Chocolate Festival’s Chocolate Dinner at Victoria Village Inn & Restaurant

When I heard about Island Chocolates’ Chocolate Festival and the chocolate dinner at Victoria Village Inn & Restaurant, I planned our entire anniversary trip around this event. It kept speaking to me, telling me we had to go for our ten year wedding anniversary. What could be more romantic and special than feeling like you have stepped into the movie Chocolat? The setting could not be more perfect, Victoria-by-the-Sea is the sweetest little town in PEI. Click here to read more about it.

We ate at the back of the inn in a very elegant and modern room. When I saw the lighting was so subtle and way above our heads, I knew my food photography was going to be in trouble. Still, it was a lovely room!

Modern, artistic, classy… we were already thoroughly impressed with the design of the restaurant.

We sat by the window and I loved all the white plates, fabrics and glass, always good for food photography.

Dinner was not going to be rushed and the sun started to set and soon all I had to photograph by was a tea light candle so I apologize for the following photographs.

We began our dinner with potato leek soup with a milk chocolate drizzle topped with duck confit, crouton and micro greens. This was a light yet wild beginning to our chocolate evening. Complex and simple at the same time, we were already blown away.

This may look like a simple salad but it was one of my favourite dishes. The salad was dressed with a chocolate vinaigrette, contained lightly candied pecans and was topped with grated white chocolate. Genius! This salad was light but perfectly dressed. The white chocolate sprinkled throughout added just enough sweetness, inspiring my tastebuds to sing. This dish was pure genius.

My food photography nemesis! White chocolate risotto topped with lobster. I wish I could have done this dish justice, it was absolutely beautiful to eat. Sweet yet tangy, I am still convinced there is some sour cream or creme fraiche in there but the waitress assured me it was just broth, white chocolate and wine. To give you context, my husband despises seafood and he ate every single bite, including the lobster. It was that delicious.

This was my husband’s favourite dish of the night, spice-rubbed lamb shoulder braised for four hours with a side of lovely thin and perfectly cooked string beans, baby squash and cipollini onion. The complexity of the smoky flavours and the fall-off-the-bone texture of the meat blew my husband away. I found the main course fascinating with its chocolaty sauce juxtaposed with the lamb and the vegetables. I expected the meat to be gamey but the texture was so light and beautiful. I enjoyed the accompanying flavours inspired by the spices and chocolate. I can honestly say I have never eaten anything quite like it.

I was told dessert was chocolate mousse stuffed inside puff pastry, surrounded by a small lake of creme anglaise and chocolate sauce. As soon as I saw the dessert I knew it was a profiterole. It tasted nothing like puff pastry but I did not care. I love mousse and this little dessert was heaven on earth. Light, airy, chocolaty with a stunning sauce, this was the perfect way to end the stellar dinner.

When the chef came out at the end of the meal we all applauded his wonderful work. He even came to our table where my husband waxed poetic over the genius of the lamb and was crushed to hear they did not make note of the recipe. We will be the only ones who indulge in this dish exactly as it was prepared that night. This may be disappointing to my husband but for me, it makes the meal all the more magical and special.

The chocolate dinner at Victoria Village Inn & Restaurant was exactly what I was hoping for. It was unique, delicious and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is still hard for me to believe that we only paid $45 each for that special dinner. The setting, restaurant and food were all perfect. I give the chocolate dinner at Victoria Village Inn & Restaurant five out of five wooden spoons.