It's that time of year again, the DC restaurant scene is all a flutter as the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced the finalists for this years RAMMY Awards. The nomination ceremony took place last night at The Hamilton where a gathering of Washington's finest chefs, mixologists and restauranteurs waited in anticipation for the nominations to be announced.
Most of the awards are selected by an anonymous group of industry insiders, but this year the public will have their say in four categories, public voting for Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Everyday Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites will begin on March 27th for one month via the Washington City Paper.
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year:
Fiola
Marcel's
Minibar
The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
Trummer's on Main
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year:
Et Voila!
Maple Ave restaurant
Oyamel
Proof
Ripple
Everyday Casual Restaurant of the Year:
Graffiato
Hank's Oyster Bar (Q Street)
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Pizzeria Orso
Toki Underground
New Restaurant of the Year:
- Del Campo
- Doi Moi
- Le Diplomate
- The Red Hen
- Table
Chef of the Year:
- Victor Albisu - Del Campo
- Cathal Armstrong - Eat Group Food Group
- Haidar Karoum - Doi Moi/Estadio/Proof
- Tarver King - The Restaurant Patowmack Farm
- Cedric Maupillier - Mintwood Place
Rising Culinary Star of the Year:
- Eric Bruner-Yang - Toki Underground
- Michael Friedman - The Red Hen
- Tim Ma - Maple Ave Restaurant/Water & Wall
- Marjorie Meek-Bradley - Ripple/Roofers Union
- Johnny Speero - Minibar
Pastry Chef of the Year:
- Caitlin Dysart - 2491 Restaurant
- Naomi Gallego - Blue Duck Tavern
- Jason Gehring - MENU MBK/Table
- Santosh Tiptur - Co Co. Sala
- Tom Wellings - Fiola
Wine Program of the Year:
- 2941 Restaurant
- The Curious Grape
- Estadio
- Restaurant Eve
- Ripple
Cocktail Program of the Year:
- Black Jack
- Bourbon Steak
- The Gibson
- Hanks Oyster Bar (Capitol Hill)
- Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Beer Program of the Year:
- Birch & Barley/Churchkey
- Brasserie Beck
- Granville Moore's
- Lyon Hall
- Mad Fox Brewing Company
Service Program of the Year:
- BLT Steak
- Blue Duck Tavern
- The Bombay Club
- Marcel's
- Rasika
Restauranteur of the Year:
- Jose Andres and Rob Wilder - ThinkFoodGroup
- Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong - Eat Good Food Group
- Michael Babin - Neighborhood Restaurant Group
- Gus DiMillo, David Wizenberg and Jeff Tunks - Passion Food Hospitality
- Mark Kuller - Doi Moi/Estadio/Proof
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year:
- Catoctin Creek Distillilling Company
- DC Brau Brewing Company
- Port City Brewing Company
- Rappahannock Oyster Co.
- Red Apron Butcher
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year:
- Bar Pilar
- Bistrot Du Coin
- Cashion's Eat Place
- Hank's Oyster Bar (Q Street)
- Tune Inn
Upscale Brunch:
- Art & Soul
- Blue Duck Tavern
- Mintwood Place
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Vermillion
Everyday Casual Brunch:
- DGS Delicatessan
- Et Voila!
- Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
- Pizzeria Orso
- Ted's Bulletin (Barracks Row)
Favorite Fast Bites:
- Amsterdam Falafelshop
- Bayou Bakery
- Buzz Bakery
- Red Apron Butcher
- Woodward TakeOut Food
Employee of the Year:
- Stelios Alexandris - 1789 Restaurant
- Eric Campbell - The Hamilton
- Molly Horn - Farmers Fishers Bakers
- Pablo Lemus - Bourbon Steak
- Sandra Sanchez - Acadiana
Manager of the Year:
- Jorge Figueredo - Jaleo (DC)
- Kendra Graves - Farmers Fishers Bakers
- Robert Hall - Newton's Table
- Boo Young Kim - District Commons
- Tyes Zolman - Pearl Dive Oyster Palace/Black Jack
The RAMMY Awards this year takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on June 22nd, tickets are $300 and can purchased here.