FOOD Let’s Dish
A N U N E X P EC T E D R O A D TO
NATIONAL ACCLAIM BY PAULA ROY PHOTOGRAPHY BY TED SIMPSON
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ttawa native Ian Carswell, chef/ owner of Black Tartan Kitchen in Carleton Place, won the OttawaGatineau regional qualifier for the Canadian Culinary Championships at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party last fall. That victory earned him a spot at the national finals which recently took place in Ottawa. Facing off against 11 top chefs from across the country was a dream come true for Ian, made even sweeter by the opportunity to represent the Ottawa area on home turf in this prestigious and intense three-event cooking competition. Ian says the experience will remain a career highlight for a long time to come and while he did not reach the podium he thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend and felt very proud of his team’s effort. Ottawa At Home checked in with Ian to learn about how he prepared for the national championships. What has life been like for you since you won the regional event in November? We definitely have been much busier than usual, even during December when we are almost always full. We are seeing new guests in addition to our many regulars and loving all the support; people congratulated us by coming for dinner, and that has extended into 2020. You began your career in Ottawa—why the move to Carleton Place? We chose this location in 2016 because it was so much more affordable than Ottawa. We love the small town feel and the camaraderie with neighbouring businesses, some of whom even helped finance our participation at nationals. It’s a town that is growing; we have been very well received for our approachable yet elevated menus. 54 ottawaathome.ca WINTER 2020
