Restaurant Association Honors D.C.’s Most Notable

September 21, 2021 by TWN Staff
Restaurant Association Honors D.C.’s Most Notable
Neighborhood Provisions (photo from website)

It was an award night unlike any other in the history of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington annual RAMMY Awards presentation.

After a year of disruption and pandemic-related hardship, the 39th RAMMY Awards were more than an acknowledgement of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurant and food service scene. 

This year the event held Sunday night seemed more a tribute to perseverance and ingenuity. As a result the panel of RAMMY judges and the chairs committee dispensed with some categories — like top chef — and recognized new ones that spoke more directly to the challenges, unforeseen hurdles and creativity that defined the past year.

Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine since 2009, The RAMMYS celebrate one of metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets, its restaurants.

You can follow RAMW’s industry blog for regular updates and resources related to the region’s restaurant community.

The winners of the 2021 RAMMY Awards are (*denotes publicly voted category*):

Managers of the Year:

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:

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

Finer Dining in a Box:

Cranes

Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game:

Oyster Oyster

Outstanding Covid-Safe Redesign (Indoors or Outdoors):

Clarity

Most Impressive Pivot to Provisions or Market:

Neighborhood Restaurant Group/Neighborhood Provisions

Good Neighbor Award, Individual Honors:

Erik Bruner-Yang, Power of 10

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

Jonathan Krinn, A Taste of DC in VA and To Community and Beyond: Crossing Culinary Bridges Guest DC Chef Series

David, Guas, Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar & Eatery, Chefs Feeding Families

Micheline Mendelsohn and Spike Mendelsohn, National Guard Inauguration Program, and More

Edward Lee, The LEE Initiative

Good Neighbor Award, 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*:

DC Ghostburger

*Coolest Cocktails and Beverages To-Go*:

Cactus Cantina

*Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go*:

Ristorante i Ricchi

*Prime Pandemic Patio Scene*:

Le Diplomate

*Technology Trailblazers*:

Silver Diner

*Splendid Holidays at Home Offerings*:

Chef Geoff’s

*Festive Foodie Experiences*:

Eva Kronenburg, YouTube Cooking Series

*Hottest Sandwich Shop*:

Roaming Rooster

*Stellar Brunches at Home*:

Call Your Mother

The 2021 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award was presented to dining staples celebrating a significant number of years serving locals and visitors in Metropolitan Washington. Glory Days Grill was recognized for 25 years, La Chaumière for 45 years, Peacock Cafe for 30 years, Pizzeria Paradiso for 30 years, and Ristorante Piccolo for 35 years of serving diners.

Additionally, The RAMMYS judges added two special honorable mentions this year. While these are not official categories, and RAMW did not solicit nominations for them, the judges felt these two industry groups deserved a special moment of recognition.

Wine To Go Program – Honorable Mention

Dio Wine Bar

Domestique

Flight Wine Bar

Grand Cata

La Jambe

Maxwell Park

Sonny’s Pizza

Squash Club DC

Tail Up Goat/Reveler’s Hour

The Girl and The Vine

Sweet Relief: Baking and Pastry To Go – Honorable Mention

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

Baker’s Against Racism

Buttercream Bakeshop

Bread and Water Co.

Donut Run

MASTIHA

Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

Sunday Morning Bakehouse

The Dapper Fox

Yellow

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