From our friends at nopa Kitchen+Bar...
Award-winning restaurateur Ashok Bajaj is pleased to announce the appointment of Valerie Hill as pastry chef of nopa Kitchen+Bar. Hill will work under the leadership of Executive Chef Matt Kuhn, and brings a wealth of 25 plus years of experience to her new role. Guests can anticipate noteworthy, seasonal desserts such as the Pistachio Cake with rose cream and rhubarb sorbet; Raspberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding with chocolate feuilletine, raspberry sauce and white chocolate, as well as Buttermilk Panna Cotta made with blueberry compote, citrus peach puree, Anson Mill’s cornmeal shortbread.
A native of Chatham, Virginia, Hill cultivated a passion for creating desserts as a child while baking alongside her grandmother on her family farm. Using the milk and eggs produced their chickens and cows ingrained in her an appreciation for the difference quality fresh ingredients make in cooking and baking.
Hill pursued her interest in the visual arts at the Holden School of Art and Design in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1983, leading her to study at Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling, before she gravitated back to the culinary world. In 1998, she followed her passion and attended L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda, Maryland. She also continued her education taking courses at the Pastry Institute of Washington, Washington, DC, as well enrolling at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone Campus, Napa Valley, California.
Prior to her appointment at nopa Kitchen+Bar, Hill served for eight years as pastry chef of Johnny’s Half Shell in Washington, DC. It was here, that she was responsible for all aspects of the pastry kitchen for the opening and operation of this popular 350-seat restaurant. Hill also served as pastry chef at The Majestic Cafe in Alexandria, Virginia from March 2001 to July 2006.
nopa Kitchen +Bar is located at 800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20004. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday, from 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM; Thursday and Friday, from 11:30 AM to 11 PM; Saturday, from 5 PM to 11 PM, and Sunday, from 11 AM to 9:30 PM. Brunch is served Sunday, from 11 AM to 3 PM. Valet parking is available in the evenings. For reservations or additional information, please call (202) 347-4667 or visit www.nopadc.com.
