Residents in Port Alberni can look forward to a special culinary event this summer as Shannon Farms hosts a farm-to-table dinner on July 25, 2026. The ticketed event, called Heifers & hors d’oeuvres, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the farm’s cabin located at 8865 Beaver Creek Road.
The dinner features Chef Martin Dean, who brings extensive experience from some of the most acclaimed kitchens on the West Coast. Chef Dean previously served as the sous chef at Tofino’s Wolf in the Fog and worked at the Wickaninnish Inn. His professional background also includes training at the Culinary Institute of America and experience in the kitchen at The Restaurant at Meadowood.
The meal will highlight locally sourced ingredients and will be paired with drinks from Antidote Distilling Co., a Port Alberni craft distillery. The distillery has gained recognition for its spirits, which are produced using local grains and fruit and packaged in 100 per cent recycled glass bottles.
This event marks a return to on-farm dining for Shannon Farms, following the cancellation of a similar dinner in 2025. The farm, which has been in operation since 1935, is a family dairy business currently run by members of the Shannon family. While the farm continues to produce grass-fed milk for Dairyland and Tree Island Yogurt, as well as seasonal Bigleaf Maple syrup, the owners have been expanding their focus to include agri-tourism, using their cabin site to host workshops and community markets.
