Westworld Alberta

STRICTLY STEAK I n the ever-changing world of restaurant trends, one dish that never goes out of style in Alberta is steak. e tastiest steaks can be found at legendary Longview Steakhouse and Country Inn, in the village of Longview. For almost 20 years, the Belmoufid family has served classic steak cuts – rib-eye, New York strip and tenderloin – to local ranchers and faithful Calgarians in the know. ere's a lot that sets these steaks apart from the competition starting with chef Karim's 30-day dry aging process. By taking out moisture, the beef 's sweet flavour is intensified to the point where the meat becomes a carnivore's dream. en, chef Karim seasons the meat liberally with smoked salt, paprika and steak seasoning to the point where a caramel- like crust forms once grilled. Each dish on the menu, from rib-eye with jumbo shrimp and hol- landaise sauce to braised rack of lamb, have classic French touches. Make it a weekend trip and book a night at the Longview Steakhouse's recently opened country inn. –Tracy Hyatt Ice Ice Baby For more than two decades, Red Deer's Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre and renowned Calgary ice sculptor Lee Ross have welcomed winter visitors with spectacular, elaborate ice sculptures. The highlight of the nursery's annual Christmas displays and markets, the crystalline artworks glisten in the sun by day, and by night, they're backlit with coloured lights, creating an ethereal glow best complemented by a hot apple cider. There's a new theme each year; best times to visit are mid-December to early January. Admission is free; donations to the Red Deer Food Bank are encouraged. And if you're there, look for the AMA sculpture. parklandgarden.ca –Robin Schroffel A Holiday Highlight From November 27 to January 2, the Calgary Zoo becomes a winter wonderland twin- kling with 1.5 million lights. Every evening while the animals sleep, the grounds take on a life of their own during Zoolights. Several areas are decorated in different themes including Santa's Workshop, Lover's Lane and Canadian Animals, plus a new outer space section has been added. As carollers sing, the lights on a Christmas tree are synched to the songs. It's a "family event that's becoming more popular with single adults too," says spe- cial events advisor, Roz Freeman. Last year, a skating rink with free skate rentals was built, and this year watch for LED-lit inflatable igloos. Kids can put together a puzzle with giant pieces, and take a selfie with a life-sized sculpted Santa. calgaryzoo.com –Caroline Barlott 8 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 (from top) grant waddell, leo de groot, sergei belski Members save 10% on select regular priced plants and gifts at Parkland Garden Centre. AMARewards. ca/Parkland

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