As I sit down to interview Jenn, the owner of Campbell River’s Whistlin’ Waffle, she looks a little flustered. “Are we actually recording this?” she asks, eyeing my voice notes app warily. Regardless of her initial hesitation, it’s clear from the moment we start talking that Jenn is a force to be reckoned with. Her waffles have become famous in the area, her bubble tea is in high demand, and her hospitality is second to none. She may be flustered, but she’s incredibly modest.
It all started when Jenn’s husband visited her in Vancouver and fell in love with waffles. “There are waffles with everything!” he exclaimed. He’s referring to sandwiches, cones, and bennies which populate the lower mainland’s Asian street food scene. “We should do that and put everything into one restaurant!!” And thus, Whistlin’ Waffle was born. Despite never having made a waffle (or hollandaise sauce) in her life, Jenn took on the challenge and has done remarkably well for a small business — even surviving the pandemic.
Jenn’s background is in hospitality management, and she grew up with it: her parents owned Chinese restaurants. But she never imagined she would end up running her own business. “My husband is the one who wanted to do this,” she admits. “I personally… I don’t know if you should put this in there, but I hate being a business owner. I’d rather be employed so I can cry to somebody else.”
Despite her reservations, Jenn has created a thriving business. And she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. “I do most of the grocery shopping myself, like a home cook. So I pick out fresh ingredients,” she says. And that’s why their batter is freshly made every day and their hollandaise sauce is made from scratch. “It’s not powdered,” she emphasizes.
But where do the recipes come from? “A lot of trial and error,” Jenn admits. Especially when it comes to the bennies. But all the hard work pays off when customers rave about their food. “When you said I have the best waffles–” she pauses, “I appreciate that, but I don’t like to claim that title.” There’s that modesty again.
The Whistlin’ Waffle menu is a unique blend of Asian-inspired flavours and classic iHop offerings. You can indulge in delightful options such as coconut jelly or mango sauce over your waffles, as well as popular go-tos like banana and Nutella or strawberry and cream. But that’s not all – their bubble tea list is extensive and impressive. They offer a variety of options, including milk-based, black/green tea-based, slush-based, and milkshakes. You can choose from a range of flavours, from honey jasmine to matcha oreo, and passion fruit to pineapple.
All the waffle sandwich recipes here are named after her husband’s family. Even Jenn has one with her namesake: “The Yen,” because of her Chinese name. Spenty Boy is her husband’s nickname, The Bear is his brother’s nickname, and so on. And if you’re on a keto diet, don’t worry, they’ve got you covered. Mah’s Special is a keto waffle made with Jenn’s mother-in-law’s recipe for cloud bread. “We made that into a waffle,” Jenn explains.
When it comes to tapioca, however, it’s a different story. “He’s gonna be disappointed. No more tapioca. All sold out,” Jenn tells her staff when a regular customer comes in. And disappointed he is. “I’m sorry!” she says apologetically.
Even with the challenges of running a business, Jenn is proud of what she’s created. “Seven years later, still kickin’ it,” she says with a smile. And with her dedication to fresh ingredients and homemade recipes, it’s no wonder Whistlin’ Waffle has become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike.
Thank you so much to Jenn for hosting me and my mom!
What We Ordered
| Passion Fruit Slush | $5.75 |
| Mango Slush w/ Pearls | $6.00 |
| Strawberry & Cream Waffle x 2 | $11.75 ea |
