Michael Harr Named Executive Chef of Old Hickory Steakhouse and Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine
Acclaimed chef makes his anticipated return to the Washington dining scene
National Harbor, Md.—( February 15, 2010 )
Michael Harr has been named executive chef of Old Hickory Steakhouse and Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, the two signature, upscale restaurants at the Washington D.C. region’s Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.If Harr’s name sounds familiar to those in the Washington area, that’s because it is. He’s a hometown boy (raised in Gaithersburg, Md.) who started cooking at an early age. A brief stint as a teenager working in the kitchen at the Watergate Hotel’sJean-Louis helped convince him that cooking would be his life’s great passion.
Up until 2008, Harr received much critical acclaim at the helm of D.C.’s Butterfield 9, which was named a “Top 100 Restaurant” by Washingtonian magazine during his tenure. According to a top D.C. food critic, Harr had “emerged as one of the city's top chefs, sending out sophisticated, imaginative plates…”
Most recently, however, Harr had taken a break from Washington to serve as the executive corporate chef for Celebrity Cruises, based in Miami, Fla., where he was responsible for developing menu concepts for the line’s newest vessels.
Harr’s return to the Washington-area dining scene comes with much anticipation – both from those who remember his innovative cuisine, as well as his newest employer, the AAA Four-Diamond rated Gaylord National Resort.
“Old Hickory and Moon Bay represent two of the most exciting components of our guest experience,” said Robert Stanfield, Gaylord National vice president of food and beverage. “We were looking for a chef who could take them to the next level. Michael has already proven himself to be one of Washington’s top chefs, and we’re excited to tap into his talent to see where he can take us in the future,” Stanfield said.
Old Hickory Steakhouse is the resort’s fine dining experience, boasting a serious menu steeped in the traditions of the world’s finest steakhouses. Its refined and classic interior recreates the ambiance of an 18th-century Georgian row house with a setting that includes an intimate lounge, artisanal cheese cave, cigar humidor and stunning water views of the Potomac River. Its accolades include a nomination for “Best New Restaurant of 2008” by the Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM).
Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine offers an upscale and modern dining experience with refreshing twist: a setting that pays tribute to rich history and seafood traditions of the Chesapeake region. Located adjacent to the resort’s soaring glass atrium, it boasts a show kitchen, an impressive “Wall of Whites” wine collection and an exciting wharf-side bar and lounge. It all sets the stage for a one-of-a-kind dining experience that includes playful and modern interpretations of mid-Atlantic regional seafood favorites.
Harr will oversee culinary operations for both Old Hickory Steakhouse and Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, infusing his unique talent and vision into these distinct venues, creating truly exceptional dining experiences. His duties will include menu development, leading a team of more than 60 culinary staff and overseeing kitchen operations.
Trained at Miami’s Johnson & Wales University, Harr has honed his craft over the past twenty years. His early years included stints in Geneva, Brussels, Tuscany and Cap d’Antibes near Nice, where he was personal chef to a diplomat in Megeve of France’s Savoie Region. Harr also held positions at London Club, a five-diamond restaurant in Las Vegas, and two other noted Washington D.C. restaurants: the five-diamond Maestro and Mark Miller’s Red Sage.
Harr’s past honors include several guest chef appearances at New York City’s James Beard House. He was recently invited to return there in March 2010 and will be featured cooking alongside other area top chefs as part of a “Washington D.C. All-Star Chefs” event.
For more information on the Gaylord National Resort, Old Hickory Steakhouse or Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, visit www.gaylordnational.com. For more information on Chef Michael Harr, visit his personal website at www.michaelharr.com
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About Gaylord National Resort
The AAA Four-Diamond rated Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center opened April 2008 along the banks of the Potomac River, eight miles south of the nation’s capital, in National Harbor, Md., a new 300-acre waterfront destination. The Gaylord National Resort is the largest-combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard, offering 2,000 guest rooms, including 110 lavish suites; more than 470,000 square feet of convention, meeting, exhibit and pre-function space; acclaimed restaurants; Relâche™ Spa; Pose Ultra Lounge; and a soaring 18-story, glass-covered atrium. For more information, visit www.gaylordnational.com.
Guest Contact - Gaylord National Reservations: 877-432-8674
Media Contact - Amie Gorrell, Director of Public Relations, 301-965-2111, agorrell@gaylordhotels.com
