Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter feeds fantastic breakfast and brunch to locals and visitors alike in Ucluelet. Inside a cheerful little yellow house on Ucluelet’s main drag, the team cooks up nourishing comfort food. Perhaps their most famous dish, a breakfast of champions for sure, is the Ukee Fried Chicken and French Toast. The crispy, juicy buttermilk fried chicken comes with Heartwood’s signature hot sauce, of course. We spoke with Heather Riddick, Owner and Manager of Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter – we are a restaurant and catering business focusing on local food in a fun, relaxed environment.
What made you want to do this work?
My husband, Ian Riddick, myself and our partner Anthony Pugh have all worked in hospitality for a long time. Hospitality has always been a part of who we are. We love meeting people and sharing our love of food with them.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We saw an opportunity to have a great brunch place, but also saw a need for catering from small drop-off to larger events.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Locals & visitors – all ages!
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Restaurant – people need to eat, and we are happy to share our love of food with them! We offer dine-in service.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We are located at 1682 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet, BC.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Why dine at Heartwood Kitchen?
If you want to get the feel for Ucluelet – dine at Heartwood Kitchen – it is a lively, fun environment, and you have to have their UFC French Toast! Their house-made hot sauce is amazing, and people come from all over to get it.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
We get to meet a lot of interesting people who come to Ucluelet and the West Coast because it is on their bucket list, and we get to live here. The worst part – not really one that I can think of, besides sometimes we can’t serve everyone due to staffing constraints or just the size of our restaurant (only 26 seats)
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Because there is no ethnic food in our area, 1 day a year, we are the best Chinese food restaurant in Ucluelet. We do Chinese food on New Year’s Day. It gets lined up around the block.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | Website
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Cedar House Gallery or Ukee Bikes
