Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Announces 2021 RAMMY Awards Finalists
Foodservice industry celebrates incredible resilience and announces awards finalists
Washington, DC—Industry professionals and their fans gathered this afternoon as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced finalists for the 2021 RAMMY Awards, the winners of which will be announced on Sunday, September 19, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Special for this year only, many stakeholders came together to identify categories that speak to 2020 and the myriad of challenges, unforeseen hurdles, and opportunities that arose to let creativity shine.
Recognizing that it would not be fair to assess the industry on performance in 2020, RAMW, the esteemed panel of RAMMYS judges, and the 2021 RAMMYS Chairs Committee, created timely categories that speak to all the ways the region’s industry uniquely met those challenges. Also unique to this year, membership was not a prerequisite for nomination and nearly half of the honors bestowed will be voted on by the public. Votes for these categories will be available online from Monday, August 2, to Thursday, September 2.
The 2021 RAMMY Awards Finalists are (*denotes publicly voted category*):
Managers of the Year: Every year The RAMMYS honor a few finalists and one winner as the Manager of the Year. Looking back at 2020, every manager across the region worked so hard to support employees, to execute Covid safety plans, to implement new regulations and restrictions overnight, and in many different phases. This was the most challenging year for operations and every manager is a hero. While we recognize all managers, with this category we are highlighting the stories of some who really went above and beyond.
Otgontuya Davaasuren, All Set Restaurant & Bar
Khawla Gasmi, Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar, & Eatery
Autumn Harriger, Destination Unknown Restaurants/Espita
Jordan Lee, Thamee Restaurant
Tylyn Mallon, Right Proper Brewing Company
Brian McGahey, Modena Restaurant
Gilbert Mejia, Nobu DC
Robert Micheli, Dirty Habit
Daurio Passaia, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
Karina Wilkey, Sunnyside Restaurant Group
Employees of the Year: Every year The RAMMYS honor a few finalists and one winner as the Employee of the Year. Looking back at 2020, every employee across the region worked so hard to keep guests safe and comfortable, to provide a positive dining experience whether at the restaurant or at home. Employees navigated so much, learned new protocols seemingly daily, and did it all with a smile albeit under their masks. They all deserve applause, but this category will help tell the stories of a few who were anchors of the industry and helped their fellow employees keep going through a hard year, but doing what they love.
Gabriela Araujo, Bresca
Ruben Avila, PassionFish Reston
Freddy Bastidas, Blue Duck Tavern
Adrian Godinez, RPM Italian
Rosa Martinez, Alta Strada & Nama
Mileyda Montezuma, Immigrant Food
Fredy Nataren, Tryst Trading Co.
Celina Nava, Estadio
Alicia Ramos, Convivial
Maria Serrano, Sababa
Formal Fine Dining in a Box: While we all depended on and appreciated delicious takeout and delivery from local restaurants this past year, we definitely missed those special occasions to get a little dressed up and experience the finest service, ambiance, and incredible food and wine. These formal fine dining nominees took on a great challenge and demonstrated how special and celebratory a meal in a takeout package can still be.
Brasserie Liberté
Bresca
Chloe
Cranes
Fiola
Mintwood Place
Rasika
Rooster and Owl
Saund and Snyder
The Dabney
Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game: From beautiful bento boxes to sustainable sippy cups, restaurants of all types strived to keep crispy food crisp, explore tamper-proof packaging, bundle meal kit components, and make everything look good along the way. These operations really demonstrated they had the to-go game down in 2020.
Daikaya
Jaleo
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab
Julii
Oyster Oyster
Rose’s Luxury/Rose's At Home
Stable DC
Sushi Taro
Sushiko
The Duck & The Peach
Outstanding Covid-Safe Redesign (Indoors or Outdoors): When restaurants were able to reopen after the initial shutdown last spring, they came back strong with innovative ways to keep guests safe so they could enjoy dining out again. We’ve seen everything from plexiglass dividers to plastic igloos, outdoor lounges and glass greenhouses. Fine dining restaurants added grab and go windows, and operators redesigned the floor to function in a unique time. Here are some standout redesigns created to keep guests and employees safe.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Clarity
Clyde’s Restaurant Group
Equinox Restaurant
Fiola Mare
Glover Park Grill
HalfSmoke
Maydan
St. Anselm
The Park at 14th
Most Impressive Pivot to Provisions or Market: Acting fast to keep the business afloat, many restaurant operators shifted their focus to operate as neighborhood markets with groceries, provisions packages, and basic supplies available for takeout, curbside pickup, or delivery. From their fresh baked bread to paper towels, and from meal kits and meat to pasta sauce and cleaning products, restaurants became a go-to for many homebound people early on in the pandemic shutdown, and many kept it going throughout the year. These nominees had exemplary pivots as they packaged provisions.
ANXO Cidery
Bar Charley, El Chucho, and Little Coco’s
Coconut Club
Founding Farmers
Hank’s Oyster Bar/Current Catch
Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Officina
Seoulspice
Thamee
Walters Sports Bar
Good Neighbor Award: Our local restaurant industry is known for being incredibly giving, and this past year many true community champions stepped forward to lead efforts that helped feed communities, support hospitality workers, show appreciation to frontline workers, and so much more. While nearly every restaurant and industry business stepped up in these ways, there were a few companies or individuals who not only supported, but also created and led one-of-a-kind programs and initiatives that made a big impact and engaged others to join their effort. Here are some of those hometown heroes.
Individual Honors:
Erik Bruner-Yang, Power of 10 Initiative
Willa Pelini, Paola Velez, and Rob Rubba, Bakers Against Racism
Anna Valero, Hook Hall Helps
Mark Bucher and Medium Rare, Feed The Fridge
Danny Lee, Support of Immigrant and AAPI Community
Kevin Tien and Tim Ma, Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate - DC
Jon Krinn, A Taste of DC in VA, To Community and Beyond: Crossing Culinary Bridges Guest DC Chef Series
David Guas, Bayou Bakery Soup Kitchen, BEAN-EFIT
Micheline Mendelsohn and Spike Mendelsohn, National Guard Inauguration Program, and More
Edward Lee, The LEE Initiative
Company/Organization Honors:
Coconut Club
Immigrant Food
Keany Produce & Gourmet
KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Little Sesame
Peruvian Brothers
Pizzeria Paradiso
RASA
Saval Foodservice
World Central Kitchen
*Outstanding Ghost Kitchen or Pop-up Concept*: Creativity flourished, out of need and innovation, and led to many chefs and restaurateurs experimenting with “Ghost Kitchens” and “Pop Ups” or restaurant concepts without a physical space. Many operators ran new food concepts out of their existing restaurants to meet the needs of what consumers had a taste for, or just to try out a new restaurant idea without opening a new restaurant. Some popped up in new locations to try out a neighborhood or to partner with a beverage concept. All in all, there were so many new flavors, fun options and ways for customers to shake up their takeout. These nominees had some of the region’s most notable and delicious Ghost or Pop Up concepts in 2020.
Ama Ami “homakase”
DC Ghostburger
Denizen’s Brewing Co., Sunday Gravy
Fat Choi Hot Pot
Ghostline/Social Beast
Happy Gyro
Little Sesame @ Sugar Fox
June
Shababi
The Red Hen - French Hen
*Coolest Cocktails and Beverages To-Go*: Cocktails to go may be, hands down, the coolest trend born out of necessity in 2020, and restaurants and their very talented bar teams had fun creating unique beverage pairings with to-go menus, curated cocktails in jars, pouches, and batched for the weekend. And then there were beautiful cocktail kits that made you feel like a star mixologist at home. These nominees had the coolest overall cocktails and beverages to-go program rocking in 2020.
Astoria
Barmini
Cactus Cantina
Capo Delicatessen
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Napoli Pasta Bar
Serenata
Service Bar
Seven Reasons
Tiger Fork
*Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go*: Restaurant guests were stuck at home quite a bit last year and after the sourdough starters and project cooking fads wore off, they just needed to feed a family of four dinner in a flash. They turned to their local restaurants for easy takeout options and restaurants delivered with wholesome and delicious family meal dinners packaged for two, four, or six with all the favorites to keep families happy and coming back for convenience and smiles. These restaurants had some of the region’s top family meal menus.
Albi
Cork Wine Bar & Market
Liberty Tavern
Muchas Gracias
Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Pennyroyal Station
Ristorante i Ricchi
Taco Bamba
Thompson Italian
Unconventional Diner
*Prime Pandemic Patio Scene*: Dining al fresco has always been fun, but 2020 proved that it was also a lifeline for restaurants and a go-to for diners. Whether it was for a summer dinner delight or a dead of winter bring-your-own-blanket “but I just have to go out!” moment, our local restaurants strived to create incredible outdoor dining experiences for guests. These nominees had some of the area’s most desirable outdoor dining digs.
Caboose Brewing Co.
Hi-Lawn
Hook Hall
La Famosa
Lauriol Plaza
Le Diplomate
Lulu’s Winegarden
Mercy Me
The Salt Line
*Technology Trailblazers*: Restaurants had to act very fast to get their technology game going to support virtual menus, online ordering, contactless ordering and pickup, delivery platforms, group ordering as neighborhood’s looked to support restaurants, and even air purification technology. This was no small feat. While all restaurants navigated these waters, these nominees utilized technology in very unique ways to support customer experiences or embrace safety precautions.
DC To Go-Go
Ensemble
GoTab
Great American Restaurants
Rumi’s Kitchen
Silver Diner
Stellina Pizzeria
The Roost
Think Food Group
TTT
*Splendid Holidays at Home Offerings*: The holiday season had a different feel in 2020 as so many stayed local, kept it small, and looked for a little dining decadence to-go to make their holidays sparkle at home. There were a lot of holidays spent at home last year, but from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, local restaurants went all out to create celebratory menus with all the bells and whistles, and some even came with a show! Here are some shining stars who helped guests have memorable holidays at home.
Centrolina
Chef Geoff’s
Ellē
Et Voila!
JACKIE
Kinship
Lebanese Taverna
Punjab Grill
Ridgewells Catering
Royal
*Festive Foodie Experiences*: Virtual programming was THE programming in 2020 and we saw so many creative ways in which restaurants produced dinner and a live music performance, virtual cooking classes, interactive activities for kids, interactive cooking kits, virtual trivia nights, remote wine tastings, mezcal master classes and so much more. These local restaurants and foodservice businesses had some true highlights of the year.
Baker’s Daughter, CSA Box Cooking Classes
Carlie Steiner, Various Virtual Classes
Catoctin Creek, The Art of the Cocktail
Eric Adjepong, Cooking with Eric
Eva Kronenburg, YouTube Cooking Series
Louise Salas and Gina Chersevani, Designated Drinker Show
Kwame Onwuachi, Eat Clean While Quarantined
Mess Hall DC, Some Disassembly Required
Sticky Fingers, Virtual Baking Classes
Xiquet, Cooking with Chef Danny Lledó
*Hottest New Sandwich Shop*: In the DC region, everyone was talking (online of course) about sandwiches. They were the focus of many a ghost kitchen, the pivot of some fine dining spots, and just part of the sustenance required by consumers to get through 2020. Whether it was burgers, subs, melts, breakfast sandwiches, tortas, cheesesteaks, or something in between, these nominees had serious sandwiches to write home about.
AmperSandwich
Bun Papa
Compliments Only
Fedwich
Fight Club
Itty Bitty Sandwich City
Queen Mother’s
Roaming Rooster
Sandi Buns
Your Only Friend
*Stellar Brunches at Home*: The DMV really loves to brunch. The weekend brunch scene in a normal year is fierce and filled with fluffy Belgian waffles, bottomless mimosas, extravagant buffets, and bountiful eggs benedicts (with Maryland blue crab crabcakes of course). People were missing their weekend brunches last year and turned to brunch-at-home options to fill the void. Here are some nominees who packaged the brunch fun, complete with beverages (that you could enjoy bottomless at home if you chose to!).
All Purpose - Navy Yard
Call Your Mother
Convivial
Duke’s Grocery
Farmers Fishers Bakers
Feast
I Egg You
KitchenCray
Seasons
The Fainting Goat
The 2021 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award will be given to Glory Days Grill (25 years), La Chaumiere (45 years), Peacock Cafe (30 years), Pizzeria Paradiso (30 years), and Ristorante Piccolo (35 years), dining staples celebrating a significant number of years serving locals and visitors in Metropolitan Washington. Honorable mentions were also given at the RAMMY Nominations Announcement for Wine To Go Program and Sweet Relief, focused on pastry/baked goods to go.
The winners will be announced at The 39th Annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, September 19, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. For more information regarding the awards and its finalists, email therammys@ramw.org. Follow RAMW’s industry blog for regular updates and resources for the region’s restaurant and foodservice community.
The RAMMYS
Presented by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community. Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine since 2009, The RAMMYS celebrate one of metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: Its restaurants.
About Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)
The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW strives to serve its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.
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