WASHINGTON, D.C., March 16, 2023 – The Kimpton Banneker, managed by Valor Hospitality Partners, announced today the hiring of Executive Chef Walter Silva and McColbert Evrard as director of food and beverage. In addition to the new leadership, The Banneker launched a new menu at the signature French bistro, Le Sel, paired with the April 1 debut of Le Sel’s outdoor patio, just in time for al fresco dining season.
“Welcoming Chef Silva to The Banneker team was the ideal next step in the culinary journey on property. His
expertise, passion and talent for crafting menus and creating a culinary experience will elevate our offerings at Le Sel,” said Vernon Drummond, Interim General Manager of The Banneker. “Adding McColbert to our staff will give our team a strong leader with a clear vision for our food & beverage program. These two new faces will bring an air of strategic innovation to the hotel and rejuvenate our leadership team.”
Executive Chef Silva spearheads the property’s culinary concepts, including French bistro Le Sel and rooftop bar and lounge Lady Bird, as well as all private events. Bringing nearly twenty years of experience to The Banneker, Silva oversees menu development, staff training, inventory management, vendor communications 
nd more. Prior to joining The Banneker, Silva opened and developed the menu for ilili Restaurant at the Wharf in Washington D.C. and has experience running two Barcelona Wine Bar locations.
Driving The Banneker’s culinary scene forward, Evrard’s multi-faceted position encompasses managing all the food and beverage operations throughout the hotel’s dining outlets, including Le Sel, Lady Bird and the property’s extensive events spaces. Evrard has previously held management positions at esteemed culinary institutions including the AGM Hillstone Restaurant Group in East Hampton, Brentwood Country Club in LA and Omni Montelucia in Scottsdale, AZ.
Executive Chef Walter Silva has revamped the Le Sel and Lady Bird menus, introducing elevated takes on French fare like escargot, tartiflette, steak au poierve, Parisian cornmeal gnocchi and more to the bistro’s offerings. Starting this March, Chef Walter Silva will lead a weekly four-course Wine Dinner series on Wednesday evenings in partnership with local female sommeliers for the ultimate vineyard to table experience. Tickets are available via OpenTable for $80 per person.
Offering diners the same exceptional experience they’ve come to expect from Le Sel, the French-inspired fare is prepared with locally sourced ingredients from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The Banneker is located at 1315 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. For more information, visit www.thebanneker.com and follow along on social at @thebanneker, @leselrestaurant, @ladybirdbardc on Instagram and The Banneker on Facebook.
