Photo of the Day: November 27, 2009
Car Pushed Into Anacostia River By Train
Morning Roundup: Black Friday Edition
Devendra Banhart @ 9:30 Club
Saturday Thanks Don't End At Thanksgiving Photo: November 28, 2009
Amid alcohol, music, rain, and a little glam rock style, the 2006 Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington awards -- a/k/a the RAMMYs -- were handed out last night at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Woodley Park. Fabio Trabocchi's Maestro took home the Best Picture equivalent by winning the award for top Fine Dining Restaurant in the D.C. area, while tapas king Jose Andres earned Chef of the Year honors. Among the other victors were Komi's Johnny Monis for Rising Culinary Star, 1789's Zoe Behrens for best Pastry Chef, KAZ Sushi Bistro for Informal Dining Restaurant, the new Clyde's of Gallery Place for Hottest Bar Scene, and Notti Bianche's Danny Boylen for Manager of the Year, and Charlie Palmer Steak's deep American wine list for Wine and Beverage Program.
Many wins -- such as golden boy Monis' and ubiquitous Andres' -- were unsurprising. A few wags around DCist's table raised eyebrows at Clyde's of Gallery Pace's taking home Hottest Bar Scene honors. It's a massive, well appointed, corporate-looking bar. But the public had spoken. And to be fair, Clyde's is where many Washington chefs and food folks got their start. And let's admit it, their American power food (steak, salmon, fries, and Scotch) is decent and the atmosphere is welcoming both to younger and older folks alike.
Although the food served at the event was less than stellar -- the signature cocktail was a mystery to the bartenders and the steak was unequivocally tough -- you're forgiven a few things when you're providing food to more than 1,000 guests. Yes, even if the purpose of the dinner is to fete food types. But we loved the spicy seaweed that accompanied the shrimp appetizer and had a satisfying sesame seed crunch. The creamy homemade papparadelle with mushrooms in beurre blanc served as the second course wasn't bad either.
Winners and party-goers -- who sported costumes ranging from traditional black tie to funky boas and lots of glitter to match the glam rock theme -- crowded the dance floor after dessert. Former 1789 executive chef Ris Lacoste cut a rug and cheered for Zoe Behrens, her former pastry chef and the evening's Pastry Chef award winner. DCist friend Metrocurean got down with her fellow writers and made her moves with one silk tie as the house band played dance party hit "Mr. Big Stuff."
And even though everyone got a little wet on the way in and out, it was a chance to shmooze with foodmakers and foodlovers all over the area. And with The Sopranos is in hiatus, what better way to spend a rainy Sunday night?
A full list of the winners:
Neighborhood Gathering Place: Evening Star Cafe
Informal Dining Restaurant: KAZ Sushi Bistro
Hottest Bar Scene: Clyde's of Gallery Place
Rising Culinary Star: Johnny Monis of Komi
New Restaurant: Blacksalt
Pastry Chef: Zoe Behrens of 1789
Wine and Beverage Program: Charlie Palmer Steak
Power Spot: Capital Grille
Restaurant Employee: Santos Fuentes, food runner (Chef Geoff's)
Manager of the Year: Danny Boylen
Fine Dining Restaurant: Maestro
Chef of the Year: Jose Andres
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
FYI- The food served at the dinner is provided by those who are nominated and served by the hotel...basically a lot of chefs in the kitchen. Your article made it seem like the food was provided by the hotel and though it is difficult to serve 1,000 people, the Wardman Park does it better than anyone and THEIR food never tastes unequivocally tough.
The comment re food at RAMMYS is incorrect about the the food being provided by the nominees. That was the case in years past but the practice was discontinued two years ago. The hotel prepared the food for the RAMMYS -- tough or tender, 1000 or 10.