WASHINGTON--The Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel announced today that Duane Keller has been named executive chef of the hotel and 14K Restaurant. The award-winning chef brings to his new position 25 years of experience at fine hotels and restaurants in the United States and Canada.

Most recently Keller served as the executive chef of The Mason Inn and Conference Center Hotel in Fairfax, Va., and prior to that The Capital Grille in Chevy Chase, Md. He also served as the executive chef of Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, a fine dining restaurant located at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center at National Harbor in Maryland.

Chef Keller’s career includes a decade of experience in a number of culinary positions in Virginia restaurants including Potomack Landing, Blue Point Grill, and Sutton Place Gourmet in Alexandria; Market Street Bar & Grill in Reston; as well as The Ashby Inn & Restaurant in Paris, Va.

A recipient of the James Beard Foundation Certificate in 2001, Chef Keller has received numerous awards over the years that reflect his ever-expanding inventiveness and inspirational accomplishments. Accolades include Washingtonian magazine’s Top 100 and Top 50; the 1984 Gold Spoon Award at the Four Star Delta Bow Valley Inn, Calgary; the 1986 Red Seal Award at Emerald Park, Vancouver; C.C.A. Chef of the Year Award; and the Florida Top 100 Award.

A native of Saskatchewan, Keller trained under the world’s finest European chefs in Canada who initiated his creative approach —that of incorporating the style and cooking techniques of old world cuisine into that which is new.

“I let the food speak for itself,” said Keller. “I don’t overwork it but put little twists on things, like my smoked salmon cheesecake.”

In addition to the respect received from fellow colleagues and food critics, Keller celebrates his passion by sharing with others through charitable work. He created heart-healthy menus for the American Heart Association, fed the homeless and disadvantaged in Sarasota, and provided Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in Louisiana. Keller also cooked for the Pentagon during rescue operations of 9/11.

About The Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel and 14K Restaurant
Located at 14th and K Streets in the heart of downtown Washington D.C., the historic 318-room Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel is the ideal destination for meeting attendees, business and leisure travelers. The hotel is situated one block from the McPherson Square Metrorail station, five blocks from the convention center, five blocks from the White House and within walking distance to the National Mall, theatres, and Smithsonian museums. The hotel features 7,000 square feet of meeting space, 24-hour valet parking and fitness center, 17 suites, Club Level accommodations and this pet friendly hotel is the only Washington, D.C. hotel with a “Women’s Inspired Networking” program to include a dedicated woman’s floor Sundays through Thursdays, personalized concierge service, and an invitation to “WIN” Dinner. For more information, visit www.hamiltonhoteldc.com

14K Restaurant, located at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel, offers Regional American Contemporary Cuisine surrounded by a comfortably elegant and casual atmosphere. 14K Restaurant's patio, overlooking Franklin Square Park, is the perfect place to enjoy the finest in food and beverage. For more information, visit www.14KRestaurant.com.