A Foodie’s Guide to Fish Creek Park

With its rolling landscapes and babbling brooks, Fish Creek Provincial Park is immersed in natural beauty, but the discerning foodie knows to come for a special treat at the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant and Annie’s Café.

Annie’s Cafe

Photo Courtesy of Courtesy of @bookstrucker

The Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant

This legendary venue was a sophisticated hub for the founders of Calgary. 12 decades later, it houses one of the city’s premier restaurants. Offering only the finest fare, the menu is built on the tenet of local sourcing, and the artistry of Chef Jenny Kang.

Dinner

Our summer menu features Beretta Farms Beef Tenderloin (widely regarded as the most tender cut—lean meat with a soft buttery texture) delivering exquisite meaty flavour with every bite and perfectly paired with black garlic aioli, maitake, kale, herb puree, rainbow carrot, agria potato pave and port wine truffle jus. For a flavorful play on textural contrasts, our Surf and Turf for two is the perfect combination between sea and land featuring North Fork Bison striploin, herb crusted bone marrow, scallops, shrimps, clams and seasonal vegetables.

Rangeland Farm Elk Tartare is the perfect appetizer. Prepared flawlessly with truffle powder, it pairs well with horseradish cream, chips, and cured yolk. Game meat has many health benefits; packed with nutrients and flavour.

Brunch

We have been named one of the best brunch restaurants in Canada. A time-honoured family tradition here, bringing folks around a weekend table. Perfect for sharing, the Ploughman’s Platter is a long-time staple on the menu, featuring cured and dried meat, homemade terrines, marinated vegetables, grainy mustard, chutney, domestic cheese, and artisan bread.

In addition to the classics, like the amazing Bright Stone Farms Eggs Benedict—available in smoked salmon or traditional, paired with spinach & mushroom potato sarladaise, bacon or sausage and fresh fruit—the menu offers unique dishes like Asparagus and Proscuitto, poached eggs under hollandaise sauce, Grana Padano, sarladaise and a multigrain toast.

Photo Courtesy of Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant

Annie’s Café

This quaint farmhouse was moved to its current spot in 1905. It housed the ranch foremen and their families, including Billy Bannister and his wife, Annie. Today, Annie’s Café serves luscious hard ice cream, along with soups, sandwiches, and pastries, specially crafted at Cravings Market Restaurant. More than just a source for special cones and picnic snacks, Annie’s Café holds a special place in the hearts of Calgarians. Patrons anxiously await the annual opening in spring and line up around the corner throughout the summer. Nostalgia and tradition bring guests to enjoy the benches on the shady porch.