The Majestic's New Chef Replaced in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- After opening several restaurants, one right after another, Alexandria Restaurant Partners announced Monday that Chef Gaby Hakman is out at The Majestic, which completed a renovation in May after changing hands. The restaurant will now be helmed by Alexandria Restaurant Partners' Corporate Executive Chef Graham Duncan, who until recently was busy crafting the menus at the company's various new restaurants that have opened in the past year.

A native of Brooklyn, Hakman had moved to Alexandria last spring from Miami for the position and helmed the kitchen from the start of the grand re-opening of The Majestic in May; her last day at The Majestic was reportedly Sunday, according to employees at the restaurant. She's been in charge of her own restaurants in South Beach and Santa Fe, N.M.

“This has been a wonderful experience, a great partnership, and an introduction to a terrific community," Hakman said in an announcement about the changes, released Monday by Alexandria Restaurant Partners. "I’m looking forward to staying engaged in the food and beverage industry in the greater Washington, DC area as I work on some new and different projects.”

No specific word on Hakman's new plans were revealed in Monday's announcement.

The announcement Monday notes that Duncan will take the reins beginning Nov. 1. “We are grateful to Gaby for setting the culinary direction of The Majestic after our purchase of this iconic restaurant last year," he said. "Her creativity, passion and palate have restored and elevated The Majestic, delighting regulars and newcomers alike.”

Duncan has been busy the past year, supervising four new restaurant openings in the area for Alexandria Restaurant Partners. In addition to The Majestic, he's also worked to help open Lena’s Wood-fired Pizza & Tap in Alexandria, Palette 22 in The Village at Shirlington and Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria. Duncan will maintain his role as Corporate Executive Chef while on site at The Majestic as Executive Chef while on site at The Majestic for regular service and special events.

"Openings are great fun, and we’re fortunate that ours have all gone so well,” said Duncan. “But as a Chef you always want to get back into the kitchen and just cook for the sheer joy of it. The Majestic is a perfect place for me to do that. I love the size, as it’s small enough for me to keep an eye on our guests and it allows me to work very closely with some very talented young cooks in our organization.”

A Florida native, Duncan earned his Culinary Arts degree in 1990 from the Florida Culinary Institute. He career includes Chef John Varnom at Au Bar/Au Sea in Palm Beach and Sag Harbor; Italian-Mediterranean under Chef Emile Labrousse in Fort Lauderdale at Casa Vecchia, and country French and Italian fare under Chef Ulrich Koepf at Bistro Mezzaluna, also in Fort Lauderdale.

Duncan has also served executive sous chef at the Pacific Rim fusion restaurant, Azalea before heading up City Grill from 1999-2004. At this AAA 5-diamond rated fine dining restaurant, he worked with Georgia Grown Organic Farm Co-Op farmers, holding recognition dinners at the restaurant for local farmers, along with being one of the main market chefs at The Morningside Farmers Market.

In 1994 Duncan took over the kitchen at Fifth Group Restaurants’ regional Mexican concept, SALA-Sabor de Mexico. From 2006-200 Duncan served as the executive chef for the Lettuce Entertain You concept, Wildfire Steaks, Chops & Seafood, from 2006 to 2008. In 2008, Duncan moved to the metro Washington, D.C. area to serve as opening executive chef for the Founding Farmers flagship location, which launched to great acclaim and recognition, including being named, in 2009, as Top 50 Best New Restaurant by Travel + Leisure, and among the 100 Best Restaurants by Washingtonian magazine.

While there, Duncan was instrumental in sourcing all produce, dairy, and meat from regional farmers in Virginia and Maryland. In 2010 Duncan founded Chefxpertise with a focus on creating culinary concepts, restaurant strategy, design, product innovations and culinary training for independent restaurant clients.

The Majestic reopened in May after a renovation, with a new ravishing interior by prominent local designer David Anthony Chenault and stunning interior architecture by Paul Beckmann, of Beckmann Architects also of Alexandria.

PHOTO: Exterior of The Majestic Cafe, 911 King St. Photo by David Coleman; May 2016 photo of Gaby Hakman at The Majestic, interior photo of The Majestic, by Patch.com

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