Washington, DC (July 21, 2024)—Restaurant industry professionals and their allies gathered tonight at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the 42nd Annual RAMMYS Awards Gala as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced winners and a range of special distinctions, celebrating excellence in long-standing categories that range from individual professional honors to accolades celebrating culinary concepts and service.

For the 2024 awards, any RAMW member in good standing, who met all category eligibility requirements, was able to be nominated in the restaurant, individual award, and publicly voted categories. All finalists and winners were determined by an anonymous panel of judges except for the winners of the five publicly-voted categories, which were decided by public vote earlier this year, and the Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year category, whose finalists were nominated by peers and winner was selected by RAMW’s Executive Committee.

The 2024 RAMMYS Awards Winners are (*denotes publicly voted category*):

New Restaurant of the Year presented by The Fork CPAs: Ellie Bird 

Cocktail Program of the Year: Silver Lyan

Rising Culinary Star of the Year presented by LINK Strategic Partners: Masako Morishita, Perry's

Beer Program of the Year: Zinnia

Wine Program of the Year presented by Père Wine Bar: Apero

*Favorite Gathering Place* presented by BN Commercial Cleaning & Fire Protection: Mi Vida

*Best Brunch*: Duke’s Counter

*Best Bar*: Bar Chinois

*Favorite Fast Bites*: Fava Pot

*Hottest Sandwich Shop*: Colada Shop

Employee of the Year: Michael Wyatt, Annabelle Restaurant

Manager of the Year: Victoria Gradia, KNEAD Hospitality + Design 

Service Program of the Year presented by ECOLAB: Reveler’s Hour 

Casual Restaurant of the Year: La Famosa

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Lutèce 

Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Causa/Amazonia

Chef of the Year presented by pepco: Angel Barreto, Anju 

Restaurateur of the Year presented by pepco: Kyle Bailey, Jon Ball, Jeremy Carman, Gavin Coleman, and Paul Holder, Long Shot Hospitality

Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

2024 Honorary Milestone Award recipients, commemorating long-standing local restaurants and RAMW members who have been in business for over 25 years. The honorary RAMMY award is bestowed upon restaurants from casual to formal including some of the region’s most celebrated dining institutions. DC honorees include The Dubliner, recognizing 50 years as a true Irish landmark, Equinox on 19th, serving generations of Washingtonians for 25 years, KAZ Sushi Bistro, providing an iconic Japanese getaway for 25 years, and Marcel’s, celebrating 25 years of serving locals and visitors in the West End. Maryland honorees include Black’s Bar & Kitchen, bringing 25 years of innovative seafood fare to Bethesda, and Passage to India, serving authentic Indian fare for 25 years.

Kathy E. Hollinger, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership, was named as the 2024 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award recipient. Hollinger leads the Partnership, a first-of-its-kind alliance, uniting leading employers across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, to collaborate in building a vibrant, economically competitive, and prosperous place to live, work, and build a business.

2024 RAMMYS Major Sponsors included Events DC, Amazon, National Landing Business Improvement District, CareFirst, NBC Washington/Telemundo 44, JP Morgan Chase, Resy AMEX, DoorDash, Republic National Distributing Co., Club Glow, Stella Artois, Stratus Firm, Design Foundry, Studiio Box, Pepco, an Exelon Company, Destination DC, Washington Gas, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, DC Office of Cable, Television, Film, Movies, and Entertainment, Saval Foodservice, Congressional Seafood, Design Foundry, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Topo Chico, DC United, Audi Field, Levy, Pepsi, Ketel One Vodka, Breakthru Beverage, Diageo, Monumental, and many industry supporters.

The RAMMYS Awards Gala is presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMYS 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 2008, The RAMMYS celebrate one of metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: Its restaurants.

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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