The Most Satisfying Salmon Brunch to Start a Sunny Saturday

You know those mornings when you wake up with a ton of stuff to do, but to actually get to that point, you need a hearty brunch to keep you going? This was one of these mornings. And to top it off, it was summer-in-the-middle-of-spring kind of weather – so why not?!

I decided to start my morning off right at Belgard Kitchen, a hidden gem in the middle of Vancouver’s Railtown District. Located in a renovated old settlement building, this restaurant shares a space with Postmark Brewery, so take some time out to sample some of their beers, or even take a growler home with you.

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the larger-than-life wood entrance doors. They looked like something out of Lord of the Rings, and they opened up to – yet another pair of wood doors! Inside, the restaurant had an incredibly warm and friendly atmosphere, with wood accents throughout. Beer barrels were stacked as high as the ceiling and divided the restaurant from the brewery. Large skylights brightened the room naturally to accompany the friends and families dining. A wooden bar stretched along the back wall, and had multiple taps for beer and wine.

The moment we walked in the door, we were greeted with a smile. The restaurant was packed! The variety of tables – long, high top, and even a tucked away decorated alcove – showed the place was perfect for any occasion. There were no tables available, but we had the option to sit at the bar or at the “chef’s table.” I’m almost certain the “chef’s table” isn’t an actual table, but a solution to accommodate a full house. We took it nonetheless! Our server was busy, but attentive, as were the others who stopped by a number of times to ensure we were being looked after.

I’m not going to lie – I am a pre-menu reader. It’s a terrible habit, and the only thing that will alter my decision is a killer feature special. So, from the get-go, I knew I was getting the Salmon Gravlax Hash. Before I even had a chance to order it, I saw it go by me to another table.

When my order of the Salmon Gravlax Hash arrived – and it arrived quickly – I just wanted to dig in. There’s nothing quite like a perfectly poached egg, especially when it’s accompanied by some house-cured smoked salmon! To top it off, there were potatoes, avocado, pickled onion, arugula, beet, and Postmark IPA puree, with a smoky onion and parmesan cream.

The eggs were poached faultlessly, and the smoky onion parmesan cream was the perfect pairing to the saltiness of the cured sockeye salmon. The richness of that first bite with a touch of spring onions was exactly what I was looking for. The smoothness of the beet was refreshing and a great balance to the rest of the dish.

I saved a portion of each component for my last bite. The crunch of the potatoes, the piquant-sweetness of the pickled onions, and the tenderness of the salmon had me scraping my fork against the plate for any remnants. Given the quality of the brunch, I will definitely be going back to Belgard Kitchen – next time for dinner!