WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 26, 2019) – As a notable, boutique, D.C. hotel that defines distinct service and creative culinary in a sleek ambiance, Melrose Georgetown Hotel proudly announces Joseph Dun-bar as executive chef. Overseeing Jardenea, the hotel’s signature restaurant, the culinary program for social catering and group events as well as in-room dining, Dunbar will continue to build the program to reflect fresh, regional ingredients and seasonal flavors.
“We are thrilled to have Chef Dunbar join our team at Melrose Georgetown Hotel,” said Jale Hashimi, general manager of Melrose Georgetown Hotel. “He is a natural leader and is wildly creative. He is already elevating the food and beverage program and we are proud to have him on our team.”
With a passion for innovative cooking techniques and a background in the culinary field that ex-tends from his family lineage, Dunbar specializes in American-fusion cuisine that blends classic southern cooking styles with contemporary elements. “I’m excited for this opportunity. We are building a really strong menu of delicious, new age comfort foods. I look forward to expanding our offerings in molecular gastronomy and delivering some cool deconstructive preparation tech-niques,” said Joseph Dunbar, executive chef of Melrose Georgetown Hotel. “I like to cook what I like to eat, and I am eager to share my personal taste with the nation’s capital city.”
Dunbar spent his childhood years in the kitchen learning from his mother and grandfather, who were both professional chefs. At the age of 22, Dunbar officially embarked on his career path to becoming an executive chef, holding every position in the kitchen while perfecting his craft and fine tuning his skills, working at top restaurants in San Francisco, Chicago and Miami. Embracing his culinary roots, Dunbar lays claim to his passion for family, food and life with a signature spin on comfort dishes, including Grouper Pancakes, Grilled Green Tomatoes and Quail and Cheddar Waffles.
Jardenea provides “imaginative, current and conscientious” food selections and focuses on em-bracing a deep appreciation for farm-fresh products that also offer a reduced environmental impact. Achieving pure tastes packed with color, texture and most strikingly presentation, the Jardenea menu obtains as much food as possible from the finest local farms, creameries, fisheries, foragers and artisans.
