Yesterday, nominees for the restaurant world's top honors, the James Beard awards were announced (congrats Michel, Frank, RJ, and Cathal). And tonight the foodie award season continues, as WTOP's Bob Madigan just announced which chefs and restaurants are up for the 25th annual RAMMY awards, handed out by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. The theme of this year's awards gala, held at the Marriott Wardman Park on June 17, is "old Hollywood" (click here for a video recap of last year's rock n' roll-themed festivities, complete with pigs n' blankets, sunglasses-at-night-wearing chefs, and hip-shaking food bloggers). So who made the cut? Read on…
New Restaurant of the Year
BLT Steak
Blue Duck Tavern
Farrah Olivia
PS7's
Rasika
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
1789
CityZen
Komi
Restaurant Eve
Vidalia
Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year
Bangkok 54
Corduroy
Le Chaumiere
Pesce
Tallula
Chef of the Year
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve
Yannick Cam, Le Paradou
RJ Cooper, Vidalia
Robert Wiedmaier, Marcel's
Eric Ziebold, CityZen
Pastry Chef of the Year
Naomi Gallego, PS7's
Huw Griffiths, Tabard Inn
Kate Jansen, Willow
Steve Klc, ThinkFood Group
Tom Wellings, Maestro
Rising Culinary Star of the Year
Nathan Beauchamp, 1789
Amy Brandwein, Bebo Trattoria
Tony Conte, The Oval Room
Mark Hellyar, Blue Duck Tavern
Barton Seaver, Cafe Saint-Ex
Wine and Beverage Program of the Year
2941
Citronelle
Restaurant Eve
Taberna del Alabardero
Vidalia
Restaurant Manager of the Year
Christine de Clerfay, Oceanaire Seafood Room
Ellen Kassoff Gray, Equinox
Emily Jarmuth, Mie N Yu
Paul Kern, Charlie Palmer Steak
Paco Pena, Taberna del Alabardero
Restaurant Employee of the Year
Jonathan Crayne, senior captain, Marcel's
Apolonario Flores, cook, Chef Geoff's
Chris Kelley, lead bartender, Mie N Yu
Jennifer Roe, maitre d', DC Coast
Dave Vorhees, waiter, 2941
The public votes on the winners of the following awards. Cast your votes here.
Neighborhood Gathering Place
Ardeo
Busboys & Poets
Hank's Oyster Bar
Sonoma
Willow
Hottest Bar Scene of the Year
EatBar
Mate
Oya
Urbana
Zaytinya
Power Spot of the Year
Bistro Bis
Charlie Palmer Steak
Georgia Brown's
Oceanaire Seafood Room
The Oval Room
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
