All of the Winners from the 42nd Annual RAMMY Awards Gala
“Now people may not want to come to work during the day, but they do want to come to your restaurants at night,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser quipped to restaurant industry professionals and their allies gathered Sunday evening at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 42nd Annual RAMMYS Awards Gala.
“Even when it’s 95 degrees outside, people want to be in our city,” she said.
And the heat was on at the awards gala, as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced winners and a range of special distinctions, celebrating excellence in long-standing categories that range from individual professional honors to accolades celebrating culinary concepts and service.
All finalists and winners were determined by an anonymous panel of judges — except for the winners of the five publicly-voted categories, which were decided by public vote earlier this year, and the Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year category, whose finalists were nominated by peers and winner was selected by RAMW’s Executive Committee.
After the winners were announced, event guests enjoyed an evening of food and fun inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with special appearances by the Nationals Racing Presidents, a Stella Artois chalice engraving station, highlighted food stations for Korean and Latin eats, tastings of Caymus wines’ 50th Anniversary blend, a dedicated espresso martini station, live painting, and much more.
The 2024 RAMMYS Awards Winners are (*denotes publicly voted category*):
New Restaurant of the Year presented by The Fork CPAs: Ellie Bird
Cocktail Program of the Year: Silver Lyan
Rising Culinary Star of the Year presented by LINK Strategic Partners: Masako Morishita, Perry’s
Beer Program of the Year: Zinnia
Wine Program of the Year presented by Père Wine Bar: Apero
*Favorite Gathering Place presented by BN Commercial Hood Cleaning and Fire Protection*: Mi Vida
*Best Brunch*: Duke’s Counter
*Best Bar*: Bar Chinois
*Favorite Fast Bites*: Fava Pot
*Hottest Sandwich Shop*: Colada Shop
Employee of the Year: Michael Wyatt, Annabelle Restaurant
Manager of the Year: Victoria Gradia, KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Service Program of the Year presented by Ecolab: Reveler’s Hour
Casual Restaurant of the Year: La Famosa
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Lutèce
Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Causa/Amazonia
Chef of the Year presented by Pepco, an Exelon Company: Angel Barreto, Anju
Restaurateur of the Year presented by Pepco, an Exelon Company: Kyle Bailey, Jon Ball, Jeremy Carman, Gavin Coleman, and Paul Holder, Long Shot Hospitality
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School