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Alberta singer's appetite for adventure prompts culinary road trip

Hailey Benedict goes off the beaten track to three southern Alberta restaurants in YouTube series

Country singer-songwriter Hailey Benedict, 23, temporarily hung up her guitar to venture into gastronomy. 

Travel Alberta tapped the St. Albert resident to host the fourth season of One Perfect Meal, a YouTube series exploring three southern Alberta restaurants tucked in unexpected corners. 

Driving along the stunning Cowboy Trail on Highway 22 parallel to the Rocky Mountains, Benedict visited The Saskatoon Farm east of Okotoks, Heller Good Sandwiches in Drumheller and Last Chance Saloon near Wayne. 

“When Travel Alberta reached out, I was beyond excited, and I wanted to learn more. It sounded like an exciting opportunity to get to know these restaurants and profile my music” said Benedict who sings her Damm You July hit in the series. 

All footage was captured during a two-week period by about 20 people in the crew including a drone pilot, camera operators, photographer, makeup artist and wardrobe assistant.  

Prior to the shoot, Benedict researched the restaurants and their history. She also studied how best to describe the dishes and communicate their flavours to the public. 

“I’d never thought about it before, but it helped me appreciate the food more,” Benedict said. “Mainly it was a natural conversation to get to know the chef, the process, how they started and why food is important in their lives.” 

Every restaurant in the series shared two things in common. Firstly, the food was farm-to-fork, using local ingredients thereby supporting neighbours. Secondly, once food was served, owners told heritage stories about their restaurant and its role in the community. 

Saskatoon Farm, a 30-minute drive from Calgary, is a bit of a prairie oasis. Away from the noise and traffic of big cities, it stretches across a rolling bluff overlooking a river valley. 

Operated by the Hamer family for 30 years, it is covered with orchards of apples, sour cherries and Saskatoon berries. Growing from a simple U-pick farm to a must-visit day trip destination, it features a market, restaurant, bakery and greenhouse. 

Heller Good Sandwiches instead is a community hub in Drumheller’s Canadian Badlands. Chef Chris Lorenz honed his skills in fine dining establishments across Calgary, New York, San Francisco and Beijing. His signature dishes deliver multiple flavour layers: richness, creaminess, acidity, salt, sweetness, and texture. 

“It’s all about balance,” Lorenz said. 

Benedict’s third visit was the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, population 25. Once a booming coal mining town, it is now practically abandoned. However, the saloon stands proudly attached to the Rosedeer Hotel, Alberta’s oldest continuously running hotel since 1913. 

Leather cowboy saddles at the bar replace conventional stools, and a bullet hole complete with bullet is still intact in a wall behind the bar. In house applewood smoked meats take centre stage, especially the brisket cooked for 22 slow hours. 

Did Benedict have a favourite spot she would like to recommend? 

“That’s a hard question. They are all so unique and different. Heller Sandwiches had yummy food, but it was also so casual. Last Chance Saloon you feel like you’re stepping into a time machine with bullet holes in the wall. And Saskatchewan Farm has incredible views. It feels like an old-fashioned Main Street or a farmers market. Everywhere you look there’s a ton of things to see.” 

Benedict’s big takeaway was the people, the restaurants and the food. 

“We take for granted how food gets on our plate. Here you see how passionate they are and the process of how food gets to the plate and how dedicated they are. Even in small towns, I found it really exciting. If Travel Alberta does another season, I’d love to do it. I have an appetite for these hidden gems.”  

In looking to the future, Benedict just released another single on June 27. Titled Carl Dean, it is an ode to Dolly Parton’s husband who passed away in March 2025. 

“I wrote the song a couple years ago because I admired Dolly’s 60-year relationship with her husband. Sadly, Carl passed away and this is a tribute to their love story. We wanted to be respectful and got the blessing from Dolly’s team.” 

A song video can be viewed at haileybenedictmusic.com. 

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