Calgary Stampede 2016 midway food includes 'bug balls,' deep-fried butter tarts and various stuffed meats

This story was firstpublished on May 3, 2016:

The Calgary Stampede is famous for many things, not least among them the bizarre yet edible concoctions offered up as snack fare on the midway.

This year's menu again includes dozens of new offerings, some of which might not sound particularly appealing at first blush.

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But, if past experience is any guide, don't knock it 'til you try it.

Here are some of the highlights from the newly released 2016 list, which includes 34 new foods.

Sticky Toffee Bug Balls

"Don't be alarmed," the Stampede warns of this dish, but somehow we imagine more timid midway-goers will still want to steer clear.

For adventurous eaters, however, the deep-fried dough balls will hold some appeal, if for nothing other than the novelty of eating meal worms as a meal.

Thosecreepy-crawlies plus a healthyhelping of cricketsfinish this dish, along with whipped cream, heaped generously on top of deep-fried dough balls that have beentossed in cinnamon and sugar and drizzled in toffee sauce.

"This takes mini donuts to a gourmet level," the Stampede assures.

Mac-and-cheese-stuffed burgers

Mac and cheese has experienced a renaissance of sorts in recent years, and the Stampede isn't one to ignore a trend.

But while many aficionadosopt to put meat in their macaroni, the midway is flipping the script.

Thehand-made beef patties are stuffed with creamy mac and cheese and garnished with classic burger toppings.

Big Pickle Dog

Flipping the script once again, this dish opts to stuff the meat inside the garnish, instead.

Yes, it's a hot dog, wrapped in a pickle, wrapped in deep-fried batter, served on a stick.

The "big pickle dog" is one of numerous midway foods that comeimpaled on a wooden skewer for easy eating while strolling the Stampede grounds.

Fruit-infused grilled cheese

In another twist on a childhood favourite, grilled cheese gets "taken to a whole new level" with the addition of blueberry, strawberry and kiwi filling.

The resultis not just a combination of sweet and savoury, but alsoa blast of colour that contrasts against the typically beige appearance of the sandwich.

Deep-fried butter tart

Since calories aren't a thing when you're at Stampede, the deep-fried butter tart is.

This dessert dish is billed as "a secret family recipe kicked up a notch," which is another way of saying the already sugar-coma-inducing combination of pastry and buttertart filling is surrounded by alayer of greasy batter.

Oh, and did we mention it's topped with whipped cream and caramel, to boot?

Because of course it is.

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