Article & photos by Lenora A. Hayman.
On a Saturday evening I was strolling along W. Broadway by Toys”R”Us and discovered the First Nation’s Salmon n’Bannock Bistro.
The walls are painted red with lovely paintings by Larry Parenteau Thunder whose father is Cree Indian and mother Carrier Indian. His “Land of Beauty” has a killer whale spy-hopping with the skyline of Vancouver and planes soaring in the background. An aboriginal canoe hangs from the ceiling. The washroom has a gilt-framed mirror adorning the red wall, a First Nation’s red and black cloth covering a box and a fresh flower in a vase. I wish more local cafes, bistros and bars would provide their customers with such a positive, restroom experience.
On sale are hostess gifts of Last Mountain’s Old Fashioned Saskatoon Jam Type Spread, Spirit Bear organic fair trade coffee, watches with a totem logo, sea salt grinders and ceramic travel mugs with First Nation designs and a twilled Haida hat, a fedora hat and bracelets, all fashioned by Haida artist Todd deVries from western red cedar or yellow cedar bark.
A wine-wall displays wines from Nk’Mip (In-ka-Meep) cellars in Osoyoos, the first aboriginal owned and operated winery in Canada. Also offered is Beaver 100% Natural Soda, a non-energy drink, produced by DD Beverage Co. of BC, containing less sugar than traditional pops, with no caffeine, no colour and no preservatives.
Co-owners Remi Cauldron and Inez Cook have combined the aboriginal cuisine with a French overtone and use local food as much as possible.
I was pleased that server Patricia Soop suggested as an appetizer the Taste for One, comprising of Indian candy (sockeye cured in a brine of maple syrup and demerera sugar and then smoked with apple chips), lox, S Arctic prosciutto of musk ox rolled around asparagus, salmon mousse and a baked bannock, the baking powder type of scone introduced by the Scottish Fur Traders.
I chose, for my main course, the daily special of Surf n’ Turf which was a perfectly cooked, moist, medium rare 8 oz. bison rib eye with a wild mushroom sauce, 2 spot prawns, potato carrot mash, green beans and corn on the cob.
My Nk’Mip Cellars Riesling with crisp, granny smith apple and citrus notes paired well with both courses.
The home-made apple and blue berry pie with ice-cream a la mode had a nice short pastry covering.
There are daily specials, such as Monday’s salmon mousse appetizer with any entrée over $15 or Wednesday’s $2 off any glass of wine or $10 of any bottle of wine and express lunch specials for $9.95 served with organic greens and sweet potato fries.
Their pan-seared duck breast served with blueberry chutney, vegetables, carrots and parsnip puree, sounded great. Oh well, that’s for another day.
Salmon n’Bannock Bistro. www.salmonandbannock.net 7-1128 W. Broadway, Vancouver B.C. V5H 1G5Tel: 604-568-8971
All Photos by Lenora A. Hayman