On the lower lever of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations Museum, is the Thunderbird Café. Before checking out the museum, Rob and I tried out a couple items from the menu. We ordered the Bannock Taco, the Grilled Smoked Salmon Panini and a small cup of the Sockeye Salmon Corn Chowder.

Each one of those dishes came with freshly made bannock. I was taken back and had to double check since I have never tasted bannock that was so light and crisp. It was hands down was the best bannock I have ever had. The Bannock Taco was grilled bannock topped with venison chili, cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream and green onions. It was a First Nations take on the Mexican Taco and it worked! With that amazing bannock and the venison chili, the flavours came through great.

After seeing the smoked salmon sitting on a cedar plank in their refrigerated display case, I knew I had to try it in a sandwich. The Grilled Smoked Salmon Panini was served on bannock with red onion, spinach and crème fraiche. It came with a side salad with wild blackberry maple vinaigrette. The salmon was fresh and flavourful. The salad dressing is something I wish I could have bought in a bottle of to take home, but forgot to ask before we left.

The cup of the Sockeye Salmon Corn Chowder was something you would get at a high-end restaurant. The smoked salmon was a great edition to the corn chowder with that smoky flavour coming through. They do have other items on the menu too, including a Pemberton Bison Pot Pie, which is served with a side salad and wild blackberry maple vinaigrette. If the taco is too much for you, you can just order the Venison Chilli with the bannock. You can also order the Cedar Plank Sockeye Salmon Salad served over spinach and mixed green salad with that wild blackberry maple vinaigrette.

They serve desserts, coffee, hot chocolate and teas as well.

If you want to try something different when in Whistler, I recommend trying the Thunderbird Café. The food is affordable, served in nice sized portions, and you will enjoy what they offer. While waiting for your food, you can check out the gift shop, located right beside the café. Admission to the museum is not needed to access the café.

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Contributor Steve Polyak |

Locale British Columbia | Whistler |

Topic Food | Travel | Whistler Pride |

Photo Gallery Food | Travel | Whistler |