Just checking out online what is going on this week across Canada food wise and the Calgary Stampede came to mind. I did a search and the website informs me that new and unique foods at the stampede for 2008 include: Deep-fried OREO, Deep-fried Twinkie; Pizza on a stick; Bacon on a bun; Beignets; Deep-fried Coke; Taco in a bag; Hot beef sundae; Fried dough and Frozen chocolate bananas. Ok, it’s been awhile since I’ve been to Calgary but, what's with the deep frying? Is the Coke fried in the can? Why is my taco in a bag and who thought this sounded appetizing? And please, in the name of all food that is sacred, I pray that sundae does not involve ice cream and sprinkles. A little more digging and I discovered on Home Grown Alberta (not a moment too soon I may add) a lecture at the University of Calgary on Tuesday night entitled "Home Grown? Local Food and the Calgary Stampede" where Brian Rusted and Gwendolyn Blue, professors in the Faculty of Communication and Culture, will be discussing "…eating your way through the 2008 Calgary Stampede. What is local, what is not, how would you know and why should you care about eating local?" If any foodie out there finds either the lecture or samples the 2008 unique food selections at the stampede, please post a comment and let us all know either Rusted and Blue’s perspective on the local Calgary food scene, or what the heck a Deep-fried Coke tastes like. Click here to sign up for Christine's Food for Friendse-newsletter!