Chef Shiffer Helps Put Fairview Park Marriott's New Ellipse on Par with Sophisticated Downtown Restaurants

2008-11-13 13:25:02 -

Why battle traffic to dine in downtown Washington, DC., when creative and tasteful cuisine is practically in your backyard? The new Ellipse restaurant, located in the Fairview Park Marriott, has recently opened following a five-and-a-half- month renovation of the property. Executive Chef Anthony Shiffer offers his creative take on old classics, as well as new dishes.
Shiffer joined

the Fairview Park Marriott in 2006 as their Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager to develop the concept for the new Ellipse Restaurant and Lounge. ? The Ellipse is eclectic/American, ? explains Shiffer. ? This allows us to offer a wide variety of fare without being niched into a corner. There is no pre-fab at the Ellipse. Everything is delivered fresh, including premium steaks and other cuts of meat, fish, and vegetables, and most of it is locally raised/grown. I order a certain number of steaks and when they are gone, that ? s it. I won ? t be pulling one out of the freezer. ?
Patrons will find things on Shiffer ? s menu that provide a twist to some familiar classics. Appetizers, such as shrimp pancakes with fresh tarragon and chili butter, seared scallops with chorizo hash, and pasta dishes like cracked pepper gnocchi in parmesan cheese sauce accompany other interesting dishes on the new menu. Familiar classics, such as the 1950s Baked Alaska, are also on the menu but with the 2008 twist--macerated berries.
Planning is already underway for Thanksgiving brunch at the Fairview Park Marriott. True to form, patrons will find holiday staples of turkey and all the accompaniments, but also a southern Virginia twist of ham, prime rib, oatmeal crusted chicken, savory and sweet salads and more.
The Ellipse offers a quiet and friendly atmosphere with elegance and top-notch service. For a more casual evening, the Ellipse Lounge, also part of this renovation, has become a vibrant and airy gathering place for groups from five to 50. ? One thing we strive for is flexibility, ? says Shiffer. ? The lounge has the ? 5, 10, 20 ? menu, meaning that there is food that is ready in 5, 10 or 20 minutes. So travelers are guaranteed to make their planes, and after hours patrons, who are not in such a hurry, can order off that menu or from the Ellipse menu. We think that kind of flexibility is hard to find. ?
To hear Shiffer tell it, cooking is in his blood. Chef Shiffer was only six years old when he realized that food was his destiny. ? I remember going to my great grandmother ? s house on Saturday mornings and smelling all of the great aromas and realizing they all stemmed from her kitchen. Saturdays were such a joy for me, cooking in the kitchen with my family. ?
Chef Shiffer has been part of the Marriott family since 1992, beginning at the Sable Oaks Marriott in South Portland Maine. As his knowledge and skill increased he was promoted through the ranks. He came to the DC area in 1994 to the Bethesda Marriott, where he oversaw the specialty restaurant Bello Mondo and became the Banquet Chef. There, Shiffer was nominated by his peers for Banquet Chef of the Year. In 2000, Shiffer was promoted to Senior Sous Chef and later to Executive Chef at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor. Four years later, he was at the Key Bridge Marriott, a local DC landmark, until he joined the Fairview Park hotel.
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The Fairview Park Marriott in Virginia boasts over 18,000 square feet of total meeting space, 388 guest rooms and 7 suites. This Falls Church hotel also features upgraded guestrooms, a 24-hour fitness center, and is nearby to spas, golf courses and premium shopping at Tysons Corner Center & Tysons Galleria. In addition to Tysons Corner, our Fairview Park Marriott hotel is close to the Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles Intl Airport and the Washington DC Metro area. For more on the Fairview Park Marriott visit cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww ...

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