Blue Duck Tavern Takes Top Award
D.C.’s restaurant industry celebrated itself Sunday night at the Rammy Awards, known as the “Oscars of Washington, D.C. area restaurants.” The annual gala, sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington industry group, recognizes local restaurateurs and their achievements.
The 2013 Rammy awards at the Marriott Wardman Park. (Photo by The Washington Post)
The first Rammy awards gala was held in 1982.
More than 1,600 people filled the Marriott Wardman Park for this year’s awards, many decked out in garden attire for the evening’s “Restaurants in Bloom” theme, to see who would take home the night’s top prizes.
Below are the winners in bold along with the other category nominees:
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Blue Duck Tavern
The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
The Bombay Club
Marcel’s
Rasika
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
Winner: Estadio
Birch and Barley
Cork Wine Bar
Jaleo – Penn Quarter
KAZ Sushi Bistro
Casual Restaurant of the Year
Winner: C. F. Folks
Bar Pilar
Bayou Bakery
Nando’s Peri-Peri
Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza
Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year
Winner: Nellie’s Sports Bar
Ardeo + Bardeo
Bastille
Evening Star Café
Willow Restaurant
New Restaurant of the Year
Winner:Mintwood Place
Boqueria
DGS Delicatessen
Fuego Cocina y Tequileria
Rasika West End
Chef of the Year
Winner: Fabio Trabocchi – Fiola
Tony Conte – The Oval Room
Haidar Karoum – Estadio/Proof
Tarver King – The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
Cedric Maupillier – Mintwood Place
Rising Culinary Star of the Year
Winner: Scot Harlan – Green Pig Bistro
Tim Ma – Maple Avenue Restaurant
Marjorie Meek-Bradley – Ripple
John Melfi – Blue Duck Tavern
Nathan Shapiro – The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
Pastry Chef of the Year
Winner: Beverly Bates – Vidalia
Peter Brett – Blue Duck Tavern
Alison Reed – Ripple
Susan Wallace – BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant
Tom Wellings – Fiola
Wine Program of the Year
Winner: Marcel’s
Adour
The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
Dino
Ripple
Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year
Winner: Room 11
Birch & Barley/Churchkey
Bourbon Steak
EatGoodFood Group
Rasika
Power Spot of the Year
Winner: P. J. Clarke’s
The Bombay Club
Johnny’s Half Shell
Seasons
The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene of the Year
Winner: Bar Pilar
Fiola
Fuego Cocina y Tequileria
Hank’s Oyster Bar – Capitol Hill
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Manager of the Year
Winner: Michael Nevarez – Vidalia/Bistro Bis/Woodward Table
Joseph Cerione – Blue Duck Tavern
Justin Guthrie – Estadio
Alex Muñoz – Hill Country Barbecue Market
Tyes Zolman – Black Restaurant Group
Employee of the Year
Winner: Luis Noriega – Zengo
Helene Jones – Poste Moderne Brasserie
Lauren Lowe – DC Coast
Ali Schemeck – Chef Geoff’s, New Mexico Ave.
Elizabeth Zelaya – Fiola
Restaurateur of the Year
Winner: Ashok Bajaj – Knightsbridge Restaurant Group
José Andrés & Rob Wilder – THINKFoodGROUP
Meshelle & Cathal Armstrong – EatGoodFood Group
Michael Babin – Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Drew Kim, Mark Neal and Ty Neal – Matchbox Food Group
Associate Member of the Year
Winner: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Acme Paper & Supply Co.
BB&T
EagleBank
Sysco Food Services of Baltimore
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.
