Discover the cooking of Alberta, where the prairies meet the mountains, shaped both by its Old West traditions and the long presence of First Nations peoples - a culinary heritage that has provided its own share of classic dishes. Alberta, of course, is cattle country and succulent beef abounds. Bison, once a major food source, is now raised by ranchers and features on many menus. Baked beans, barbecue, wild rice, barley… these are some Alberta traditions, not to mention the deceptively-named Prairie Oyster! Some foods are reserved for special occasions, particularly Christmas and - in Calgary - stampede week, an annual event going back to 1912 that celebrates the cowboy traditions of the old west.