Popular from morning till night

BJ's Restaurant & Creekside Pub in Kimberley was a multiple winner in Kootenay Business's Best Places to Eat and Drink Awards

Shannon Schiller of BJ's Restaurant & Creekside Pub is proud to be a part of the community. — Lisa Crane photo

BJ's Restaurant & Creekside Pub is a busy place thanks to its hearty food and community support. Director Shannon Schiller said she always had thoughts of managing a restaurant, and after running a catering company for 13 years with her mother, Shiela Andruchow, she was ready to tackle BJ’s when the opportunity arose—especially because of the area and lifestyle. Schiller sat down recently with Kootenay Business to talk about the business and where her inspiration comes from. 

What is your favourite cookbook?

You might find this mediocre, but  the one cookbook that I go back to time and again is Joy of Cooking. No matter what you see on TV or in new-fangled cookbooks, Joy of Cooking provides the basis for almost every recipe.

Who has influenced you on your cooking journey?

My ancestors: my grandmothers, my mom, my mother-in-law. They have taken what their mothers taught them, expanded on it and passed it on to me. And my daughter Shelby is taking it even further. She was trained at the Fairmont Lake Louise and received her Red Seal there. She has recently come to work nights for me and I'm very proud.

What would you consider your restaurant’s signature dish?

Most people come for breakfast. We make a good, hearty breakfast—whether it be just the bacon and eggs or our pancakes or our loaded hash with our fresh salsa. We also offer fresh fruit and breakfast smoothies. On the pub side, although we just rewrote most of the menu with great burgers and appetizers, I would say our signature dish is our Salt Malt Fish and Chips on Fridays.

The local focus is key

Shiller said that Kimberley people really strive to support local.

“We have become known as one of the better venues showcasing local talent, and boy do we have a lot of it,” said Schiller. “Although the hours are sometimes long, the local people that I have come to know and love are my reward.”