Grilling up a mountain of chicken legs at the Calgary Stampede. There's always lots of barbecue options both on the midway and inside at several restaurants. Photo, Calgary Stampede Photo by Shane Kuhn

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When it comes to food, the Stampede is best known for its midway fare, from the wacky and downright weird to classics like good ol’ corn dogs and traditional slow-cooked barbecue. When it comes to gourmet cuisine, ground-breaking dishes from the city’s top chefs, and award-winning fine wine, though? Not so much. But if you’re willing to go deep and explore beyond the countless rows of midway booths, you may be surprised to discover the Stampede is secretly a bit of a foodie wonderland.

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This is, of course, not to discourage anyone from trying out this year’s crop of new midway oddities. Absolutely go for the spam fries, hash brown ice cream sandwiches, and something called the “twister-roni” if that’s what’s calling you. But for those who want something more refined, the Stampede’s executive chef, Michael Sabourin, promises there are delicious things to eat for every sort of palate. Since Stampede, at its heart, is a celebration of agriculture and ranch life, Sabourin aims to reflect the breadth of Alberta products in what’s available in the park.

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Calgary Stampede head chef Michael Sabourin is in the facility’s kitchen. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/ Postmedia

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“We have an opportunity because we’re the Stampede to go and see the ranchers and be a part of that community,” he says. “The team as a whole wants to be creating items that elevate the experience. The idea is to use everything we can from Alberta.”

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What does that look like in practice? There are a couple of premium food venues in the park to escape to when the hot sun and aroma of fried food become too much, including Bar Nineteen Twelve, hidden inside the Big Four Roadhouse. The 200-seat lounge is designed with an elegant speakeasy vibe. It boasts a menu full of locally raised steaks, grass-fed chicken legs, and luxurious appetizers like Alberta beef carpaccio, in addition to premium cocktails.

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The Stampede Cellar offers elevated wine, cheese and charcuterie in a relaxing atmosphere high above the midway crowds. Photo, Calgary Stampede Photo by Ben Hames

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The splashiest food option, however, is the Stampede Cellar Champion Wine Experience, an 18+ venue in the upper level of the BMO Centre. This is where the public can most easily sample winners from the annual Stampede Cellar Showdown international wine competition, as well as platters of Canadian cheese, charcuterie boards, and fancy bites like beef tartare and albacore tuna crudo. Eric Giesbrecht of Meta4Foods will also be on hand, shucking oysters from both the west and east coasts and serving bumps of Acadian caviar.

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Visitors can also take a break in the Western Oasis wine garden in the BMO Centre for a more relaxed wine experience or grab some barbecue in the main part of the Big Four Roadhouse. There are also some high-end restaurant options under the umbrella of GMC Stadium’s premium seating experiences, but if you do not already have an invitation or ticket, admission to those is likely not in the cards. For a more accessible introduction to the premium seating experience, the Corona Skydeck is a new rooftop venue to enjoy a birds-eye-view of the rodeo or evening show, with complimentary chef-y snacks provided.