Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza front entrance

Image Credit: Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza

Fusion cuisine blends different ethnic cultures and culinary flavours into a delicious melting pot, creating a no-borders meeting place where anything goes, and taste buds are the dictators. Summerland, BC is lucky enough to claim one such place as its own – the Summerland Indian Bistro. This hidden gem offers Italian-influenced bistro cuisine married with sumptuous Southeast Asian flavours.

Craving that quintessential Canadian pizza, one that features ham, bacon, and pepperoni, perhaps? No problem; that is one of their best sellers. Or maybe you are feeling more adventurous and are searching for a mouth-watering butter chicken specialty pizza? Also no problem; this one is a top seller at the Summerland Indian Bistro, where the typical becomes exciting and delicious at the same time.

This family-run bistro is managed and owned by Daljit Bahth, and the international influences are a direct result of her (and her extended family's) wide-ranging knowledge of combining flavours. Daljit has been cooking since she was a little girl, and her dishes are heavily influenced by the rich spices of India. Customers to Summerland Indian Bistro benefit from her expert knowledge of spices and flavours.

Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza's tandoori prawns

Image Credit: Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza

When the family decided to open the Bistro, they knew that melding cuisines would be way to go. As a family, they had a decades-old pizza dough recipe that they loved, which had been tested and perfected extensively with friends and family. Their prized recipe for a first-rate pizza was then subject to much tweaking of toppings, as could be expected with such a fabulous range of culinary knowledge.

Daljit's daughter, Khushmeet Sidhu, explained how their wonderfully eclectic menu came about. The family knew that there was a demand for authentic Indian food in Summerland. "As a family, we love pizza too. We have been making both Indian-inspired and more traditional Italian-Canadian pizzas at home for twenty-plus years," Khushmeet says.

Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza's butter chicken pizza

Image Credit: Summerland Indian Bistro & Pizza

This combination of cultures is the key to the Bistro’s success. So much so that, as Khushmeet tells me, they often get special orders asking for additional 'Indian flavours.' Customization of menu items is welcomed and encouraged so that "Summerland Indian Bistro customers get their order exactly the way they like it," Khushmeet adds. If customers request additional Indian influences, the Bistro's team knows exactly what they want.

Being able to order such North American staples as a Bacon Double Cheeseburger pizza while also being able to order Indian pakora, chicken tikka masala, and mouth-watering naan bread means that Summerland Indian Bistro is a popular choice for small group event catering, too. From office lunches to corporate meetings, the Bistro makes for a one-stop shop where anyone's taste buds are easily satisfied. Veggie lovers will be pleased too, as the Bistro features several varieties of vegetarian pizzas and menu items.

And what do Daljit and Khushmeet list as their family's top picks? "Chicken tikka masala, for sure," Khushmeet says, although her mom’s personal favourite is a mango chicken recipe. There is an easy way to weigh in on the discussion yourself, as Summerland Indian Bistro runs a daily lunch special that features their family favourites. Naan bread, rice, and the recipe inspiration of the day are served with gulab jamun (delicious honey-soaked delicacies), all for about twelve dollars. These express lunches are ideally suited to Summerland's busy grab-and-go work crowd, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a leisurely lunch on their seasonal patio.

Check out Summerland Indian Bistro's great menu on their website. You can place your order for pickup or delivery online from the website, or pop in to sample any of their pizzas and wide-ranging international options in person. The Bistro restaurant can be reached at 250-494-0082. They are conveniently located at 9915 Main Street in Summerland, BC.

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