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Foodie? Try These Restos Nominated For RAMMYs, Choose Your Winner

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) recently announced finalists for the 2017 RAMMY Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the association’s black tie gala on Sunday, July 30.

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Any RAMW member who met all category requirements was eligible for nomination. The selection process for the finalists — and ultimately the winners — involves two esteemed groups, the voting public and an anonymous panel of volunteer judges, consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry professionals. The voting public will decide the winners in four categories: Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Upscale Brunch of the Year, Casual Brunch of the Year and Favorite Fast Bites of the Year. Votes for these categories can be cast online at www.nbcwashington.com/RAMMYS through May 31st, 2017 at 5:00PM.  Here’s your chance!

But first you need to try the food, right?!

The finalists for the 2017 RAMMY Awards are:

Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: The award is presented to an associate member who best exemplifies commitment to and support of RAMW. This award recipient is determined by RAMW’s Executive Committee.

Acme Paper & Supply Co.

Coastal Sunbelt Produce

DC Brau Brewing Company

USI Insurance Services

The Veritas Law Firm

Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: This nominee is a restaurant rooted in its neighborhood where guests come to eat, drink, and get together with friends repeatedly. The great atmosphere and good vibes are as important as the food and drink. The nominee must have been open for at least 2 years prior to December 31, 2016.

Brookland’s Finest Bar & Kitchen

The Front Porch at Evening Star Cafe

Lauriol Plaza

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Petworth Citizen & Reading Room

Upscale Brunch of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence and service for its brunch in an upscale environment. Brunch may be offered as full-service, buffet, or prix fixe. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2016.

Convivial

Del Campo

Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier

The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm

The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Casual Brunch of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a dedication to dining excellence, service and value in a casual environment for brunch. Brunch may be offered as full-service, buffet, or prix fixe. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2016.

Cava Mezze – Capitol Hill

DGS Delicatessen

Maketto

Republic

Sixth Engine

Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: This nominee is a delicatessen, quick-serve restaurant, mobile food vendor, or coffee shop (with food menu) that demonstrates a dedication to good food and good service in a fast-casual environment. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2016.

Beefsteak

Cava Grill

Chase the Submarine

G by Mike Isabella

Taco Bamba Taqueria

Cocktail Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its craft cocktail program, evaluated separately from its beer, wine or other beverages. Nominees may be bars, restaurants, or any foodservice establishment with an exemplary cocktail program. The nominee continues to break new ground in education of its staff. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2016.

barmini by José Andrés

Indique

Iron Gate

Kapnos by Mike Isabella

Royal

Beer Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its beer program. Brewery restaurants and brew pubs are eligible for this category and will be judged based on the diversity and quality of their craft beer. The nominee continues to break new ground in education of its staff. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2016.

B Side

District Commons

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Republic

Roofers Union

Wine Program of the Year: The establishment is distinguished by the quality, diversity, clarity and value of its wine program. The nominee’s wine program best suits the cuisine and style of the restaurant while enhancing the dining experience. Wine bars are eligible for this category and will be judged based on the diversity and quality of their offerings. The nominee continues to break new ground in education of its staff. The nominee must have been in operation for a minimum of one year as of December 31, 2016.

BOURBON STEAK

Charlie Palmer Steak

Doi Moi

Fiola

minibar by José Andrés

Employee of the Year: The nominee is a non-managerial front or back of the house employee who serves as a model employee by displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image.

Noe Alfaro, Republic

Heather Berry, Bar Pilar

Joseph Cassis, PassionFish Bethesda

David Perry, RIS

David Trezevant, Carmine’s Family Style Italian Restaurant

Manager of the Year: The nominee is a non-owner manager or general manager in the food service industry who displays the highest level of professionalism and leadership. This person must be an inspiration and mentor to all his/her co-workers displaying outstanding service, an excellent work ethic and a positive image.

Julio Amador, Cork Wine Bar

Christine Gibson, Iron Gate

John Grace, The Hamilton

Matthew McQuilkin, Pizzeria Paradiso

Margaret Perry, Kyirisan

Service Program of the Year: This nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in service across the restaurant – from the reservation process, to the host station, to every element of the dining experience. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 31, 2016.

The Bombay Club

minibar by José Andrés

Ripple

RIS

The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Pastry Chef of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant pastry chef who prepares desserts and baked goods and demonstrates a high standard of excellence and culinary artistry. The nominee serves as an inspiration to other food professionals. The nominee must have been a pastry chef for the past five years with a minimum of two years based in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Mollie Bird, Kyirisan

Jemil Gadea, Masseria

Tiffany MacIsaac, Buttercream Bakeshop

Brandon Malzahn, Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants

Erin Reed, Blue Duck Tavern

Rising Culinary Star of the Year: The nominee is an “up and coming” chef who demonstrates exemplary talent, shows leadership and promise for the future. The nominee must have been based in the Metropolitan Washington area for a minimum of two years.

Sasha Felikson, Doi Moi

Ryan Ratino, Ripple

Miranda Rosenfelt, Sally’s Middle Name

Rob Rubba, Hazel

Piter & Handry Tjan, Kōbō and Sushiko

Casual Restaurant of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a dedication to dining excellence, service and value in a casual environment. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 31, 2016.

Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen

Daikaya

The Daily Dish

Duke’s Grocery

Mandu, 18th Street

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of dining excellence and service in an upscale casual environment. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 31, 2016.

Central Michel Richard

Indique

Iron Gate

Proof

The Red Hen

New Restaurant of the Year: A restaurant that must have opened between December 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016 and already distinguishes itself as a pacesetter in food, beverage and service.

All Purpose

Hazel

Kōbō

Requin

Whaley’s

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in food, service and atmosphere and shows dedication to sophisticated culinary techniques in a fine dining environment. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of two years by December 31, 2016.

Fiola Mare

minibar by José Andrés

The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Sushi Taro

Trummer’s On Main

Chef of the Year: The nominee is an executive chef or chef de cuisine who demonstrates consistent standards of culinary excellence. The nominee displays a dedication to the artistry of food and may be from any type of establishment. The nominee must have been a chef for the past five years with a minimum of two years based in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Amy Brandwein, Centrolina

Erik Bruner-Yang, Maketto, Paper Horse

Austin Fausett, Proof

Katsuya Fukushima, Bantam King, Daikaya and Haikan

Tarver King, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm

Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: This nominee is a food or beverage artisan who creates a product that is then utilized by chefs and restaurants. Nominees in this category may be cheese makers, coffee roasters, vintners, brewers, distillers, bread bakers, chocolatiers, honey producers, farmers, an ice cream/gelato company and many more. When the artisan is a restaurant or restaurant group, the products created must be utilized by chefs and/or restaurants outside of the maker’s restaurant group. The nominee must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2016.

Atlas Brew Works

DC Brau Brewing Company

Logan Sausage

New Columbia Distillers/Green Hat

Right Proper Brewing Company

Restaurateur of the Year: The nominee must be a working restaurateur or restaurant group who sets high standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for a minimum of 5 years in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Ari Gejdenson, Mindful Restaurants

Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis, Ted Xenochristos and Brett Schulman, Cava Group, Inc.

The Kuller Family, Fat Baby Inc.

Jamie Leeds, JL Restaurant Group

Daisuke Utagawa, Katsuya Fukushima and Yama Jewayni, Daikaya Group

 

The winners will be announced at the 35th Annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, July 30, 2017, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.