I’m not sure if it’s the altitude sickness, the skyscraper mountains or the possibility of seeing elk, mouse and bears wondering around freely in our ‘hood, but Banff has me going a little wild. If you haven’t been lucky enough to come visit Banff, you should. 

We’ve heard the hard facts: Banff is in Canada’s first National Park located a UNESCO World Heritage site, TripAdvisor rated it as Canada’s #1 destination, and the stuffed French Toast at Coyote’s Deli is THAT good.

There are other things to enjoy as well though, even if it involves going against the grain and following your own lead.  Like I did today, on a beautiful hosted dinner at the Bison Restaurant and Lounge, thanks to Tulene Steiestol from Banff Lake Louise Tourism.

Going off my beaten path included daring to order bison in a land known for its beef, and I think I managed the pressure well.  Easing me into the task ahead was the smell of the Douglas Fir beams from the lounge downstairs. (It travels up easily through the airy corridor to the upstairs dining room.) The chill lounge music also helped, while the room's subdued olive green and coffee colours were earthy. I liked it.

Décor aside, the people filling the room are there for the meats: It’s about the beef, the bison, venison and fish dishes.  (Actually, I bet some of them would say they’re friends of the bison, it’s that serious.) Sporting numerous accolades on its sleeve, Ryan Rivard Grant Parry is a master at preparing dishes and not over-doing them.

Sure, our lovely waitress Lindsay had me at “..and our bread is served in a reclaimed birch bark basket..,” or “..this is a butter drizzled with organic canola oil from Highwood Crossing..,”still it was that darn bison that pulled on my heartstrings, in a very big bison-ish way.  I even gave up the last bite of my shrimp-and-crab taco (with a curry aioli) to save room.

A meal worth travelling to Banff for and nothing else, the grilled bison striploin was cooked to a ravenous medium rare and it was served with grilled apples, confit fingerling potatoes and warm fennels.  Alright, Carolyne’s venison loin was also a huge hit around the table (we decided to sample it all), and so was Tulene’s grilled beef tenderloin, but what can I say?  I’m a bison girl. A little bizarre I know, but I can’t help it, Banff just does this to me.