By Amy Woolvett
THE COAST GUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Locals and tourists alike have attested to the delectable dining found at Charlotte Lane. Now it is known throughout the province as the small restaurant won big, beating out 50 entrants for the most prestigious of awards of Best Small Restaurant in Nova Scotia.
The award was recently announced at the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia’s gala award dinner.
“I was a bit shocked,” said Roland Glauser, chef and co-owner along with his wife Kathleen. “Because living in the country, the name of our restaurant doesn’t pop up very often. But we are really proud to get on the radar and be recognized by the association.”
Roland, originally from Switzerland has cooked professionally since he was 16. After a three-year apprenticeship and several years working in Switzerland, he left for Jasper Alberta where he met Kathleen. Their travels eventually took them to Halifax and Roland worked at the Sheraton Hotel for a few years as restaurant chef and then as its executive chef.
“Charlotte Lane was born 16 years ago,” said Kathleen. “Everything just came together for us. Shelburne really chose us. We knew we wanted to settle somewhere outside of Halifax and start a restaurant. Within just a few days, our Halifax house sold and we found the perfect 170 year old house in the historic district of Shelburne.”
The two, hoping for the freedom of working for themselves, opened the small restaurant in Shelburne.
They weren’t sure how a finer scale dining restaurant would fly in a small town so they opened their restaurant with only a one page menu.
“Slowly we started to introduce a wide variety of selection once the customers started to trust us,” said Roland.
A wide selection of culinary delights can be found on the menu including global dishes with Atlantic Canadian, Mediterranean and Swiss flairs.
Just passing by the restaurant on the street and catching the aromas stirring up inside Roland’s magical kitchen is enough to bring in customers.
Once there they will find such treasures as The King George, a 6 oz filet mignon topped with poached lobster tail and swimming in garlic herb butter or a rack of succulent spring lamb drizzled with port wine orange sauce and topped with sundried berries.
Lunchtime favourites can be the best deal in town as customers choose from soups, chowders, salads or sandwich combos that start at $8.95.
“Roland himself cooks every hot meal that comes out of the kitchen,” said Kathleen.
But the Glauser’s know that it wasn’t just the wonderful food and atmosphere that won the restaurant its title over so many Halifax restaurants.
“We were only able to get this award because we have such great staff,” said Roland. “They are just as proud as we are.”
Kathleen agreed saying that they set very high standards for the staff that they exceedingly meet.
“We love our staff,” she said. “They are doing an incredible job and having fun at the same time.”
They also wanted to thank all of their loyal customers who nominated the restaurant for the award.
