David MacLennan
As a Fort Lauderdale native, David MacLennan’s return to South Florida was a welcomed homecoming. Even Keel represents MacLennan’s passion for steadfast and consistent product. After many years traveling the country as the chef for several restaurants, David finds him self back home as Chef/Owner of Even Keel Fish & Oyster.
Most recently Chef David relocated back to South Florida from Long Beach, CA. As executive chef at James Republic, David MacLennan took his culinary craft to new heights using the freshest of ingredients. MacLennan’s style of food is what James Republic referred to as modern Californian coastal cuisine. He went to farmer’s markets weekly and met with his local purveyors to ensure each dish showcased the season’s finest flavors.
While pursuing an engineering degree at University of Florida, MacLennan’s love for cooking and part-time jobs in the restaurant industry led him in an exciting new direction later graduating from Johnson and Wales University in culinary arts in 2004. At which point, while attending culinary school, he met Chef Dean James Max.
Later moving to Ohio, he joined Max`s team at Columbus Renaissance Hotel`s Latitude 41 as restaurant chef. After taking over as executive chef of Latitude 41, MacLennan later pursued an opportunity to take over one of Columbus’ best local gems, Basi Italia.
At Basi Italia, David had the opportunity to showcase his modern approach to Italian dining. Having grown up watching his great grandmother make gnocchi, meatballs and sauce, MacLennan had an opportunity to get back to his mother’s family’s Italian roots. While taking traditional Italian ingredients and putting a modern spin on them, MacLennan began developing an even greater reputation in town via a small 40 seat venue.
In 2013 when James Republic was set to open, Dean James Max reached out to his former Columbus chef and encouraged him to make the trip to Long Beach to help start one of the few Farm-to-Table restaurants in the city. While surrounded by a never ending reach of some of the country’s best produce and food,
MacLennan has taken James Republic to be one of the most happening restaurants in a rapidly growing area of South Los Angeles County. After manning the helm at James Republic for over 6 years, MacLennan partnered with his mentor Dean James Max and long time friend Brad Phillips as Chef/Partners at Even Keel.
