Salmon n’ Bannock, Vancouver

My favorite meal in Vancouver was from it’s only First Nations restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock [1128 W Broadway #7, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G5, Canada].

salmon_n_bannock_vancouverThe space is casual, decorated with interesting tribal art that is for sale, the service is warm and friendly.

salmon_n_bannock_vancouver_4Most often I simply drink water when I dine out, but I was chilly and the tea was touted as indigenous-owned as well so I went for it. Most tea is good, but this tea was truly great. I am positive it is the most delicious and comforting tea I have ever had in my life. The smell was intoxicating. Capilano Tea House & Botanical Soda Company is the maker, the variation I chose was Juniper Rooibos on account of its high antioxidant count, which included hints of rose, lavender, and berries. I’ve gone on their website and I think I need to order this for all my tea-lovers this coming holiday season. When browsing their site I noticed each tea had a correlating quote, I was warmed again reading: “May the stars carry your sadness away, May the flowers fill your heart with beauty, May hope forever wipe away your tears, And, above all, may silence make you strong.” by Chief Dan George in My Heart Soars, 1974.

salmon_n_bannock_vancouver_5And to think, the meal just began. I ordered the wild salmon soup which I was hesitant about – would salmon be too overpowering of a flavor in soup? It surely wasn’t, the soup satisfied the soul and was filled with hearty vegetables. Jeff went for the wild game soup of the day – on this occasion was elk and enjoyed it equally as much.

salmon_n_bannock_vancouver_3We split the Indian Candy appetizer: candied and smoked wild chum salmon – both sweet and savory, it was so addictive I could eat it all day! This was a lunch date, so after our soup and appetizer we decided to split a sandwich as the main course. When our waitress went over the menu with us she raved about the fish of the day, I’ll never forget her enthusiasm. Halibut which was caught 80KM north of Alert Bay, she told me that she dreamt of it. With a story like that, I was sold. The fish was sandwiched between thick fluffy slices of bannock, which is baked daily, and had crisp greens and a great aioli. The fish was so fresh, flakey, almost sweet – certainly what dreams are made of.

salmon_n_bannock_vancouver_2It was served with sweet potato wedges, dipping sauce, and a phenomenal little salad filled with chunks of veggies. Dining here was such a wonderful experience, this is without a doubt my top recommended restaurant in the city!

This entry was posted in Vancouver. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply