Green Me Up, Scotty (waaaaaaay up!) - Fabulous Salads in Banff

Dining in the mountains is as much about the views as it is the fine service and excellent cuisine. To find all three in one place, well, it almost seems like too much to ask. Except… that’s just what happens when you eat out in Banff. [Sky Bistro]

What could be better than a really good salad? How about a salad at altitude…

Given Banff sits at 1383 meters above sea level, technically any salad you might consume here in town qualifies as an elevated experience. We all know that eating a salad and fresh vegetables every day is one of the healthiest habits you can get into - the fiber in fresh veggies is good for you and they are packed with all kinds of vitamins and nutrients.

[Note from Mom: To get the greatest benefit from your vegetables, try to include as many different colors on your plate as possible - not only are those shredded beets and carrots visually delightful, those brilliant colors also indicate that different nutrients are present than you’d find in something deep green - like, say, spinach]. 

While that all might be true (thanks, Mom), I would add that a really good, fresh salad has to be one of the most delicious meals one could possibly consume! There are endless combinations of veggies and greens, made all the tastier when topped with nuts or fruit, fabulous dressings, or heartier options like beef, shrimp, salmon, or chicken. 

Whether you are looking for a side dish to accompany your main or if you prefer the salad to be the centerpiece of your meal, you’ll find some marvelous and unusual veggie options in Banff restaurants. The list would be waaaaaaay too long if I included every single place in town with a great salad, so consider this a starting place, a bit of green inspiration… And, of course, if you want more ideas, have a browse through the many restaurant menus we have up online right here on the website (click that EXPLORE button on the homepage). 

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
405 Spray Avenue

Up at the Fairmont Banff Springs, the chefs have access to freshly grown greens (check out the micro-green farm in the Block).

Though they don’t grow enough volume on site for all the many salads served each day at the hotel’s various dining establishments, chances are you’ll have a sprig of something ultra-local on your plate. 

Don’t miss STOCK Food and Drink when you are next up at the castle. This marketplace is not your average coffee shop! You’ll find a great selection of great locally-sourced gourmet ingredients in these tasty soups, sandwiches, salads, pastries and other light meal options.

Nourish Bistro
211 Bear St

No discussion of salads in Banff would be complete without mentioning Nourish Bistro, Banff’s go-to destination for veggie lovers. Vegan and mostly organic, you know you’re going to get an excellent salad here.

I can’t be the only one who loves felafel - check out this enticing combination in the Nourish Falafel Salad: field greens tossed with oven-baked chickpea falafels, served up with garlic dills, cucumber tomato crunch, roasted red peppers & raw cracker croutons, all drizzled with a white balsamic honey dressing and served with hummus & dill yogurt.

And, yes, all the other menu items are this creative, healthy, and delish!

Nourish Bistro - you know it’s going to be fresh and fabulous!

Cliffhouse Bistro
Mt Norquay Scenic Dr

The Cliffhouse Bistro, located in a recently renovated teahouse is reached via chairlift ride… Enjoy the cozy ambiance, warm up by the fire, and then order the Alberta Beef Salad served with prairie grains, heirloom tomatoes, baby cucumbers, hemp seeds, maple garlic, and soy dressing. Just the right combination of hearty (that’s the beef) and delicate. And… those views! Open Friday to Sunday from 11 am - 3 pm during the winter, add this to your list of must-do weekend adventures. 

Booster Juice
317 Banff Avenue

Looking for a liquid version of a salad? If I’m a little short in the greens department, I love a good smoothie. Have a look at the menu at Booster Juice and try a Green Hornet made with carrots, celery, spinach & parsley. Take a slug of that and I bet you’ll feel the goodness running through your veins… 

The views from the top of Sulphur Mountain can be distracting. Give yourself lots of time to enjoy the view before, during and after your meal.

Sky Bistro
Banff Sulphur Mountain Gondola - Upper Terminal

Another dining experience that involves a gondola ride is dinner at the Sky Bistro on top of Sulphur Mountain. Plan to arrive early while it’s still light out to make the most of the boardwalk and get a load of the fabulous views of the valley. When you’re ready to order your salad, consider the squash salad for something a little different. Roasted butternut squash is the star supported by a fine cast that includes arugula, watercress, macerated cranberries, candied pecans, goat feta, caramelized cipollini & maple vinaigrette. If you’d like to add a little extra protein, ask for the Alberta free-range chicken breast or some sautéed Canadian jumbo prawns. Yep, a salad at the Sky Bistro is heady indeed!

Of course, these restaurants don’t only serve salads, nor are they the only places in town to get your fix of greens… To browse the full menus (with prices), have a look at our online menus right here on the website.

If you are lucky enough to have enjoyed any of these salads, leave us a comment and let us know what you thought. We’re all ears! 

Post a Pic - Save a Restaurant!

Some restaurants - like Banff’s Carlito’s Pizzaria - are offering contactless delivery. We owe them our thanks - and, some social media love! @carlitospizzariabanff

Looking for an easy way to help out your local restaurateurs? We can all get pretty wrapped up in what’s going on out there and the last thing we may be thinking of is going out to eat even if your local favourite eatery is only using every other table and scrubbing everything with potent disinfectants… 

This new (temporary) reality did make me think that we can all help out the restaurants who are still providing take-out and delivery options by snapping photos of the tasty meals we are ordering in. There’s something kind of exciting about taking that bag of Chinese food or the pizza box or, these days, pretty much anything you could imagine ordering in a restaurant, and unpacking it at the kitchen table. That first scent of deliciousness wafting out of the bag never fails to make my tummy rumble in anticipation! 

No, the little sushi train won’t chug right up to your door to deliver your California rolls, but it has a better chance of still being at Banff Sushi House when things return to normal if you try to find ways to support your local restaurants during this period of social distancing.

Here’s Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept

So, here’s a challenge for you. When you order in, snap a photo of your food arriving, or maybe a picture of everything dished out on the table. Do a ‘plating’ video (kind of like an unboxing video) and post that. Maybe get all arty and take your best food photo ever. The most important part of this exercise, though, is not just to distract yourself and show off to your friends that you are still eating… but rather to TAG the restaurant to remind others that our small businesses are still open, still trying to provide us with services, and still in need of our support. 

Then, tag us (@tastebanff). We are doing what we can to let the community know who is open, who is delivering, who is serving what… We are active on Instagram and Facebook, so use your platform of choice and help us get the word out and support our neighbours. If you tag us, we’ll repost your posts to our stories and feeds and we’ll be sure we tag the restaurant as well. 

We love our local restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs and want them to be around when the dust settles and life begins to return to normal - this is an easy way for us all to help out. 

Thanks for reading! And, now more than ever before, thanks for sharing!

Slow Down and Fully Embrace the Dining Experience

Frog legs contain a surprisingly large number of bones… Proceed with caution!

There are some meals that are impossible to eat fast. Frog legs comes to mind when I think of a meal I had no choice but to consume slowly. The fact we were sitting in a sidewalk café in the Latin Quarter in Paris when my platter of frog legs á là Parisienne arrived at the table no doubt contributed to my willingness to sit still and savour my meal. The passersby - mostly tourists, provided an endless stream of entertainment as they stopped in the middle of the street, took photos, consulted maps, and perused the menus on display.

We had spent the morning poking around in the Latin Quarter and chatted happily about what we’d seen and where we might head after our late lunch. We looked at the photos we’d taken on our phones and flipped through a small guidebook I’d found that featured all the covered passages in Paris. It was easy to sit, relax, and enjoy the meal even though our day was full.

FOODIE FACT: Frog legs prepared in Paris-style are first boiled in water with lemon juice, salt and pepper. After they’ve been cooked and drained, they’re dipped in eggs, rolled in bread crumbs, and then fried. 

Impossible to Gobble a Frog Leg

The taste and texture of frog legs are vaguely chicken-esque, but what really slows a person down (beyond that fabulous Parisian ambiance) is the sheer number of small bones one encounters. There is no way to eat your way through a pile of frog legs except by using your fingers and proceeding slowly. 

I’m not sure I’ll have another plateful because I’ve since learned that the world’s appetite for frog legs has taken a serious toll on the world’s frog populations. What I will try to do, however, is not rush through my meals. Instead, these days I savour every mouthful in the way I savoured each delicate nibble I extricated from those tiny bones during that lovely afternoon in Paris. Too often, we rush through our meals, grabbing something on the go, not always taking the time to sit down and really enjoy each mouthful of our meal. 

One of my goals for 2020 is to slow down and take more time for food - whether that means putting on some music and preparing a meal in the kitchen at home or figuring out when and how to carve out time for a meal in a restaurant with someone (or several someones) whose company I enjoy. 

Here in the Bow Valley, we’re fortunate to have so many restaurants to choose from (have a browse through our online menus to see what’s available). If there’s something we enjoy as much as eating, it’s chatting about good food. We’re always eager to hear about your dining experiences - leave a comment and let us know where you love to go out and eat and why? What makes a really great meal? How do you make sure you find the time to share meals with those whose company you enjoy? 

If you haven’t already done so, make sure you join our local dinner clubs - we have one in Banff and one in Canmore. Watch for updates here in this blog as well as in our Facebook groups. You never know where we may be dining next, but one thing you can count on - we won’t be rushing through our meals!   

Best Breakfasts in Banff

Bennies for Breakfast at the Bison! The Bison offers Sunday brunch every week from 10 a - 2 pm at 211 Bear Street in Banff.

I love breakfast. A good one will put me in a great mood for the whole day. At home, I’m pretty boring when it comes to the first meal of the day. I never skip it, but it’s often simple - some banana loaf (I make a really good one with nut flours and a lot of eggs, so it’s pretty hearty fare) or, if I’m in a hurry, all-natural crunchy peanut butter thickly spread on rice cakes. Whatever the food selection might be, I wash it all down with a couple of cups of tea.

When I travel, though - the breakfast possibilities open way up. 

Sometimes I default to two eggs, over easy with hash browns and toast (these days, I often look for gluten-free toast), but when I have a little time and the menu options look good, well, the sky’s the limit. 

Steak and eggs? Sure - add a little grilled tomato and I’m a happy camper. Sometimes, granola, fresh fruit, and Greek yogurt are exactly what I’m craving.

Even though I don’t drink coffee at home, it’s a real treat when I’m on the road. On the Camino in Spain a couple of years ago, every morning began with a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice, a latte, and frittata. Oh, those were some fine meals to start off each day of walking!

Though it’s only 20 minutes down the road from where I live, going to Banff can seem like I’m on a road trip. I sure enjoyed my bowl of fruit, granola and yogurt at Wild Flour Bakery when I was there a couple of weeks ago. 

Perhaps my all-time favourite breakfast/brunch treat is a good breakfast buffet. Then I can indulge myself and enjoy a little salmon, or sausages and eggs, perhaps a waffle with strawberries and freshly whipped cream or maybe a little of everything! 

In Banff, there are more breakfast options than you can shake a can of bear spray at - not that I’d recommend you try taking a can of bear spray to breakfast - but you know what I mean. Here are just a few to get you started…

Coyotes Southwestern Grill
206 Caribou St

Coyotes in Banff features an interesting (in a good way) blend of Canadian and southwestern decor. Friendly, laid back, and casual, the prices are reasonable and the breakfasts delicious.

Try the Huevos Rancheros or, if you’re starving hungry, the Mountain Man breakfast. With a couple of eggs, wild berry pancakes, oven-roasted potatoes and your choice of Canadian bag bacon, strip bacon or spicy chorizo sausage, by the time you wash down the last mouthful with Coyote’s house roast dark coffee blend, you’ll be ready to take on whatever your day in the mountains has in store.

With lots of good gluten-free options (can you say GF French toast??), this is a great option for those in search of gluten-free alternatives. 

Wild Flour - Banff’s Artisan Bakery Café
211 Bear St

Whether you’re looking for a danish pastry or something more substantial (a panini on fresh-baked bread, for example), you’ll be happy you stopped in at this favourite brekkie hangout for Banff locals.  Wild Flour proudly uses free-range eggs, fresh vegetables and herbs, and bakery-fresh bread for their signature breakfast frittata sandwich. They have a variety of house-made granolas to choose from, which can be topped with berry compote and yogurt or milk. 

Crave Mountain Grill
222 Lynx Street

Looking for a great Sunday brunch? Crave Mountain Grill is hard to beat - and that’s even before you take the glorious mountain views into consideration.

The brunch features a wide selection of hot and cold entrées, salads, seafood, full breakfast selection including an omelet station, carving station and a wide variety of desserts, fruit and cheeses. Don’t miss the chocolate fountain!

Kids five and under get a free pass at the Sunday brunch as long as each child brings along a paying adult. Ordering á là carte? Try the Florentine Eggs Benedict with caramelized onions, spinach and smashed potatoes. 

Nourish Bistro
211 Bear Street

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, bacon has no place at the breakfast table. Fortunately, Nourish Bistro specializes in delicious vegan breakfasts like their Aloo Paratha which they describe as being ‘kinda like a potato pancake - unleavened dough mixed with potato and spices, served with olive oil-lemon arugula, roasted roma tomatoes and finished with tamarind chutney and vegan mint-cilantro yogurt. Also available with paneer cheese and mixed veggies (peas, carrot, bell pepper, corn and more).

Yep - this is real, good, wholesome food that will make your body, mind and spirit very happy. 

El Toro 
429 Banff Avenue

Known for their locals breakfast specials, El Toro offers consistently tasty meals with generous portions and reasonable prices.

Try the raspberry crepes with vanilla yogurt, a breakfast burrito or maybe a Spanish omelette.

Bring the whole family and start your day off right!  

Wildfire Grill
600 Banff Avenue

Stop on your way into the Wildfire Grill for a selfie with the big wooden bear and then continue on to your table where you’ll be able to satisfy all your breakfast desires at this restaurant located at the Inns of Banff.

The kids breakfast menu includes French Toast, Pancakes, Grilled Cheese or a Kids Mountain Breakfast with a scrambled egg with cheese, sausage, bacon, hash browns and toast. 

Lots here to pick from for all members of the family.

Juniper Bistro
1 Juniper Way

Offering one of the best brunches in Banff, the Juniper Bistro can certainly provide you with eggs cooked as you please (served with Valbella farmhouse sausage and bacon), but why stick to the tried and true when you can branch out and try something a little more exotic?

How about getting adventurous with the grilled avocado served with poached egg, charred corn, crumbled Crystal Springs feta, oven-dried tomatoes and sourdough bread? Or a Juniper Benny with bannock, braised rabbit, buffalo mozzarella, juniper berry glaze, 2 poached eggs, hollandaise, and brown butter hash?

Go on. Live a little! The Juniper Bistro offers various gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options for those with special dietary requirements. 

The menu at the Juniper never fails to surprise and delight!

Do tell! Where do you love to go for breakfast? Leave us a comment below and let us know! 

Do You Fondue? Celebrate Chocolate Fondue Day in Banff

I’m not sure why Chocolate Fondue Day is not a national holiday - it should be! I mean, spending hours dipping goodies into vats of melted chocolate is reason enough to take a day off work. Right?

Never had the pleasure of indulging your tastebuds with this most satisfying of taste experiences? Curious what people may wish to dip in oh-so-good melty chocolate? I could argue that there really isn’t a bad thing to dip in chocolate… but most often you’ll be offered bits of fruit (pineapple is particularly delectable dipped in warm chocolate, strawberries rather excellent, bits of melon - yummmmm… excuse me while I wipe the drool from my keyboard…), but cubes of bread or cake work as well. 

[Source]

Who Invented Fondue?

Who dreamed up this particular dish? You could be forgiven for thinking it must have been the brainchild of a French chef - heaven knows the French know how to play with chocolate and, yes, the word is derived from fondre, the French word for melt.

In fact, dipping stuff in melted cheese is a Swiss dish that dates back to the 1600s when bread was the dipping item of choice.

Chocolate fondue, though, was invented much more recently by Konrad Egli who owned the Chalet Suisse restaurant in New York.  In the 1960s he added a dessert version of traditional cheese fondues to the menu in part because he was involved with a sponsorship deal with the Toblerone chocolate company.

FOODIE FACT: While cheese fondues may be infused with wine, you’re more likely to find chefs adding a little rum or cherry brandy to a chocolate fondue. 

Ticino Swiss-Italian Restaurant in Banff is the locals go-to destination for fondue… cheese or chocolate (Image: Ticino Swiss-Italian Restaurant)

One of the things I love most about fondues (chocolate or cheese) is their communal nature.

Rather than each person having a bowl in which to dip, a single fondue pot perched over a  candle or other small flame in the middle of the table means everyone who gathers around the table to share the meal also shares the same fondue pot. Double-dipping isn’t encouraged, but that’s why the morsels used to load up and deliver chocolate to mouth are perfectly sized for a single mouthful of scrumptiousness. 

Don’t Drop Your Bread in the Fondue Pot!!!

Be warned, if you drop your bread off the end of your fondue fork and it disappears into the chocolate brew you’ll be penalized by running down Banff Avenue naked as a Canada jay.

Don’t believe me?

I speaketh the truth (sort of). Tradition does have it that bread-droppers are teased, made to sing songs, buy a round of drinks or, yes, take a sprint through the snow sans … well, anything. 

Sound like a super fun way to spend an evening with friends? Looking for great fondue in Banff? You can’t do much better than Ticino, Banff’s bona fide family-run Swiss-Italian restaurant. Their chocolate fondue (fonduta di cioccolata) is served with seasonal fruits and house-made banana bread. 

And, best news of all, they don’t wait until Chocolate Fondue Day to serve this house specialty! It’s on the menu year-round!

Oh. Yes. Please. So good, you’ll be tempted to eat dessert first!

You Could Be Our Next Menu Hunter: Here's How!

If this fine fella can be a Menu Hunter for Taste Banff, so can you…

What’s a Menu Hunter? 

If you love exploring food and drink in the Bow Valley, then you’re already a menu hunter! Couldn’t be easier, right? 

At Taste Banff, we’re all about trying new dishes, or discovering fresh takes on old favourites. We love finding new places to eat, drink, and share great times with friends. And, we love sharing what we discover with the big community of foodies here in Banff. 

How to Get Started

All you need to do to officially take part in our Menu Hunter program is to comment on posts like this (start by replying to this post with your favourite place to go out for lunch in Banff). You can also earn points by tagging us on social media whenever you post your foodie photos. We’ll do the rest. We’re tracking who posts about food and drink (the places, the people, the menu items) on Facebook and Instagram and as long as you tag us (@TasteBanff), your Menu Hunter score will start adding up. Of course, follow us so you don’t miss any of our posts on Instagram and Facebook - like or respond to those and earn extra points. 

Here at Tastemagazine.ca you’ll find up-to-date menus (with prices) for local restaurants and that’s another easy way to participate in the menu hunter program. Love the breakfast buffet at Vistas Dining Room? Drop us a note in the comments under the Vistas menu. Chose the 1888 Chop House as the perfect place to propose to your one true love? Stories like that make our hearts melt - tell us all about the big moment!!

Each month we’ll announce a featured Menu Hunter and award some fun prizes (stuff like Taste swag and most excellent gift certificates). We have some special promotions up our sleeves, so some months there may be more than one star Menu Hunter. The best part is, you don’t have to do anything particularly difficult. Just let us know you are out there and what you’re chowing down on! 

Join Our Dinner Club!

While social media is terrific (we’re big fans), there’s nothing like in-person, face-to-face conversation shared over a great meal. That’s why we’re starting two dinner clubs in the Bow Valley - one in Banff and one in Canmore. Join one, or both (they’re easy to find on Facebook: Banff Dinner Club and Canmore Dinner Club) and you’ll be the first to hear about our special evenings out featuring chef’s tastings, great food and beverage pairings, and themed dinner evenings. 

The Pinnacle TASTE Awards

At about this time next year (yep, we’re planning our 2021 New Year celebrations already) we’ll be hosting an awards ceremony to feature the best of the best in food and drink in the Bow Valley. Menu Hunters like you should start keeping track of your favourites so when the time comes to vote you don’t forget to give credit where credit is due. Stay tuned for more details!

That’s it for now! If you have any questions, ask below (your questions count toward your Menu Hunter points, of course…). Stay tuned, keep reading the blog, and keep an eye on our social media feeds for more details and to see if you might be our next featured Menu Hunter!