hen you walk into the gorgeous Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, you are already at the seventh floor level, as you'll see when you walk through the lobby and look out the large windows. If you're not too overwhelmed by the panoramic view of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you may notice the patio quite a few stories below you.
We began our stay by quickly checking out our room, which was on the top(9th) floor. It was decorated beautifully but had much more to offer than tasteful decor. As we stepped out onto the balcony our mouths just dropped at of the view. The fact that our balcony was larger than most people's condos only hit us after we shook off our astonishment. The view of the Rockies and the valleys below was simply magnificent.
We discovered a sampling of gourmet strawberries dipped in Bernard Calbot chocolate the hotel manager had put in our room, between nibbles we freshened up before heading down to the Rimrock's famous restaurant for our eight o'clock dinner reservation.
Eden, the Rimrock's CAA/AAA Four Diamond, award winning, fine dining restaurant (previously known as Classico), enhances its dining experience with breathtaking views that are impossible to beat. Through the large bay windows lies the spectacular Mount Rundle and the splendor of the Bow Valley.
We tried their tasting menu, which was perfectly matched with a unique flight of wines. The tasting menu has four mouth-watering options: Les Bois, La Mer and Chef's Menu, each $95. for eight courses with a $50. wine flight option; Grand Tasting Menu, $125. for nine courses with a $60. wine flight option; and, if it's a really special occasion, you have the option of a $500. per guest (minimum two persons) 'Menu du Paradis', an elaborate ten-course dégustation menu matched with rare and elite wines.
We chose the Grand Tasting Menu and the Chef's Menu, both with accompanying
flights of wine, and started with two tall flutes of Veuve Chiquot. Our
absolute favorite dishes were the caviar and cream cheese Amuse-Bouche, the
delicate and delicious Lobster Bisque 'Cappuccino' with Alba Truffle Foam
(to die for!), the Pan Seared Escalope of Foie Gras (melts in your mouth!),
and the Warm Valrhona Chocolate Truffle Cake with wild blueberry sorbet and
orange reduction.
The wines with each course were unique and delicious--you didn't have to be a sommelier to know that they were fine vintages. Our waiter, Sylvain Brousseau, is trained as a sommelier, educated in a wide
range of culinary and wine schools in France. But we might have guessed that from his detailed and knowledgeable descriptions of each wine. He seemed to have a talent for describing the flavor and bouquets of the wines to perfection, "Floury with a hint of clay and stone", or "dry, kind of like candy cane-but not overpowering." How true!
Since my dinner companion doesn't eat veal or lamb, he substituted a famous Alberta Beef filet for the entrée. It was grilled to perfection. The courteous and very professional staff seemed always ready to accommodate any request we might throw their way. Each main ingredient in every dish was described to us in detail. We were even told that the butter (to go with the selection of four breads) is organic and from British Columbia's Fraser Valley.
By the time we'd finished our espressos, we were so satisfyingly sated we were almost ready for bed! Instead, we ventured out and explored Banff--quite possibly the most picturesque town in North America. We stopped
by a few lounges, and a waterfall where we spotted two deer (wildlife spottings are common in Banff) before cabbing it back to The Rimrock.
The next morning we got up early to watch the sun rise over the mountains and
valleys from our balcony. As the pale light streamed through the distant trees and
slowly ripened in the valley below, we breathed in the fresh mountain air and sighed.
Surely, this is what it's like in Seventh Heaven.
The Rimrock Resort Hotel is Banff's only Four Diamond rated luxury resort and Leading Hotel of the World. Located on Sulphur Mountain the Rimrock Resort offers the "best views" of the Bow Valley. Features include 349 luxury guest rooms, 16,000 feet of meeting space, full service Spa and Health Club, two restaurants and a lobby bar, valet and concierge services, and a complimentary shuttle bus to the main street in Banff.
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Check them out online at www.RimRockResort.com
When you walk into the gorgeous Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, you are already at the seventh floor level, as you'll see when you walk through the lobby and look out the large windows. If you're not too overwhelmed by the panoramic view of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you may notice the patio quite a few stories below you.
Goldeneye Resort
