national park – Page 2

October 2, 2014November 10, 2014

Giorgio’s Trattoria – Banff Alberta

I’ve been to Giorgio’s Trattoria in Banff before – a few years ago, but never for lunch. This time, we stopped in for a relaxing lunch and it was great! We got a table outside and it was a great way to spend the afternoon.

We started with an appetizer of Atlantic Mussels which was a big bowl of PEI mussels cooked in a tomato fennel sauce. The mussels were really plump and fresh, so they were really good. The sauce was tasty and not over powering and not water downed either. It was a great dish and set the bar for a really good lunch ahead!

I ordered their Canadian Pizza which I thought was an individual sized pizza. It turns out to be quite large so I ended bringing half of it home. The pizza crust was really good, and hand generous amount of toppings making the pizza quite delightful.

Then, it wouldn’t be an Italian place if we don’t eat pasta – especially they advertise themselves for homemade fresh pasta, so we ordered a bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese where we added meatballs to the meal. The pasta was delicious and the meatballs – tons of flavour. The sauce they used was a meat and tomato sauce which I thought was a little bit watery so it wasn’t as flavourful as it could be.

Overall, we still love this place. Even though so many years has passed, it still has great food, great service and a wonderful ambiance. It’s always worth the price tag for a treat so great!

Giorgio’s Trattoria

219 Banff Avenue
Banff, AB
(403) 762-5114

October 1, 2014

Sushi Bistro – Banff, Alberta

We accomplished a hike up Ha Ling Peak and decided we would reward ourselves with sushi. We got into Banff and stumbled into Sushi Bistro which is just off Banff Avenue – right near Brewster’s Mountain Lodge. We didn’t have to wait too long to get seated as it was tail end of the dinner rush when we arrived.

We sat down and ticked off all the good things we wanted to eat. We started with Deep Fried Chicken which came out in a little plate. The chicken was delicious and juicy and fried really nicely, not greasy.

Then, we got in a little bowl, which we thought was strange, our Salmon Sashimi, the fish was really fresh and the portions was quite generous, especially for the price ($6 for 5 pieces).

We had an assortment of sushi’s that we like so we ordered some Surf Clams, Inari and spicy tuna roll. All the sushi was delicious and fresh and tasted really good!

Our last item we ordered was on their menu under Ramen Noodle and it turned out to be a big bowl of ramen! It was delicious and it only cost $9.50 which is at par with all the other places or cheaper. The soup was really tasty and the ramen texture was nice.

Overall, the experience was amazing. Service was great, food was fabulous and the prices were very reasonable. It’s a nice quiet restaurant tucked off the busy street – but it doesn’t mean the place isn’t busy!

Sushi Bistro

208 Caribou St.
Banff, AB
(403) 762-4000

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014

Prince of Wales Afternoon Tea – Waterton, Alberta

Recently, during our stay at the Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton, Alberta, we sat down for afternoon tea in a beautiful dining room in the lobby of the hotel. The view could not be more spectacular as you overlook Waterton, and the dining room itself was beautiful with lots of history.

We were lucky enough to get a table by the window to enjoy our afternoon tea and the view. They had a few flavours of delicious Tea Forte teas and they steeped the tea in a specialize cup. It was just a fun experience with steeping tea alone. The teas were quite delightful as well.

This afternoon tea had a 3 tier tray which started off with dainty sandwiches, pastries, then some scones/biscuits and the topped with dessert. The food was plentiful and it was decent.

Overall, it was a wonderful and relaxing way to spend an afternoon in a beautiful place! The view was amazing, the service was excellent and the price wasn’t bad at $30/person for afternoon tea at such a location! It definitely was relaxing as they do ask you to turn your cellphones off or silent so it doesn’t bother others. Quite a nice treat!

Afternoon Tea – Prince of Wales Waterton Park

Glacier Park Inc., Box 33
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

September 30, 2014November 10, 2014

Moraine Lake Lodge – Moraine Lake, Alberta

I’ve been to Moraine Lake a few times and I’ve always wanted to go to the dining room here. Often when I go, the dining room is booked solid. This time, we went for a walk to Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass and then made a reservation for Moraine Lake Lodge – Dining Room. We got in for first seating on a Sunday – so there was room for us!

The dining room is quite small and intimate. It’s a lodge cabin decor and is warmed by a wood burning fireplace. It’s got lovely ambiance – warm and romantic!

We decided to skip on the appetizers this time and go for dessert as I always crave sweet food after a hike. So, my main entree was their Steelhead Trout which was cooked to perfection! The fish was fresh and delicious, with a beautiful crust outside and it sat in a little light broth. It was amazing!

My husband ordered Elk Tenderloin that was cooked with port wine with red cabbage. The tenderloin was tender and juicy with a nice sweetness from the port. It was absolutely delightful, and even the vegetables and potatoes tasted really good. We really enjoyed the sauce and wiped it all up with some bread at the end!

Now, it was finally dessert time. We ordered their Chocolate Torte which was a dark chocolate torte with an amazing sea salt caramel brittle. The dessert was amazing and it wasn’t a sweet dessert which we really appreciate. It’s sweet, but not over the top sweet which makes it truly enjoyable.

Overall, everything here was amazing. The price was a tad high, but the atmosphere, the service and the quality of food is what you’re paying for. This was a magnificent experience and would be perfect for any occasion!

Moraine Lake Lodge

Moraine Lake Rd
Lake Louise, AB
(877) 522-2777

July 4, 2014

Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub – Banff, AB

Everyone who knows me know I love Banff and I love perogies. It just happened that one day walking by Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub I noticed perogies were on special – so we ventured in to eat. This little pub is located on the lower level off Banff Avenue.

Once we got seated and got our drink, as mentioned I already knew I wanted to have their Perogies which are potato and cheddar stuffed perogies served with sour cream, garlic and bacon dip. These little perogies were quite good.

The other dish we ordered was their Steak Sandwich which is an 6oz sirloin steak sandwich served on garlic toast. The steak was tender and juicy so it was absolutely delicious.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time here. It’s a great place to dine and watch the people enjoy their time in Banff.

Tommy’s Neighborhood Pub

120 Banff Ave
Banff, AB
(403) 762-8888