PALETTE RESTAURANT & BAR WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF

WASHINGTON, DC – Palette Restaurant & Bar in Downtown Washington, D.C. announces the appointment of Arnel Esposo as its Executive Chef. Chef Esposo was an integral part of Palette's opening team and has spent the past three years working as Palette's Sous Chef. A seasoned chef, he has an international reputation and is looking forward to taking the helm.

Chef Esposo will continue to refine Palette's New American cuisine with his own unique vision; he describes his new menu as "American with a twist." New lunch and dinner menus will be introduced on March 6th and March 13th respectively, but Esposo's daily specials have been widely praised by critics and Palette's guests. Some of the menu items featured on the new menu are crispy diver scallops with curry mango oil, red lentil soup with fresh coriander pesto and Pernod, soy and honey-soaked sea bass with wild morels.

While Esposo grew up in his mother's kitchen and regularly helped prepare meals, he realized his true calling when he became part of the Culinary Team Europe competition, representing the United States in 1989. After returning home and graduating from the world-renowned Baltimore International College with a degree in Culinary Arts, Chef Esposo departed again for Europe to hone his craft in Ireland. Following two years as Chef Tournant at Kilkea Castle Hotel in County Kildare, Ireland, he returned to the United States to establish a reputation in his native Washington, D.C. Since settling back in the District, Chef Esposo has worked at a variety of esteemed venues and trained under world-famous D.C. chefs. Before taking over as Sous Chef for Palette in 2003, Esposo had his most remarkable experiences working under Michele Richard as Citronelle's Chef de Partie and as Sous Chef under Morou Ouattara at Red Sage.

Esposo lives in Virginia with his wife of ten years, Louise and their infant son Connor. Though he will be away from home more, his wife understands; she has been a Sous Chef at the Four Seasons for the past two years and is used to long hours herself. "I can't imagine doing anything different with my life," he muses, "this is in my blood." As for Connor's future in the restaurant business? "We've got some time."

Palette Restaurant & Bar is Washington D.C.'s only restaurant-as-art gallery and has been critically acclaimed since opening in 2003. The restaurant's current exhibit, featuring abstract art by D.C. lobbyist Dan Berger, has been recognized in major publications such as Washingtonian, Southern Living, the New York Post, The Washington Times, and others. Palette serves lunch and dinner daily and hosts a weekday happy hour. The restaurant, located on the corner of 15th and M Streets NW, serves as a culinary and art haven for D.C. natives and visitors alike.

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For information, call 202-587-2701 or go to www.palettedc.com.