Autumn Deliveries At Poste Moderne Brasserie

Washington, DC, September 2004 - The arrival of Chef Robert Weland at Poste Moderne Brasserie coincides with the debut of both a talented management team and a refreshed exterior, positioning Poste as a serious player among DC dining destinations.

Chef Weland, a recent transplant from New York City's Guastavino's, has fully revamped Poste's menu. His new dishes are delivered by a first-rate, front-of-the-house team spearheaded by new General Manager Tricia Cominsky, honored twice with a nomination for Manager of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. The gorgeous Parisian-style courtyard, which seats 42, has undergone extensive reconstruction and landscaping, creating a unique venue for al fresco dining during Washington's pleasurable autumn temperatures. And new custom-designed signed tableware by renown glass artisan Tim Tate shows off Weland's culinary creations.

A 1998 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Weland has risen through kitchens ranging from a Michelin two-star to casual Manhattan neighborhood spots. After honing his skills in Lyon, France, at the two-star Michelin Pierre Orsi, Weland opened the Ritz-Carlton's fine-dining restaurant in Philadelphia and crafted menus at Adrienne in the Peninsula Hotel in New York City and First in Manhattan's East Village. Continuing his culinary pursuits, Weland earned two and a half stars from Crain's at The Marguery Grill. Favorable press led to Weland's position as executive chef at Larry Forgione's An American Place, where he earned a two-star review from the New York Times. Critic William Grimes wrote that Weland "knows the difference between simple and simple-minded" and "achieves a wonderful balance and interplay of flavors." However, it was the need to balance his personal and professional lives that brought Weland to DC from his post as top toque at the brasserie Guastavino's. A career opportunity beckoned Weland's wife, Amy, just as Poste happened to be seeking a new chef.

In designing Poste's menu, Weland spent considerable time rallying the area's farmers to his cause. Weland remains deeply committed to using fresh, seasonal products and supporting sustainable farming in an effort to ensure that local variety, honest flavors, and healthful farming practices are not overwhelmed by big business. A green thumb in his own right, Weland is already growing his own herbs that he picks daily from Poste's stone planters to ensure that the delicate plants go from earth to pan in minutes (the aromatic herbs frequently complement the drinks as well).

When Tim Tate, an award-winning local glass artisan and founder of the Washington Glass Studio, stopped in and tasted Weland's new dishes, he decided that Poste's tableware needed to complement the cuisine. Tate set out to design magnificent, individually hand-made and signed bread and butter plates that now adorn the Brasserie's handsome tables. One of Tate's most famous works is in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery.

Weland's new menu just happens to coincide with Poste's second birthday. Poste looks forward to the exciting months to come, especially with the world's eyes on Washington with the upcoming elections and inauguration.

Poste is located at 555 8th Street, NW (between E &F streets) and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. A full bar menu is available throughout the day until closing. Lunch entries range from $10 to $20 and dinner entries from $18 to $30. Valet parking is available for dinner. Reservations are available by telephone at 202-783-6060 or online at www.opentable.com.