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| Mirabelle's Main Dining Room (Photo: Under a Bushel Photography) |
From our friends at Mirabelle...
Mirabelle Announces a Grand Reopening with a New Executive Chef & the Reuniting of an Exceptional Team, Spearheaded by Jennifer Knowles
Restaurateur Hakan Ilhan is pleased to announce the return of renowned General Manger & Beverage Director Jennifer Knowles to Mirabelle to spearhead his landmark 152-seat restaurant at located at 900 16th Street, NW, just steps from the White House. Mirabelle will reopen on Tuesday, August 7 for lunch and dinner. One can anticipate a modern expression of the global influence on contemporary French cuisine that is designed to transport diners through evoking emotional connections on the new menu.
A new executive chef has been tapped, Keith Bombaugh, formerly the chef de cuisine at Boston’s outstanding waterfront Meritage restaurant. A graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu, he also previously cooked for three years at Michelin three-star restaurant, Alinea, in Chicago. Bombaugh is joining forces with two additional opening alumni from Mirabelle. Tales of the Cocktail award-winning Lead Bartender Zachary Faden, who is returning from the notable Drink Company in Washington, DC will elevate the bar program, and Pastry Chef Zoe Ezrailson, who most recently has been baking at Ellé, one of Washington’s new all-day cafés.
“I am delighted Jennifer Knowles is returning to lift Mirabelle to new levels as a top destination restaurant in the heart of the city for both service and culinary excellence,” states Hakan Ilhan. “She shares my vision for what we intend Mirabelle to be for our guests. We are united to quickly deliver a fresh start and the assemblage of a fantastic team thanks to her efforts.”
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| Mirabelle Bar |
An advanced level sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Knowles was most recently served as the general manager and wine director at Requin at The Wharf before her recent return to Mirabelle. She is recognized widely for her expertise in restaurant management and building exceptional wine and spirits programs for world-class establishes such as Plume at the Jefferson Hotel, where she worked for two years, along with time at Fiola Mare and four years at the famous Inn at Little Washington in Virginia. Here she served as the wine and beverage director managing a Grand Award-winning wine cellar of 12,000+ bottles with over 2,600 labels on the list, while also creating custom cocktails and select beers for the bar program.
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| Dessert Cart |
Bombaugh brings to Washington a view point well-honed from experience that fine dining is whatever a guest wishes to make of it. Savoring a beautiful restaurant's ambiance, allowing one the opportunity to escape and enjoy the multi-sensory and emotion evoking soul of food, and sharing memories and experiences through food and service are the three cornerstones of his philosophy. Guests can anticipate a whimsical approach to dining that is meant to convey stories and memories that allow them to transcend the boundaries of the dining room. One will have the option of ordering a la carte with menu items starting at $16 to $24 for first courses, $20 to $41 for second courses and $30 to $40 for main entrees. There are also options for a prix-fixe menu consisting of a four-course ($85), five-course ($95) and a 10-course ($195) per person (excluding tax and gratuity.)
Mirabelle’s new menu is designed to emulate the shared memories of Keith Bombaugh and Jennifer Knowles’ experiences growing up on the South Shore of Boston and beyond the region. Mirabelle will continue to feature the pastry trolley at lunch service that showcases various large-format traditional French pastries created by Pastry Chef Zoe Ezrailson.
An excellent wine selection is vital to a French-American and Mirabelle’s is spearheaded by General Manager & Beverage Director Jennifer Knowles and Wine Director Karl Kuhn. Knowles - who recent tenures include stints at The Jefferson Hotel, The Inn at Little Washington and Requin at The Wharf and Kuhn, who hails from minibar by José Andrés, are curating the restaurant’s wine program with an emphasis on French labels, from the classic varieties and regions, as well as a nod to the ever-evolving dynamic of new winemakers and styles from around the world. A selection of 500 wines is available by the bottle along with 28 wines by the glass.
Similarly, Mirabelle’s cocktail program, spearheaded by Lead Bartender Zach Faden, has a classic focus with a personalized approach to custom creations. The cocktail menu presents a strong representation of French-inspired cocktails balanced by modern techniques. Most unique to Mirabelle’s cocktail program will be its spotlight on French distillates, with a tableside cart dedicated to high end Eau de Vie, Armagnac and Calvados. A variety of non-alcoholic specialties are also available and incorporate seasonal ingredients, which rotate throughout the year. Faden is introducing a new signature opening cocktail at Mirabelle, The Calais, which he created for the Tales of the Cocktail 2018 official cocktail competition, which called for bartenders to reimagine the classic French 75 cocktail. It is a tempting combination of Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Christian Drouin Calvados Pays d’Auge Réserve des Fiefs, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup and dry sparkling wine, perfect for the summer celebration at the restaurant.
Mirabelle is located just steps from the White House at 900 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20006. Lunch is served Monday through Friday, from 11:30 AM to 2 PM, and dinner is served Monday through Friday, from 5:30 to 9:30 PM; Saturday, from 5:30 to 10 PM. The restaurant is situated two blocks from Farragut West Metro and three blocks from the McPherson Square Metro accessible on the Blue, Orange and Silver Lines. Valet parking is available nightly beginning at 5 PM and is priced at $8 per car. For more information or reservations, please call (202) 506-3833 or visit https://mirabelledc.com/.
