WHILE OTHER RESTAURANTS have ditched their white tablecloths and crumbers to feed the growing public appetite for casual dining, Eden Dining Room at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff — the only CAA/AAA five-diamond restaurant west of Toronto — remains steadfastly luxe. Those seeking haute touches will not be disappointed with the exquisite dishes, many of which are near-theatrical in their extravagance. Take the arctic char tartare with blue spruce essence and bourbon-and-orange-blossom gelée. Served in a glass bowl on a bed of smoking spruce needles, this culinary masterpiece gives off a subtle, woodsy scent as the diner eats. The pedigree of executive chef Ralph Wolmann, who has helmed coveted Michelin-starred kitchens in Europe, shines through in even the humblest menu items. His nose-to-tail main features Black Aberdeen Angus beef tongue, tail and tenderloin served with rutabaga sauté, ice-wine mustard and licorice pickled onion. Equally impressive is the restaurant’s stylish dining room, with its 180-degree view of the Banff Valley. A visit to Eden always leaves you salivating for more.
Published in Westworld Alberta, 2012
Tracy Hyatt 