In today’s edition of the Bow Valley Taste Off I had a chance to sample the Sweet Bene Combo at Chez Francois, a dining institution celebrating its 25th anniversary this year!

To get a real sense of this milestone you need to think of what Canmore was like when Francois and Sylvie first opened the restaurant in 1990.  Two years removed from the ’88 Olympics, Canmore had started to garner attention but was still at heart an old mining town that most visitors would pass by on their way to Banff.  Silvertip and Three Sisters were just a twinkle in a developer’s eye – in fact, they used to host the original people behind those communities while they made plans over coffee and a good meal.  You could still cut down a Christmas tree in the forest across the street, now occupied by hotels and other restaurants.  And speaking of other restaurants, you could count on one hand the number of them that were around in 1990 that still operate today in the same place under the same name, and on two fingers those that have remained under the same ownership (Craig’s Way Station was the only other one that came to mind during our conversation).  Operating a restaurant in Canmore isn’t an easy task and to do it for 25 years is an accomplishment that shouldn’t go unrecognized.  They’ve managed to keep their doors open through a combination of hard work, community involvement, adapting to the changing customer base, and probably a little luck as well.  Also, of course, great food that keeps people coming back.

I’ve talked a lot about the business and not a lot about the Taste Off breakfast special!  I guess that’s because I figure I don’t need to.  Having a great breakfast at Chez Francois is no secret – they’ll serve an average of 350 breakfast dishes per day on a Saturday or Sunday through all seasons.  From their famous Eggs Benedict to their crepes, waffles, croissants, bacon, eggs, sausage, homemade potatoes, omelettes, french toast…it’s probably one of the most varied breakfast menus in town and there’s nothing on there I wouldn’t recommend.  I love eating there.  You love eating there…and if you haven’t been there in a while it might be a good time to go back.  If you’ve never been there you’re missing out on a great breakfast at a local dining institution.  The Taste Off special, for a discounted price of $11.99, is your choice of Eggs Benedict and your choice of crepes so I chose Canadian Back Bacon and Bananas & Hazelnut.  It was really good.  Just like I knew it would be.

Check out the five restaurants participating in the Bow Valley Taste Off and vote for your favourite dish! In tomorrow’s entry I’ll be enjoying a modern take on a Mexican classic with the Cascade Huevos Rancheros at the Fairmont Banff Springs’ Bow Valley Grill.