Food aficionados from all over converged at the National Building Museumon Thursday, July 25 for Washingtonian‘s highly anticipated Best of Washington tasting event. This year’s saloon soirée themed event dazzled attendees with an unforgettable evening.
Over 60 distinguished local restaurants, many featured on Washingtonian‘s esteemed Top 100 Best Restaurants 2024 list, presented their signature dishes, offering attendees a prime chance to explore new culinary favorites. During the event, guests voted for their favorite restaurant and RUTAwas awarded the People’sChoice Award. We also had our food critics anonymously sampling bites, and the Critics’ChoiceAward was given to the restaurant RANIA.
This event also couldn’t happen without our incredible team of vendors and partners: BBJ Latavola, Breakthru Beverage, ArtStella Productions, Constellation Brands, Extraordinary Entertainment, Occasions Catering, Paradise Cove Canned Cocktails, Molecular Food & Cocktails, Please Bring Chips, Postgame Seltzer, Perfect Settings, MJ Valet, Right Place Studio, SNAP Entertainment, Something Vintage, and Washington Talent Agency.
Thank you to our design partner, Design Foundry for providing the perfect western ambiance for the night, and thank you to our amazing logistics partner Stratus Firm, for helping it all come to life!
Proceeds from this event benefitted the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Photographs by Dan Swartz/Revamp, Sarah Heaton, David Claypool, Al Feury, and Rosa Garcia.
Embassy of the State of Qatar’s Dr. Hamad Mohamed Al Muftah and Washingtonian CEO Cathy MerrillAmerican Beverage Association President and CEO, Kevin KeaneArian June, Tamika Tremaglio, and Rashida MacMurray-AbdullahThere were several decorated bars where guests could get fun cocktails in the “Waterin’ Hole”Rania team placing out their winning Critics’ Choice dishGuests sampling bites from several of the restaurants at the National Building Museum2 lucky attendees won free flights to Turkey courtesy of Turkish AirlinesCalsin Hoyle of Molecular Food & Cocktails and her team crafted custom mocktails for our VIP guestsRestaurant Sura placing out samples for attendeesCelebrity chefs Michael and Bryan Voltaggio with Washingtonian President and CEO, Cathy MerrillWashington Commanders’ Mark Ein and The White House’s John McCarthyMGM lounge visitors received a personalized leatherOur stilt walkers provided ample entertainment throughout the nightDukes Grocery with their breakfast sausage deviled eggsAmerican Beverage’s “Hydration Station”Guests could take “Old-Time” photos in Geico’s loungeAndrew Kovalcin, Joe Maloney, Bennett RichardsonWonder Woman Lynda Carter, Melissa Moss, and Cathy MerrillEmbassy of Qatar’s Legend Brumbaugh, Washingtonian’s Susan Farkas, and Hines’ Timothy LoweryMcEnearney’s Jeanne Choi and her guest Ann AbantoOccasions catering provided delicious hors d’oeuvres for our VIP receptionEllis and Compnay’s Peggy Ellis, Johnson & Johnson’s Jane Adams, and PepsiCo’s Bridgitte GwynErich and Amanda CabeGuest got fun cocktails and drinks from the waterin’ hole barRUTA’s winning Honey CakeThe Blossom Beverage team with their new dark cherry espresso martinisThe American Beverage Association’s bar was on theme with mini hay bales and illuminated lanternsAflac’s Brand Knox and Story Partners Gloria DittusDr. George and Rina BitarMichael Sessums, James Byles, Mike Madsen, Felecity Amos, and Tim StefanickIsabell Trafton and Carl Hulse of the NYT
