Foodie heaven in Canmore, AB?

[kellyoyo]

Can anyone recommend a good restaurant in Canmore AB? I'll be staying there July 29. I'm not looking for any style of food, just a place that uses fresh seasonal ingredients.

I've done some searching around and have come across conflicting reviews of Chez Francois.

thanks
Kelly

[newJJD]

LMAO paulj, that's the funniest post I've read here... You forgot - 3 eyed perch from that Lake next to the Lafarge plant (Lac des Arcs i Think) and fresh T-C-H roadkill!

There are some great food purveyors in Canmore, but I'd hardly call what they sell fresh and seasonal. I'm thinking of the beers at Grizzly Paw, Valbella Meat products, etc.

[paulj]

What would qualify as a 'fresh seasonal ingredients' in Canmore? Locally picked wild berries in the late summer? Bear? Alberta wheat? Alberta beef? BC Hot House peppers and cucumbers? California strawberries? Okanogan cherries and wines? BC or Alaska salmon? Aleutian king crab?

paulj

[John Manzo]

It means the same thing it does everywhere, why the snark? Just because it's not surrounded by stone fruit orchards or wineries does not mean there's no agricultural products. And yes, the OkanagAn would count as providing lots of the fresh and the seasonal.

California strawberries? Please.

[newJJD]

Manzo, that is priceless, you calling out another Chow-er for coming off as snarky!!! Kinda like calling the kettle black ain't it?

I think paulj and I both read fresh seasonal ingredients and instantly added the word 'local' to that descriptor.

[paulj]

Indeed, seasonality does imply some degree of locality. Fruit imported from Chile or New Zealand during a northern winter was picked during its southern growing season.

Admittedly my only restaurant meal in Canmore was a breakfast on a freezing September morning. I wasn't too worried about how seasonal or local the ingredients were. However, I am interested in good food options in the Alberta and BC mountain towns, even if most of the food comes by way of Calgary or Vancouver distributors.

paulj

[John Manzo]

Canmore has fantastic restaurants, regardless of how "freezing" the weather is.

[John Manzo]

There's justified snark and unjustified snark.

And I think everybody else inferred the "local" part. Of course "local" is itself up for interpretation.

[paulj]

In light of this discussion, it was interesting to hear a TV travel program (the Seasoned Traveler) talk about fresh seasonal food - when talking about Vancouver and Victoria. Of course the growing season is a bit longer near the coast than on the cold side of the Rockies. :-)

[kellyoyo]

Thanks all! I've made a reservation for Crazyweed Kitchen.

[Bob Mac]

newJJD:

Thanks for Blattman's review. Reading it sure puts my morning breakfast of black coffee and a bowl of bran buds to shame! [smile]

I am up in Canmore for a week in September and expect to visit Chez Francois given Blattman's praise and what I have read in Bailey and Schultz's "The Food Lover's Trail Guide to Alberta" and elsewhere.

[newJJD]

Manzo, I can't believe you've never been to Chez Francois, let alone heard of it.Here is a long review. I agree with most everything (The duck dishes are amazing, the free granite and duck terrine are a nice touch and the table d'hotes are the best deal in the Rockies... $32 for 4 courses, $48 for 6, and a decent wine list). A must try for all!
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Special extras, great value, fine French cuisine have kept Chez Francois a locals’ favourite for 14 years
By Peter Blattmann

Sitting at a table at Chez Francois is like finding yourself in a country home somewhere along the gastronomic routes in Burgundy while savouring classic French cuisine. Jean-Francois Gouin, chef/owner, and wife Sylvie introduced Canmore to the art of French cuisine 14 years ago, yet still today the restaurant remains one of Canmore's favourite dining spots. Do not be intimidated by its French name, however, because over the years many dishes from around the world have been added to the menu. But, as you would expect, Chez Francois has hung onto French tradition as much as possible. At dinner, they offer two classic table d'hote menus, a four-course for $ 32.95, the six-course at $48. A whopping 50 per cent of diners select one of the T D' menus.The regular dinner menu features French classics such as mussel soup, escargot, crevettes Provencale, langoustines, veal tenderloine and entrecote, among many others. I highly recommend the "bisque de crevettes" — shrimp bisque. Honestly I enjoyed the incredible intense shrimp flavour in this soup so much that I asked the server to delay the next course in order for me to sip it very slowly. It took a full glass of Sauvignon Blanc to get my taste buds ready for the next course, which was " The Merquaises a la Nicoise". Originating from Tunisia, a former colony of France, this dish consists of three spicy lamb sausages made by Jean-Francois (Valbella deli also has them available ) and is served with a very tasty tomato sauce, the best I had in a very long time. (See recipe below). As for the main course, Jean-Francois recommended that I taste his all-time favourite-and best selling-dish, the Canard a l'orange de Francois — braised duck. This is a masterpiece of a tasty dish and the recipe is being kept top-secret. Usually duck is tough, but believe me, this bird was so tender there was no knife required. Jean-Francois’s generosity not only was evident by serving half a duck instead of the usual quarter, but by adding copious amounts of Grand-Marnier to the orange sauce. His signature dish became very potent indeed. I had chosen a glass of a full-bodied Shiraz for this dish to match its intensity. Next time I would opt for a lighter wine with sharp acidity, crisp enough to cut through the very savoury flavours in the sauce. Each patron who orders both an appetizer and main course is served a complimentary granite in between the two courses (fruit juice flavoured with wine and Triple Sec and crystallized through freezing) as a palate cleanser and which is tart, not to be confused with sorbet/sherbet which is usually very sweet. For dessert, being a chocoholic, I chose the Gateau au Chocolat consisting of three
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layers, each made with a different chocolate. It was decadent and perfect for my liking. Other classic dishes include Crepe Suzette for two, creme caramel and a plate of French brie cheese. The most popular items on the lunch menu include a very large chef's salad, chicken & wild mushroom crepes, Cajun pasta, pan-fried sole with almonds, beef liver and a large selection of sandwiches, the Reuben being the best seller. It is no surprise to me why Canmorite's and tourists alike fill the place — not only because of the superb quality but also this popular restaurant represents terrific value for money as all dishes are very reasonably priced and because the portions are extremely generous. In addition to the free granite, a complimentary duck terrine is waiting at your table while you look over the menu, a gesture which can't be found anywhereelse. Another bargain is to be had by ordering a bottle of wine.I haven't seen for a long time Australian chardonnays, Chilean merlots and Alsatian gewuerztraminers listed under $30. Finally, readers will be very interested to learn that the restaurant is very popular for breakfast. On Saturday and Sunday it is usually packed to capacity by late morning. Therefore come early with your family as bargains are plenty — in particular the family breakfast platter. Other favourites include crepes, French toast and omelettes. Chez Francois is located at 1604-2nd Ave., just off Bow Valley Trail. They’re open daily, for breakfast 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner 5 to 9 p.m. For reservations, call 403.678.6111.

[John Manzo]

I've never even heard of Chez Francois. Crazy Weeds rocks and would meet your requirements perfectly. I would also strongly recommend Quarry, just up the street from Crazyweeds. Had one of the best meals of 2005 there last fall - amazing steak frites!!

For a fantastic, cheap lunch, get to Bella Crusta and get one ogf their delicious chicken salad sandwiches, which they make on half a round of their freshly-baked focaccia- too good!

Canmore is a great little restaurant town- in fact it's the best concentration of restaurants, in my opinion, between Calgary and Vancouver (especially if Banff gets thrown in). Having just made that drive, I was disappointed to find that almost no mountain towns are like Canmore, overflowing with great restos and coffeehouses. Refinement and the mountains, great pairing.

[Merry113]

I've never been to Chez Francois so I'm not help there but I love Crazy Weed Kitchen. It is a tiny restaurant in Canmore (so make reservations). The food we've had there has always been delicious (I especially like the Seafood Curry). It has an eclectic mix of dishes (not just Asian). Hope you enjoy Canmore!