2014 Rammy Award Finalists Announced
In 2013, the DMV saw a flurry of restaurants – many coming, others going and old favorites serving us well. But which is THE best? The 2014 Rammy Awards, kind of like the Oscar’s of the DMV food world from The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), will attempt to answer that question.
Rammy Awards line a table waiting to be presented. (Photo: Gearshift TV)
Some restaurants, like Aaron Gordon’s Bar di Bari along 14th Street NW, Gordon and Top Chef Rock Harper’s Fat Shorty’s sausage shop in Clarendon and Frederik de Pue’s Azur in Penn Quarter came and went. But others, like Stephen Starr’s Le Diplomat on 14th Street NW still have long waits months after opening.
RAMW announced this year’s finalists last Tuesday. The winners will be announced at a black tie gala on June 22 at the Washington Convention Center. The association began the awards gala in 1982 as a way to honor members and raise money. There are seven new categories this year, including cocktail and beer programs, regional food producers, “fast bites” and separate categories for both upscale brunch and everyday casual brunch.
Any RAMW member who met all category requirements was eligible for nomination, so some like Rose’s Luxury, widely regarded as one of the city’s best, is missing from the competition because it isn’t a member. The association’s refusal to open it to non-members is the biggest obstacle it has to becoming as prestigious as a national James Beard Award given by the James Beard Foundation.
The Rammy selection process involves the voting public and a panel of 11 anonymous volunteer judges (even to each other), consisting of food and dining journalists, educators and food service industry professionals. The public will vote for the winners in four categories: Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Upscale Brunch, Everyday Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites.
Vikram Sunderam (right) of Rasika, the 2012 best chef winner, and Fabio Trabocchi of Fiola, the 2013 best chef winner, at last year’s gala. (Photo: R. Lopez/Eater DC)
2014 Rammy Finalists
* indicates a new category this year
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 – Dupont
- 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 Good Food Group
- Haidar Karoum – Doi Moi, Estadio, Proof
- Tarver King – The Restaurant at 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
- Johnny Spero, Minibar
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Caitlin Dysart, 2941 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 and 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
Restaurateur of the Year
- José Andrés and Rob Wilder – ThinkFoodGroup
- Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong – Eat Good Food Group
- Michael Babin – Neighborhood Restaurant Group
- Gus DiMillo, David Wizenberg, Jeff Tunks – Passion Food Hospitality
- Mark Kuller – Doi Moi, Estadio, Proof
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year*
- Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
- DC Brau Brewing Company
- Port City Brewing Company
- Rappahannock Oyster Co.
- Red Apron Butcher
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year (chosen by the RAMW board)
- Acme Paper and Supply Company
- EagleBank
- Profish Ltd.
- Republic National Distributing Company
- SYSCO Food Service of Baltimore
Employee of the Year
- Stelios Alexandris – 1789 Restaurant
- Eric “Soup” Campbell – The Hamilton
- Molly Horn – Farmers Fisher Bakers
- Pablo Lemus – Bourbon Steak
- Sandra Sanchez – Acadiana
Manager of the Year
- Jorge Figueredo – Jaleo DC
- Kendra Graves – Farmers Fisher Bakers
- Robert Hall – Newton’s Table
- Boo Young Kim – District Commons
- Tyes Zolman – Pearl Dive Oyster Palace & Black Jack
Public voting categories
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year
- Bar Pilar
- Bistrot Du Coin
- Cashion’s Eat Place
- Hank’s Oyster Bar – Dupont
- Tune Inn
Upscale Brunch*
- Art and Soul
- Blue Duck Tavern
- Mintwood Place
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Vermilion
Everyday Casual Brunch*
- DGS Delicatessen
- 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
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.
