The Truffle Farm

A Heartfelt Thank You: La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Victoria Bailliage Truffle Trek

An Unforgettable Culinary Experience

The Victoria Bailliage review captured exactly what we hoped to achieve with this special dinner. They praised how Executive Chef Nick Mackay-Finn “designed and delivered an entire menu based on truffles grown on the farm” in our “cavernous and newly renovated barn” that has become our function area.

What touched me most was reading how our guests braved pouring rain to join Pete for the outdoor truffle seminar, visiting our truffle-producing trees and learning about our farming practices. The review noted that “rain did not deter most from joining Peter as he introduced them to truffle farm practices” – that dedication to experiencing authentic truffle farming, even in challenging weather, shows the kind of passionate food lovers we’re honored to host.

Our 20+ Year Journey to Excellence

The review beautifully highlighted our family’s dedication: “Success becoming growers and exporters of truffles has come after the family’s more than 20 years of dedicated research, and in experimentation.” They understood how we had to identify local tree species that could be inoculated to promote truffle growth, noting that “The Garry Oak, indigenous to Vancouver Island, has proven to be a perfect host for the black truffle.”

This validation from such a prestigious culinary organization confirms what we’ve worked so hard to achieve – creating world-class truffles right here on Vancouver Island that can compete with the finest European varieties.

Our Beloved Lagotto Dogs

I was delighted that the review featured our precious Lagotto dogs! They wrote about our “senior stud Lagotto, ‘King Caesar’, or Buddy, with his soft brown, curly coat, is now retired from his puppy siring duties, and greets visitors, when he is not off on a truffle hunt.” As a registered breeder of these gorgeous Italian truffle-hunting dogs, Buddy and our other Lagottos are such an important part of our farm family and the authentic truffle experience we offer.

Watching guests meet Buddy and learn about traditional truffle hunting methods from Italy brings such joy to our hearts. These dogs have an incredible ability to locate buried truffles, and they’ve become beloved ambassadors for our farm.

A Menu That Celebrated Our Truffles

Chef Nick Mackay-Finn created an extraordinary menu that truly showcased our farm’s “exquisite crop.” The review described his signature Cacio E Pepe with Truffles & Arugula as “a simple but memorable choice, designed to feature the farm’s exquisite crop, with just a whisp of olive oil, adding a delicate creaminess to the pasta and truffles.”

The complete menu was a celebration of our truffles:

• Fresh Local Oysters with herb marinated mushrooms featuring truffle cheese
• Dungeness Crab with Truffles and Caviar with shaved Perigord truffles
• Spot Prawn Cocktail with Vancouver Island honey
• House-made Bucatini in traditional Cacio E Pepe with our truffles
• Even a creative dessert of Truffle and Goat Cheese Gelato tucked into a freshly made scone

The wine pairings were exceptional, featuring everything from Crémant de Bourgogne to an Austrian Gruner Veltliner, and even a surprise Indian sparkling wine that delighted guests during the blind tasting challenge.

Our Farm Family

\The review also lovingly mentioned our son Garret, who “lovingly cares for the sheep, lambs, turkey chicks and hens” while Pete and I focus on truffle cultivation. Having three generations working together on the farm adds such authenticity to the experiences we create. Our farm animals have become an integral part of the visitor experience, adding to the pastoral charm that makes our setting so special.

Creating Intimate Culinary Experiences

 

What the La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs event demonstrated is our ability to transform our rustic barn into an elegant dining venue. The review noted that while our facilities are “delightfully rustic in style” and “not restaurant formal,” we successfully created a world-class culinary experience by bringing in everything needed – from furnishings to wines to Chef Nick’s exceptional team.

This event proved that our 40-acre farm, nestled at the end of a long, leafy country road alongside Little Qualicum Cheese Works, can host truly memorable fine dining experiences that rival any restaurant setting.

An Invitation for Your Own Boutique Experience

The overwhelming success of our La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs event has inspired us to expand our private dining offerings. If you’re curious and interested in booking your own private boutique dining experience, please contact us to discuss more.

We can create intimate, customized culinary experiences in our renovated barn, featuring our farm-grown truffles in expertly crafted menus. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning a unique corporate event, or simply want to experience world-class truffle cuisine in an authentic farm setting, we’d love to work with you to create something truly unforgettable.

Our private boutique dining experiences can include:

• Farm tours with truffle hunting demonstrations featuring our Lagotto dogs
• Educational seminars about our 20+ years of truffle cultivation research
• Multi-course truffle-focused dinners designed around our seasonal harvest
• Carefully selected wine pairings
• Meet our farm family – sheep, lambs, turkey chicks, and hens
• Hands-on learning about sustainable truffle farming practices

The Perfect Setting

As the review noted, our lush 40 acres in Parksville are “nestled at the end of a long, leafy country road” creating an idyllic, secluded setting for intimate dining experiences. Our newly renovated barn provides a unique venue that combines rustic charm with the ability to host sophisticated culinary events.

We’ve learned from hosting information seminars and informal cooking classes that our guests love the combination of education and exceptional food. The La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs event proved we can elevate this to the level of fine dining while maintaining the authentic, farm-based experience that makes us special.

Recognition from Culinary Excellence

Having La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs – an international association dedicated to promoting fine cuisine and the culinary arts – describe our event as “one of our best events, ever” represents the highest level of culinary recognition. The Bailli presented gifts and certificates to Chef Nick, his team, and to Pete and me, “expressing enjoyment and appreciation to all for their outstanding efforts in delivering this unique event.”

This recognition validates everything we’ve worked toward over the past two decades – creating not just exceptional truffles, but exceptional experiences that celebrate them.

Looking Forward

The success of our La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Victoria Bailliage Truffle Trek has shown us the incredible potential for intimate, high-end culinary experiences on our farm. We’re excited to bring this same level of excellence to private boutique dining events for discerning food enthusiasts.

If you’re inspired by what La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs experienced and want to create your own unforgettable truffle dining experience, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be honored to design a private event that showcases our farm-grown truffles, our beautiful setting, and our passion for creating truly memorable culinary moments.

After more than 20 years of perfecting our truffle cultivation and now proving we can create world-class dining experiences, we’re ready to share this magic with more food lovers who appreciate authenticity, excellence, and the special flavors that can only come from our unique corner of Vancouver Island.

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Virginia Brietzke is co-owner of Canada’s first truffle farm, located in Parksville, BC. Along with her husband Pete, she has spent over two decades developing truffle cultivation techniques adapted to Vancouver Island’s unique climate and soil conditions.