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!

It's Always Happy Hour Somewhere in Banff!

Beaver Bar
433 Banff Ave

Every hour is happy at the Beaver Bar! Cheap drinks, super-friendly staff, special events every night - the Beaver Bar is Banff’s best place to hang out after dark with a bunch of friends - those you arrived with and the new ones you’ll make.

There’s a reason Happy Hour is called Happy Hour! The prices are great, the vibe is excellent, it isn’t so late that everyone is falling off their barstools because they’re exhausted or have perhaps overindulged. (Unless, of course, you are partaking in a late Aprés ski special 

There’s something so satisfying knowing you’ve managed to get a great deal on something you’d happily pay twice as much to chow down on. Happy Hour specials make it easy to share with friends - and we all know that hanging out with our tribe of best buds is an instant mood booster. 

Specials often change day by day (Wings on Wednesday seems to be a thing…) so it’s worth reminding yourself of what day it is before you set your heart on a great deal on wings on… oh, say, a Thursday. 

Here are a few Happy Hour specials and locations that have caught my eye in Banff. There are plenty more… but this is a subject I’m happy to revisit from time to time. Have a favourite Happy Hour spot that’s not on this list? Leave a message in the comments or tag us on social (@TasteBanff) showing us just how happy you are while scarfing down a burger at Eddie’s or sipping your margarita at Chili’s. Not only will you make the eatery or watering hole happy, you’ll be earning Menu Hunter points! [Missed that post? Here’s the link.

Saint James Gate
207 Wolf Street

A touch of Ireland right here in Banff! Adorned with Irish woodwork and featuring all sorts of memorabilia, this pub makes you feel right at home from the second you step foot inside. Friendly staff, yummy comfort food, and regular specials, you’ll find yourself coming back again and again.

Eddie Burger Bar
137 Banff Avenue

Love burgers? Beer? Get your buns over to The Eddie and fast. The place is always hopping and for good reason - the food is delicious and the trashcans legendary… 

Saltlik
221 Bear Street

The Saltlik lounge features some tasty casual noshies, perfect for sharing. Need a little time to recover from skiing to get to the Aprés Ski Happy Hour? No worries, there’s a late night option starting at 9 pm. How about some coconut prawns? Or a Grape Smash Cocktail? Mmmm…. time to indulge!

Chili’s
461 Banff Avenue

After a long day skiing sometimes all you need is a tasty, salty and delicious margarita to bring you back to life. For a taste south of the border, grab a fajita or quesadilla to accompany your marg! Between 3 and 6 pm Chili’s Social Hour has lots of drink options to choose from.

Share the Happy!

Wherever you wind up for Happy Hour (and no matter what time it may be), don’t forget to snap a selfie and tag us (@TasteBanff)! We’re all about sharing the joy!

Spoon or No Spoon? What's the Official Way to Eat Spaghetti?

To use a spoon, or not to use a spoon… that’s the spaghetti question! [Source]

When I was a kid, my mother was adamant that the only right way to eat spaghetti was with a spoon and fork. She drilled us about not taking too many strands of spaghetti onto our spoons at one time so that when we rolled up the spaghetti (by pressing the tines of the fork into the bowl of the spoon and then twiddling the fork) we didn’t wind up with a bundle of spaghetti too big to fit in our mouths. 

We had practice sessions and were made to do it properly. This lesson was right up there along with always saying please and thank you, keeping our elbows off the table, clearing our plates when we left were finished, and not leaving the table before we asked permission. 

Mother Knows Best - Or, Does She?

I accepted all this as gospel until I moved in with a bona fide Italian who took one look at my two-handed spaghetti rolling skills and shook his head. “Italians don’t eat spaghetti like that.”

Wait, what? My mother was wrong about something like this? It hardly seemed possible. 

I did a little research and while it’s true that most restaurants provide a spoon and fork for pasta patrons and none other than Emily Post declared that both were necessary for acceptable spaghetti consumption, in fact, Italian kids learn to twirl their spaghetti but without the help of a spoon.

Well. I. Never. 

When in Doubt, Ask an Expert

Still in denial that this could be true despite mounting evidence to the contrary, I chatted with Nick, a nine-year veteran of the Old Spaghetti Factory in Banff to see what he had to say on the matter. “I’d say about 2/3 of the customers don’t use a spoon.” 

I was astonished. No spoon assistance at all? Nope. Though Nick did say that some customers “…may use a knife to cut off a stray strand.” 

A knife? That hadn’t even entered my mind as being a possible solution. Back at home, my mother insisted that nobody over the age of four should have their spaghetti cut up for them. It was a rite of passage to graduate from an adult cutting our pasta for us to being handed a fork and spoon and being taught the ‘proper’ way to do things. 

Don’t Believe the Expert? Ask Google

Except, apparently, it isn’t! Further research revealed that in Italy, only very young children and hopeless people (and tourists) use spoons. 

Not that you will be made to feel bad if you go to the Old Spaghetti factory and ask for a spoon. “As long as our customers are enjoying their meals, it doesn’t matter,” Nick says. “It’s a matter of personal preference.”

As for Nick, he avoids the prickly issue altogether by avoiding spaghetti. “I prefer shorter pasta - penne or tortellini.” 

However you choose to get your spaghetti strands to your mouth (or if, like Nick, you prefer your pasta on the short side), you’ll find lots of options on offer at Banff restaurants. I’ve listed a few below to get you started.

For a more comprehensive list and for full menus, have a good browse through our online menus.

Old Spaghetti Factory
317 Banff Avenue

Can’t decide what kind of sauce to go with your spaghetti? Check out the Pot-Pourri Spaghetti with Meat, Mushroom and Clam Sauce - it’s a sampler for the undecided and includes generous portions of the Old Spaghetti Factory’s most popular sauces.

Ticino Swiss Italian Restaurant
415 Banff Ave

Ticino Swiss-Italian Restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1979 and the owners are proud to support local suppliers (like Valbella Meats, local farms, BC wineries, the Banff Roasting Co. and the Banff Tea Co.). That kind of passion for local combined with a love of European dining means a memorable experience you’ll want to linger over. Be sure to try their Spaghetti al Sugo con Verdure Grigliate (spaghetti with meat sauce, garnished with grilled vegetables). 

Castello Ristorante
405 Spray Avenue

Craving a taste of the “La Dolce Vita”? Reserve your table at Castello Ristorante now to feel as though you are gazing at the Coliseum from a tiny Italian bistro. At Castello, the pastas are hand-made, the pizza is perfection and the desserts provide the sublime end to any meal.

Catello’s Spaghetti main dish comes with house meatballs, Parmigiano Reggiano, basil, and marinara sauce. 

Meatball Pizza & Pasta  
337 Banff Avenue

Meaty, cheesy, carby deliciousness is what the Meatball Pizza & Pasta is all about. Look no farther for all of your Italian-inspired favourites from Bruschetta to in-house-made gnocchi, and of course, spaghetti.

Do Tell! Spoon or No Spoon?

You know we have to ask… how do you like to eat your spaghetti? What did your Mama tell you about the ‘proper’ way to do things? Or, like Nick, do you prefer penne? Share your pasta-consumption strategies in the comments below!

For more Italian dining options, have a look at our selection of online menus.

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!