17/01/2024
It’s time.
It’s been a while coming as I contemplated what was next, but sometimes opportunities arise which make decisions for you.
That all sounds ambiguous, but in essence, it’s time for Trufflepig Catering & Events to officially close her doors.
Trufflepig began in 2011 when I catered our best mate’s Melbourne wedding while we were still living in Darwin. A while later we moved back to Melbourne with our vintage dentist-soon-to-be Trufflepig van with the idea to sell gourmet toasties and coffees at markets and festivals and moving into event catering.
As we all do when we’re starting our own business, I struggled with full time work and running Trufflepig on the weekends (plus pre-work, lunchbreaks, post work, any free moment was Trufflepig!). After 2 years I was exhausted so finally bit the bullet and dedicated my life to this hospo gig. What a scary jump!
Thank you to my friends and family who supported my venture in the early days when it sounded like a whacky idea to leave my stable environmental job and venture back into hospitality. It was your support, advice and hard truths which helped focus my plans.
A special shout out to my dad to my turned that dentist van into a fully functional, spec-ed out commercial kitchen on wheels - it was quite the feat and you never complained or questioned why. Thanks Dad x
Thanks to Ben and Liv for trusting me for their (my first) wedding. Thanks to our Darwin mates who enjoyed our pop-up restaurants in Parap! Thanks to Ainslie (and beloved Paul), to Pippa, to my sis Abbey and my mum Vicki, thanks to aunty Anita, to Liv’s mum Sue, to Cara and Rob, to Carl and Nic, to Jordan and Maria. Thanks for taking a chance on me when I was so green. It was your ongoing faith and trust in my abilities which helped build my confidence, and allowed me to experiment.
To my clients – what a lovely, wonderful, eclectic bunch you have been! I’ve been afforded time this year to reminisce about how lucky I was to witness so many special moments. Whether it was a milestone birthday or a celebration of life, feeding multiple courses at the annual Heathcote Wine Awards, chatting to our locals at markets and pop-up events, fuelling socially and ethically minded groups at Common Ground, or feeding guests at 100+ distinctly
different but beautifully personal wedding celebrations. I’ve been so fortunate to join you at such important moments in your lives. I always bragged that I had the best clients!
Thank you to my suppliers and producers who’ve provided me with amazing produce. I started Trufflepig on the premise I would source seasonal, local, organic and free range ingredients and my suppliers allowed me to do that. Special thanks to Chloe at Somerset Farm, Lizette Warialda Belted Galloway Beef, Belinda McIvor Farm Foods and Cathy The Meat Room (where no request was too hard). Chloe, I admire your resilience, your strength of character and your gentleness. Please support Chloe and the Somerset farmers, as they look to rebuild after going under water again with these latest floods.
And to the other hundreds of amazing vendors and venues I’ve worked with and at over the years. Without you vendors, celebrations would merely be a group of people gathered. You add vibrancy, positively and a sprinkle of magic! I’ll miss the people I’ve met, and regularly catch up with at celebrations. The constant enthusiasm, positivity and commitment from vendors and venues makes me proud to have been a part of the industry for so long. Special mentions to my fave venues - Sue (Mimosa Glen Homestead), Bron (Wine X Sam), Commongrounds Cooperative – thanks for always making things so easy! A huge thanks to Polka Dot Wedding who provided me amazing support when I was just getting going. I loved working with you and your team Ms Polka Dot x
The last and most important shoutout is to my staff. My most current crew - Linda, Gus, Susie, Tarlyn, Jo, Dru and Annie – thanks for your patience as I sorted things out this year. I’ll miss working and laughing with you all. Thanks for just getting it, and always doing your best. To my other wonderful past staffers - Aidan, Abbey, Alanna, Annette, Jenny, Leesa, Liv E, Liv Z, Liz, Marcia, Michael, Nichola, Noni, Rits, Simon, Taylor, Vicki – you helped create Trufflepig into what it is now. Thank you! And to my friends and family who I called on special favours from - Kat, Waz, Ma-an, Pom, Mandy, Lachie, Izzy, Anne (and those I’ve missed) - thank you for saving the day! Talking about bragging, I always bragged I had the best staff too!
Now, after feeding over 10,000 mouths a crazy amount of canapes and shared plates at 180 celebrations, plus all the toasties and brownies cooked at pop-ups and markets, and 100s of take home meals for my little town of Pyalong during lockdown, it’s officially time to hang up my apron.
It’s time to spend the weekends with my little family.
And in the great words of Farmer Hoggett.
‘That’ll do pig, that’ll do.’
xx
