It’s been my dream to visit Canada’s breathtaking Banff for years. So when I saw a cheap ticket to Calgary beginning of December, I decided to grab my warmest coat and snow pants to brave the cold to stand in awe of the towering mountains. What I didn’t expect was to be completely amazed by Alberta’s bakeries and vegan options. Having such amazing food the whole weekend was the icing on top of the cake to an amazing time in the snow-capped mountains. Here’s everything I did and ate over the weekend:
Sometimes you need to eat three different croissants after landing in Calgary, and And Some Bakery had so many options to choose from. I tried a matcha crookie, earl grey cruffin, and a plain croissant. Everything was delicious, but the cruffin was my favorite. I also tried their lavender foam matcha latte, which was yummy as well. My sweet tooth was definitely satisfied with this meal, and it costed $20.29 for everything.
After wandering around the Lower Mount Royal neighborhood and eating so many sweets for lunch, I desperately needed vegetables. So I grabbed dinner from a vegan restaurant called The Coup. I ordered the fresh Brussels, spicy yam nigiri, and gyoza. The Brussels sprouts were topped with maple shoyu gastrique, gochugaru, ginger, and scallions, and they tasted amazing. Everything I could ever want from some fried Brussels. The spicy yam nigiri included yam avocado, jalapeño, and chermoula aioli, and it was both creamy and spicy. The gyozas were filled with mixed vegetables and topped with scallions, kimchi honey, spicy soy, and sesame seeds. This nutritious and delicious dinner cost me $23.37. I told the waiter I was heading to Banff after dinner, and she told me to check out their sister restaurant located in town called Nourish.
After dinner, I picked up my friend from the airport, and then we drove through the snow for an hour and a half to Banff. I was definitely glad I upgraded my rental car to a vehicle with four wheel drive at Dollar Rental Car. I was able to get a rental car for four days for $202.34. We stayed at a hostel, HI Lake Louise, and a private room with a queen bed cost $243.13 for two nights.
The next morning we woke up to snow-covered trees and multiple breakfast options nearby. We decided to stop by Trailhead Cafe on this dark, winter morning. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk, a blueberry muffin, and the Big Breakfast, which comes with eggs, hash browns, and toast. All of this food cost $19.32.
We spent the day snowboarding, and I rented all the gear I needed from Wilson Mountain Sports. I got a snowboard, boots, and a helmet for two days for $65.94. This would be my third time snowboarding, so I knew I would be spending most of the day falling. We went to Lake Louise Resort, and I paid $201.28 for two half day passes.
After spending the whole morning falling, we made it to a lil restaurant situated on the mountain called Whitehorn Bistro, and I was craving a warm drink. I ordered their hot chocolate, and to my surprise it was huge and accompanied with two tasty cookies. This comforting drink cost $5.39, and it was the perfect break before continuing my fall down the mountain.
Kuma Yama is the best spot to get a warm and filling meal after snowboarding at Lake Louise. I tried the vegetarian miso ramen filled with soybeans, tofu, wakame, and bamboo, and of course I needed a glass of Pinot Noir after a long day of attempting to snowboard. Everything tasted wonderful especially while sitting next to a warm fire on a snowy day. This delicious dinner cost $38.22.
When I walked into Laggan’s Mountain Bakery and Delicatessen, I knew this was a great spot just from looking at the pastries they had on display. It was a bit hard to control myself, and I ended up with an iced chai latte, everything bagel with cream cheese, croissant, pain au chocolate, brownie, and cookie. Their chai latte was spicy and refreshing, and I loved eating all these tasty treats throughout the next two days. The brownie was definitely my favorite of the pastries. All of these treats cost me $21.88.
I decided to go for a lil hike on the frozen Lake Louise before snowboarding again. I loved being surrounded by the towering mountains and walking through snow-covered trees is always a winter dream. I paid $7.85 for the national park pass to wander around this area.
I’ll rarely veto a place because I’ve been there before, so of course we ended up at Kuma Yama again for another delicious meal after spending the day in the snow. This time I tried the vegetarian roll which featured tempura yam, cucumber, avocado, and kewpie mayo and tasted great. As well as their green tea & white chocolate custard, which was rich and creamy. This time I paid $25.17 for this meal.
We headed into town to explore some shops while we worked up our appetite for dinner. We stopped in a few stores, and I especially enjoyed the crystal selection at Rocks and Gems Canada.
Woooow I’m so glad the waitress in Calgary recommended Nourish Bistro, because it is one of the best plant-based restaurants I’ve ever tried. They have so many amazing options on their menu, but we ordered the Poutine, Beetroot Bruschetta, and Mac N Squeeze. This was my first time trying poutine, and I am obsessed. Their hearty poutine includes fries covered with cheese curds or house-made vegan cashew curds, smothered in a herby mushroom gravy, and garnished with diced tomato, spring onion, and parsley. The beetroot bruschetta was my favorite, and it featured toasted house focaccia, beetroot hummus, vegan queso, and rye maple onions finished with olive oil and lemon-dressed arugula. This flavorful appetizer tasted healthy and comforting. Their incredible Mac N Squeeze included gluten-free quinoa macaroni in a red pepper, coconut, and cheese sauce with roasted vegetables and diced tomato. They also have a vegan option available as well. This restaurant is a must if you’re spending a day or two in Banff! I’m sure this meal tasted even better after a day of winter hiking and snowboarding. All of this amazing food cost $36.77.
On my last day in Alberta, I decided to take the Banff Gondola. The gondola cost $53.95, and even though it wasn’t cheap, the views were much worth the price. I loved walking around the boardwalk to gaze at the pointed mountains as I watched the sky turn from a cool winter blue to sweet pinks and purples.
After I made my way back down to the base of the mountain in the gondola, I reluctantly got in my rental car and drove to Calgary. I so wasn’t ready to leave, but I had a flight to London taking off at 9 pm. I stopped by the Aspire Lounge with my Priority Pass to get a meal before my eight hour red eye flight, and there were some pretty good vegetarian options inducing broccoli cheddar soup, cheese, bread, mashed potatoes, corn, pasta, and desserts. It was very peaceful to carbo-load in the empty lounge and comfortable lounge before falling asleep on the plane.
LIL VEGGIE EATS 
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