The road to Jasper is considered one of the most scenic on Earth. And as much as we love breath-taking, we’re on the hunt for mouth-watering on this particular venture. Join us on the road to Jasper’s newest culinary offering: Aalto at Pyramid Lake Lodge.
Calgarians can get a little…preferential…when it comes to Banff as the quintessential mountain town. Fair enough. At just over an hour away, it’s convenient, beautiful and has lots of delicious options for gastronomes. But for those willing to go venture a little further, the payoff is well worth the trip to Jasper: Edmonton’s Banff.
Wait! Hear us out.
At five hours away, Jasper is a hike, but you almost forget the distance when you’re cruising one of the world’s most beautiful highways. And there are those who feel Banff may have lost its rustic hamlet feel over the last few decades. Jasper’s still got it in spades. If you’re a hiker and you’ve done all of the Bow Valley beauties, this trek offers dozens of spectacular options (we loved Helen Lake with a gorgeous view of the Crowfoot glacier). Speaking of glaciers, you’ll get to visit the Columbia Icefields, one of the things that makes this highway a UNESCO world heritage site. But you’re not necessary here for the views, so let’s get to the food. We recently joined the Pursuit group for a tour of their mountain munches from Banff to Jasper and beyond.
Ramen Eggs
Salty, jammy ramen eggs served with crispy nori and spicy wasabi peas.
Tuna Toast
Featuring tomato chutney, blackened tuna, black garlic aioli, parsley, the toast is just the right amount of chewy and there's a fine balance of flavours and textures with the rich, creamy tuna and bright tangy tomatoes.
Prawn Cocktail
Featuring BC Prawns, Caesar broth, horseradish, and local distiller Park's chili vodka, this appy was not only adorable, but a little bit sassy too.
Bison
These are tandoori roasted with red curry and served with watercress and a yummy corn puree. Is there anything more Canadian than bison with an Indian flare? Multiculturalism is delicious.
Stuffed Mushroom Caps
These were a real standout for us with a prawn-mousse-and-wasabi-pea stuffing in fresh mushrooms drenched in a sizzling miso butter.
Salty Sour
The Salty Sour cocktail features Trailblazer vodka, triple sec, grapefruit and egg white. The cocktail game is strong here, so get a room at the Mount Royal hotel and try a few!
Pavlova
Strawberry Fields
A crispy rice paper piece of abstract art cradles a delicious strawberry sorbet drizzled with mint oil and complemented with coconut cream and a strawberry rhubarb compote. This might be the most delicious vegan dish we've every tasted. Strawberry Fields forever!
Brazen, Banff
This great eatery can be found in the Mount Royal Hotel along Banff Avenue. Created as an homage to the daring mountaineers who re-discovered and founded Banff, the menu takes a few risks itself, while remaining accessible to the families who stay at the hotel. It offers brunch and dinner menus, which change with the seasons. Since opening in 2022, Brazen has become a foodie favourite, adding to Pursuit’s existing Banff offering of Farm and Fire and Sky Bistro at the top of the Sulphur Mountain gondola.
Our pick: Stuffed Mushroom Caps
Zucchini Cake
Jasper's Terra's Zucchini Cake blew our minds with it's rich, dense texture and fantastic goat cream cheese icing drizzled with caramel.
Riccioli Pasta
Jasper's Terra's Riccioli pasta sings with local greens and pecorino cheese. This dish has a super satisfying mouthfeel and will replenish your energy stores after a day in the mountains.
Mushroom Parfait
Jasper's Terra's mushroom parfait is the epitome of eating local with foraged mushrooms combined with herbs and spices and whipped into a fluffy mousse served with Terra's signature chewy sourdough.
Terra, Jasper
Opened in 2022 in Jasper’s Crimson Hotel, Terra is a delicious example of how using local ingredients translates to divine dishes. Chef Shane Rutledge is creative, innovative and knows his way around local produce. Some ingredients are, in fact, foraged from surrounding terrain ensuring maximum freshness. In addition to these images, we enjoyed a sampling of this great menu including a delicious take on elotes (Mexican street corn) called Corn Ribs featuring ginger aioli, red chili powder and lime.
Our Pick: Mushroom Parfait
The Big Smoke
This meat-lover's dream offers the best of the Maligne Canyon smoker with a sample of brisket and pulled pork along with some great choices of sides.
Triple Feature Sliders
Can't decide which sandwich you want? Try three! We had a delicious pulled pork and smoked brisket. The standout, though was the mini version of the fried chicken sandwich, which was so delicious.
You Pick!
As we began to endure the meat sweats, it became unclear if this array of deliciousness was actually on the menu, or special just for us..
Smoked Wings
These might actually be the best chicken wings we've ever had. It's like they're not even in the same galaxy as the little deep-fryer-incinerated nuggets you get on wing night at your local pub. First of all, they're smoked, second of all. they're huge and juicy, third of all, they have both parts of the wing together and fourth of all, they're topped with double-smoked herb salt and come with signature house sauces.
Valley Lemonade
Is it us, or are purple cocktails a thing right now? Anyway, this is a zero-proof lemonade with butterfly pea-flower syrup, which is as refreshing as it is delicious.
Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen
Well worth a trip off the beaten path.
Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen, Maligne Canyon
This hidden gem is the most off the beaten path we got on this adventure and we’re so glad we made the stop on the way back from our Maligne Lake Cruise.
If you’re there during the summer, enjoy the gorgeous patio complete with the soundtrack of singing birds and the gentle roar of the Maligne River as it rushes through the canyon.
The menu is focused on house-smoked meat and the team was eager to strut their stuff. We enjoyed a lot of meat. Like…a lot of meat. But we’re professionals and when there’s a job to do, we do it.
Our pick: Smoked Chicken Wings
Dark Chocolate Kladdkaka and Semoir Bun
The kladdkaka checks all of the dark, dense and rich boxes while the semior bun offers a lighter alternative with a delicious marzipan custard and rhubarb ice wine compote.
Certified Angus Beef Coulotte
Served with a sauce perigeueux and local microgreens, this dish lets the quality of the beef speak for itself.
BC Gindara Sable Fish
This gorgeous dish done in the Japanese Gindara style, fe3atured a fermented plum ginger cream, rainbow dulce and nori crisp to ad texture.
Fermented barley
Served with the beef coulotte and sable fish, this side was both bright and hearty.
Lamb Tartar
An unusual take on a fine dining classic.
Kennebec Dumplings
Inspired by Nordic traditions, these delicious dumplings feature sour cabbage, dill, mustard cream, radish salad and, of course, potatoes.
Nettle Lavash
A gorgeous crispy flat bread served with the seasonal lamb tartar.
Proud chefs
Chefs Shane Rutledge, chef de cuisine, Aalto/Terra (left) and Thomas Riding, executive chef Jasper & Maligne Valley
The Land and Sea Charcuterie Board
Featuring house-cured meats, Divine caviar and more.
Pyramid Lake
The inspiration behind Aalto and a great place to relax before and after dinner.
Pyramid Lake Lodge
Home of the new Aalto restaurant.
Aalto, Pyramid Lake Lodge
The newest addition to the Pursuit family, Aalto is set to open this summer. We got a sneak peak at the menu and tried some of the dishes that will be available in July. With a menu focused on cooking traditions like fermenting and curing, the Aalto team has created an offering that uses local ingredients with Nordic techniques resulting in a thoughtful menu that is both adventurous and accessible.
Our pick: Kennebec dumplings
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