Wild boar? Manitoba walleye? Oh my!

Rob Davidson, chef and owner of the Village Bistro in Kimberley, B.C., puts his own twist on Canadian cuisine

Chef Rob Davidson relaxes on the patio at the Village Bistro. — Dan Williams photo

If dishes like Manitoba walleye wrapped in wild boar bacon served with risotto florentine—or roast cauliflower in Kashmiri curry served on basmati rice with naan bread—get your palate all excited, then Kimberley’s Village Bistro is where you need to go.

The Village Bistro is easily one of the East Kootenay’s best kept secrets. Owner and chef Rob Davidson and his wife, Jill Deeney, have been serving tasty dishes in a warm, intimate and comfortable setting for the last six years. The eatery was originally a sandwich and juice bar before they took over the business, and the couple continue to call their efforts a study in evolution. Davidson ensures fresh dishes, as he spends more time in the daily preparation of the menu items than he does in the actual operation of the restaurant. 

Quality is paramount

Davidson is a Red Seal chef—a national designation achieved through testing that demonstrates a deep commitment, a high level of competence and technique, and supervisory skills in the kitchen. Davidson travelled extensively throughout Canada—as an aircraft engineer and pilot, and as a chef—before settling in Kimberley and opening the Village Bistro. These days when he travels, he calls on quality suppliers, who provide him with ingredients for his menu creations.

A style all his own

Davidson said people often describe the Village Bistro experience as fine dining, but this is a description Davidson rejects.

“It’s simple food," he said. "I’m trained in French food . . . I’m all about Canadian products, so I introduce all those but I put my own spin on it—like a Thai style or an Indian style, or I keep it French with a twist.” 

Among the restaurants Canadian offerings is duck from Quebec, Arctic char from Whitehorse, buffalo from Grande Prairie and wild boar from Ontario. 

Davidson said the Village Bistro menu changes three or four times a year, depending on the season and availability of ingredients. With a small dining room at the front of the house, a larger seating area upstairs and a spacious patio in the summer, the Village Bistro is a must when in Kimberley. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by phoning 250-427-2830.