Each Stampede I expect to see a lot of typical favorites such as over the top sweet treats and deep fried stuff, but this year the Stampede has added food I don’t think anyone asked for – bugs!

The Calgary Stampede New Midway Food page says “Adventurous, daring, and spicy twists on traditional Stampede favourites, get ready to make some mouthwatering memories”.

Earlier this year the federal government announced it was investing up to $8.5 million into Aspire’s cricket-processing facility in London, Ontario, and it appears that Canada is not wasting any time adding bugs to the menu.

Jumbo Worm Hot Dog at the Calgary Stampede#WEF #Globalism #WorldEconomicForum #EatBugs pic.twitter.com/5GKdoLjMVu

— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) July 16, 2022

For adventurous eaters, you will find meal worm hot dogs at the Superbooth stand.  Superbooth says that “Meal Worms are high in protein and safe to eat“, but no mention of how they taste!  It says that they are “All-Beef”, that must mean all-beef – plus worms.

MEAL WORM HOT DOG

All-Beef Meal Worm Hot Dog, made using meal worm protein, whole roasted meal worms, and beef, topped off with your favorite condiments (Meal Worms are high in protein and safe to eat).

If you are not tempted by the meal worm hot dogs you may want to try the cricket hot dogs at The Wurst & Burger Shack.  Crickets are apparently also “high in protein and safe to eat”.

CRICKET HOT DOG

All-Beef Cricket Hot Dog, made using cricket protein, whole roasted crickets and beef, topped off with your favorite condiments (Crickets are high in protein and safe to eat).

So if you are not ready to eat bugs, there are a few other goodies for you to try on this year’s Stampede menu.  You may want to try the Korean Squid Ink Corn Dog at Big Coco’s.  They say it has a taste similar traditional corndogs, but more crunchy and a hint of sweetness.

KOREAN SQUID INK CORN DOG

They taste similar to traditional favourite corndogs, except with more of a crunch and a bit of sweetness. It’s half mozzarella, half hot dog, dipped in a black batter, with one end cut to resemble tentacles!

How about trying crab meat and octopus wontons?  At the Happy Fish stand you will find Octopus Rangoon a crispy wonton with crab, octopus and cream cheese.

OCTOPUS RANGOON

Crispy wonton shell filled with warm crab meat, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese filling, and diced octopus, served with sweet & sour sauce

Ever had eel?  Well now is your chance if you haven’t at the Happy Fish stand you will find their new Unagi Sushi Taco with BBQ unagi eel and crab meat.

UNAGI SUSHI TACO

Tempura nori taco shell with BBQ unagi eel, sushi rice, crab meat mixture, and julienned cucumber, drizzled with signature BBQ eel sauce.

If seafood is not your thing, why not try some cow tongue with pineapple.  At the Avatara Pizza stand you will find the Crazy Tongue Pizza with slow braised AAA Alberta cow tongue.

CRAZY TONGUE PIZZA

Vine-ripened, and naturally sweet crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, slow braised AAA Alberta cow tongue, natural pineapple, caramelized onions, and a Baja chipotle drizzle.

The stampede menu also includes less adventurous, but still daring foods such as cinnamon sugar cookie dough, with mini donuts, bad breath lemonade with garlic & caramelized onions.

Kids might like the cotton candy lemonade served with a cotton candy “bomb”, the cotton candy noodles with a fluffy cloud of pink cotton candy, garnished on top of noodles, or the mac n cheese soft serve ice cream.

For deep fried favorites you may want to try Oreo cookies deep fried inside signature mini donuts, chipotle pickle philly topped with chipotle sauce, and deep fried pickle chips, deep fried strawberries or mochi, jalapeno cheesy cauliflower bites or deep fried donuts with cheese.

Happy Stampeding!

In an attempt to hide from dissent, Trudeau released his itinerary at the last minute, and attended a private Liberal party pancake breakfast event (not at the Stampede) with lone Calgary Liberal MP George Chahal.  While mainstream media reports he was surrounded with “admirers”, the guests in attendance appear less than thrilled.

According to @catranchdream on Twitter: Everyone circled is Trudeau‘s security, the rest are ‘reporters‘.

What The Canadian Press failed to mention in their article is that Trudeau was actually being heckled by the crowd.  Uncensored video surfaced in social media with “Trudeau you’re a traitor!” being shouted during his speech.

Calgary Stampede breakfast heckling: “Trudeau you’re a traitor!” is yelled as Trudeau surrounds himself with a security detail who escorted the heckler away. Mainstream media claims he was “mobbed by admirers.” Fact check: false.

Fake News! Here is what really happened with sound: You mean mobbed as in "Trudeau you’re a traitor!" LOL. pic.twitter.com/1dhKDLedSZ

— Canadian Riley (@TiaRileyCanada) July 11, 2022

The is the private Liberal party’s pancake breakfast location was a public library’s parking lot.

After receiving overwhelming backlash The Globe and Mail changed their article’s headline provided by The Canadian Press from “Trudeau mobbed by admirers at Stampede pancake breakfast” to “Trudeau references Ukraine, inflation at Calgary Stampede breakfast“.  The original headline would impress even the best state propagandists.

Justin Trudeau did make an appearance at the Calgary Stampede grounds at the Grandstand show with Calgary’s Liberal Mayor Jyoti Gondek while the Grandstand was empty (likely Trudeau was escorted in through the Grandstand’s staff only back entrances).  Fortunately the horses in attendance don’t seem to mind his presence.

Lori Williams, a political science professor at Calgary’s Mount Royal University said there’s some “star power” associated with the Stampede too.”Seeing someone they have viewed online or on television and they want to sort of see and connect, and that’s a great opportunity for politicians, because sometimes those connections can change hearts and minds.”

Interim leader Candice Bergen addressed the crowd at the Conservative barbecue, as well as leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber, and Pierre Poilievre also attended.

Videos of the event curtsy of Andy Lee of the The Real Andy Lee Show

Charest has an impressive pro-Alberta agenda. pic.twitter.com/uvyml0iqb4

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Pierre Poilievre says it warms his heart to think of a family rolling up to their new home into the vacated headquarters of CBC. pic.twitter.com/uvGJQVZyVm

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Leslyn Lewis says “Media doesn’t know what to do with me, because I’m not a racist.” pic.twitter.com/YrL1FleRTm

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Candice Bergen states we as Conservatives have one goal only: to get rid of this tired, corrupt Liberal government. pic.twitter.com/Zff7vsuOyi

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Conservative Leader Candice Bergen notes no one will in media note the unprecedented amount of members signing up for the Party this year. pic.twitter.com/PFmsAwLwm0

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Roman Baber delivered a high-energy speech. pic.twitter.com/Yf7pfFp3mD

— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) July 10, 2022

Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been a regular visitor to the Stampede, as have the leaders of the federal Conservatives, NDP and Green Party.

Most of the attention this year will be on the federal Conservative party leadership race, with all five remaining candidates attending a local party barbecue Saturday evening as well as many provincial politicians looking to replace Alberta Premier Jason Kenney as leader of the province’s United Conservative Party.

Interim leader Candice Bergen was scheduled to address the crowd at the Conservative barbecue, as well as leadership candidates Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber.

It’s an opportunity for politicians to be in more of a relaxed and different setting, looking a bit different, engaging in different activities, a bit of a friendlier, more positive vibe to things.

The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. pic.twitter.com/gZNZ4vhLe2

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 8, 2022

At a Calgary Stampede event hosted by Brett Wilson, Conservative leadership front runner Pierre Poilievre says he would ban federal ministers from attending the World Economic Forum.

At a Calgary Stampede event hosted by @WBrettWilson, Conservative leadership front runner Pierre Poilievre says he would ban federal ministers from attending the World Economic Forum. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/2uINwA1sI2

— Rachel Emmanuel (@Emmanuel_Rach) July 8, 2022

While Pierre Poilievre was on stage at a Calgary Stampede he also said Canada is currently a country where you can’t get a passport, board an air plane, or even get your cell to work.

At a Calgary Stampede event, federal Conservative leadership front runner Pierre Poilievre says Canada is currently a country where you can’t get a passport, board an air plane, or even get your cell to work. #cdnpoli #Stampede2022 pic.twitter.com/RBbBB0Txx9

— Rachel Emmanuel (@Emmanuel_Rach) July 8, 2022

The great @jasrajshallan is known to put on a legendary Stampede breakfast, so Ana and I had to stop by and check it out for ourselves.

Thanks to Jas and his team for a great breakfast. pic.twitter.com/S4xAAOk5Bm

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 9, 2022