Above, former partners Dave Loan and chef Caroline Ishii on the opening of ZenKitchen almost four years ago.
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Former partner Dave Loan now sole owner of popular vegan resto
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Gourmet vegan fare continues with Kyle Mortimer-Proulx as executive chef
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APR 25 13 – 4:20 PM — Executive chef Caroline Ishii has left ZenKitchen, the acclaimed vegan restaurant she founded in summer 2009 with partner Dave Loan, both 50, at 634 Somerset St. W. in the heart of Ottawa’s Chinatown community.
Loan has purchased her interest, and says he’s committed to continue gourmet vegan fare with Kyle Mortimer-Proulx, 29, former sous chef at Brookstreet Hotel under executive chef Clifford Lyness (2010-12). Mortimer-Proulx has been at ZenKitchen since May 2012, where he assumed executive chef duties two months ago.
In a phone interview from New York City, Ishii said the hectic business of running a restaurant was very stressful. She is now travelling to re-energize and plans to develop a website carolineishii.ca where she will offer expertise as a consultant in vegetarian, vegan and healthy cuisine.
“It happens,” Loan said today.
“Caroline and I had been together 15 years and at a certain point we grew apart. Living and working together became stressful.
“Caroline for some time now had been feeling the restaurant life was not for her. She decided a year or more ago that she wanted to move on, but I’m still very much committed to the restaurant,” Loan says. “We’ve been apart since mid-January.
“It’s unfortunate, it’s hard, but in the end we’re both happy.”
Adds Ishii: “Some things move and things have to happen. One thing about life is it’s all about change.
“I’m taking care of myself,” she says. “The restaurant business is very difficult in all aspects, and I’ll be setting up a website to do consulting to hotels or organizations who want to incorporate more vegetarian, vegan and healthy options.
“Consulting could take me anywhere there are opportunities that call me. I’m travelling a lot — one thing I missed was not being able to do a lot of travel, so I’ve since been to Bali, Thailand, and I’m off to California tomorrow. I’m travelling to relax, rejuvenate and get inspiration about what to do next.
“I’ll still call Ottawa home. I’ll be living in Ottawa when I’m not travelling. I’ll be back in Ottawa in May, then I’m setting up the website and exploring consulting possibilities,” Ishii says.
“I have tremendous respect for people who have restaurants and chefs who do all that they do. Chefs give it their all, and it’s stressful — if the dishwasher doesn’t show up then I’m the dishwasher for the night.”
ZenKitchen has attracted its share of attention from approving patrons and critics since the place opened on Canada Day in 2009. Within a year, Ishii and Loan came under the national spotlight in the 13-part television series that followed their business, The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave, first broadcast on W Network in 2010 and, after that, on the Oprah Network.
Mortimer-Proulx is a 2005 graduate of the culinary arts program at Algonquin College. From there he started in the Brookstreet kitchen as a lowly fourth commis (junior cook), working his way up to sous chef in 2010.
“I’m really into working with the local community, dealing directly with farmers, and I want to support them,” Mortimer-Proulx says.
“The reason I came to ZenKitchen was that a lot of chefs don’t attempt to do vegetarian, never mind vegan cuisine. So I feel it’s a niche that many chefs don’t have experience with. There’s a growing vegan clientele demanding this food, and I’m anxious to do it. This will not change what we do at the restaurant.”
Says Ishii: “I’m confident Kyle will continue to do a great job. He’s a great addition to the team.”
Below is the statement released this afternoon by the restaurant:
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ZenKitchen Welcomes New Executive Chef Kyle Mortimer-Proulx
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Kyle Mortimer-Proulx (photo, left), formerly of the Brookstreet Hotel and Chef de cuisine at ZenKitchen, has taken over the role of Executive Chef with the departure of Caroline Ishii from the restaurant.
Owner Dave Loan welcomed Chef Kyle, who has been running the kitchen at Ottawa’s premier vegan restaurant since early February.
“Chef Kyle has demonstrated a deep appreciation of our unique food and outstanding leadership in the kitchen,” Loan said. “He is bringing the professionalism, creativity and managerial skills that he developed at Brookstreet.”
Chef Caroline Ishii, who has relinquished both her position and her co-ownership of the restaurant, decided that it was time to move on.
“It was a difficult decision,” she said. “I felt a need to express myself in new ways and to look beyond the day-to-day routine of the restaurant.
“I’m very proud of everything we’ve accomplished at ZenKitchen, and I am grateful for the incredible support we’ve received from the community to grow us from a pop-up over six years ago to an important part of the vibrant culinary landscape in the city,” said Ishii. “ZenKitchen has grown up, and I feel I can move on, leaving it in good hands with Dave and Chef Kyle.”
“Some things will change,” Loan said. “We’re looking at a renewed menu over the next couple of months. But some things will stay the same, beginning with our commitment to continue offering world-class vegan cuisine to Ottawa diners.”
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Kyle Mortimer-Proulx Twitter: @roneade
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