What Jesse and Melanie of Pilgrimme Made This Year

Hidden among the lush ferns and tall trees of Galiano Island's coastal forest in B.C. sits a rustic wood cabin. In the evenings, its warm, inviting light welcomes guests who have made the pilgrimage to the remote location for a distinctive dining experience.

A short distance from Victoria, this magical site on the Southern Gulf Island is home to the intimate restaurant Pilgrimme. Here, an ever-changing tasting menu of 11 courses pays homage to the region, offering beautifully presented, ingredient-driven coastal B.C. cuisine.

The small establishment fits just 16 guests and hosts only one seating per night. This allows diners to linger over their food without being rushed to make way for the next group—a slower pace that's rare in the restaurant industry.

Most establishments aim to get as many people through the door as possible, hustling to maximize revenue. But as you can see in the video below, Pilgrimme restaurant's co-owners, Jesse McCleery and Melanie Witt, have intentionally created a different kind of place.

“I always kind of had a joke that it was like the anti-restaurant, in terms of how the whole thing operated,” says Jesse. Without investors, the two chefs took a risk to create a restaurant that's shaped by their location and their values.

Jesse and Melanie's thoughtful approach has meant they've built a restaurant that's not just great for guests, but also for their staff. “It allowed us to keep our small crew employed and all have a better quality of life,” says Jesse of the decision to host just one seating per evening.

“We're really lucky,” says Melanie. “We've had the same front-of-house staff for almost the entire time.”

A more comfortable work pace has led to more satisfied staff, which translates to a better environment for guests. “Our servers are happy,” says Jesse. “And it just all transfers to the experience.”

In addition to a relaxed and leisurely dining pace, Pilgrimme doesn't have delivery trucks coming and going on a daily basis. Instead, Jesse and Melanie pick up fresh ingredients directly from local farmers, forging relationships with their community.

Because they work so closely with the farmers, they can home in on what they like, says Melanie, and “it kind of naturally evolves as the seasons change.”

The isolated location, unique menu, and seasonal cooking have come together to create a one-of-a-kind establishment at Pilgrimme, which was named one of Canada's top three best new restaurants of 2015 by a national travel publication when it first opened.

“We feel so fortunate. It's a pretty special place,” says Jesse. “This year, we made little moments of escape on every plate.”

What did you make this year?

This story is part of a series celebrating the meaningful lives people build beyond their finances, focusing on creating a life you're proud of.

Explore the full collection by clicking here.

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