Our Story
Mark Namdar, Olena Fedorenko and Executive Chef Jose Molina, former colleagues at the Graham Hotel in Georgetown, are now the new caretakers of New Heights — a tried and trusted name they never had an intention of changing. Mark, a native of Iran, considers Washington, DC “the land of opportunity”. He, the Ukrainian-born Olena and Jose, who’s from Bolivia, are veterans of the hospitality industry, and the trio is writing a new chapter for the restaurant, which reopened in January 2022.
“We brought our tradition of hard work, desire for excellence, and most importantly - Passion.”
Chef Jose started cooking at the age of 16. His mentors taught him to respect each ingredient, make everything with passion, and be as creative as he can possibly be. He knows that buying the best seasonal ingredients can make all the difference in the world. Growing up in Bolivia, Latin flavors had a powerful impact on him and were his gateway to international influences, helping him to become the chef he is today. He enjoys the theater of cooking, and the searing sound from a cast-iron skillet is music to his ears. He loves using all his senses to create a perfectly balanced dish.