Awardees of 2019 RAMMYS reflect cross-section of achievement, backgrounds
The biggest restaurant awards in Washington, D.C. is the RAMMYS, an extravagant ceremony and gala presented by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and Events DC. Sunday, several of the local restaurant industry’s best gathered at the Walter E. Convention Center to be recognized for their accomplishments. Leading up to the event, top restaurants, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, chefs, and artisans were nominated for the RAMMY Awards in 20 different award categories.
The 2019 RAMMY Awards Gala was quite a joyous and boisterous event and Swizzle Chill TV was there to help capture the moment, releasing its Season 2 episode in July.
Some RAMMY Awards had already been announced, including the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award and the Honorary Milestone Restaurant Awards—both announced in April. Virginia Ali of Ben’s Chili Bowl received her 2019 Capital Achievement Award, and the restaurant teams behind the Honorary Milestone restaurants also relished in their award presentation.
Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, joined the celebration to help remember and honor John G. Laytham, co-owner of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group, who passed this year. The City selected November 12 as a day to remember his achievements and named it after him. The date is significant as it symbolizes the late Clyde’s co-founder’s birthday.
A renamed award, the John G. Laytham Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award, now pays tribute to Laytham’s legacy as a trailblazer who made significant, lifetime contributions to the D.C. restaurant scene. This is the award received by José Andrés in 2018. Claude Andersen of Clyde’s Restaurant Group received the 2019 Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award last night.
Here are the winners of the 2019 RAMMY Awards:
Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award
Virginia Ali, Ben’s Chili Bowl
Honorary Milestone Restaurant Awards – 30 years
- The Bombay Club
- Ristorante i Ricchi
- Moby Dick House of Kabob
- Silver Diner
- Taberna del Alabardero
Honorary Milestone Restaurant Awards – 40 years
Lebanese Taverna
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: The Veritas Law Firm
Upscale Brunch of the Year: Unconventional Diner
Casual Brunch of the Year: Compass Rose Bar & Kitchen
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: Open Road
Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: Taco Bamba Taqueria
Service Program of the Year: Ambar – Clarendon
Beer Program of the Year:Republic
Cocktail Program of the Year: barmini by José Andrés
Wine Program of the Year: Maxwell Park
Casual Restaurant of the Year: Royal
Employee of the Year: Valentine King, Hummingbird Bar and Kitchen
Manager of the Year: Donna Seal, Oceanaire
Chef of the Year: Kyle Bailey, The Salt Line
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Ivy City Smokehouse
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: The Source by Wolfgang Puck
New Restaurant of the Year: Spoken English
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Iron Gate
Pastry Chef of the Year: Ana Deshaies, Unconventional Diner
Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Kwame Onwuachi, Kith/Kin
Restaurateur of the Year: Michael Friedman, Mike O’Malley, Colin McDonough & Gareth Croke, Redstone Restaurant Group, the team behind All Purpose, Boundary Stone, The Red Hen
Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites categories are selected by a voting audience with the help of NBC4 polling. The RAMW Executive Committee picks the .Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement, Joan Hisaoka Allied Member, John G. Laytham Exceptional Leader, and Honorary Milestone Restaurant Awards. An expert panel of volunteer judges, comprising food and dining journalists, educators and foodservice industry pros, selects the winners for the remaining awards,
Photo credit: Eatery Pulse Media (Swizzle Chill Co-Anchor Lisa Comento, RAMMY 2019 Chef of the Year, Kyle Bailey)
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