing and everybody really jumping upon that bandwagon. The midway has had to do that as well,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淭he midway has had to transform itself to become a culinary destination.sa国际传媒�

This yearsa国际传媒檚 Stampede runs from July 6 to 15.

The Canadian Press

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