Welcome to this week's Feed, coming to you from Albuquerque, N.M.! This Feed will be a little more free flowing than usual. Why? I'm sitting on the patio, drinking a Fat Tire, enjoying the dry climate, and looking out on Sandia Peak. I just wanted to rub it in.

2007 RAMMYs To Feature Snakes
That's what "Black Tie and Boas"—the theme of this year's RAMMY awards dinner—means, right? Tuxedos and Anacondas? Seems like a bad idea, especially following last year's theme: "Hawks and Chihuahuas."

At any rate, the 25th annual Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington awards ceremony will take place next Sunday, June 17, at the Marriott Wardman Park, and will decide this year's best dining spots around town. We let you in on the nominees back in March, and implored you to vote on the people's choice awards last month. Did you do it? If not it's too late now, you'll just have to settle for other people's votes.

If you've $250 laying around to cover the entrance fee, drinking starts at 6 p.m. and the awards start getting doled out at 8 p.m.; night owls can stay late, as dancing and dessert starts at 10 p.m.—work night shmork night. If you can't make it, stay tuned to DCist, we're covering the event, and will report the winners and stories of anyone drunkenly making out on the dance floor.

Should Chefs Have Opinions on Other Restaurants?
Such was the question in Todd Kliman's chat this week. Sparked by a posting from Dino's chef/owner Dean Gold on Don Rockwell.com that criticized the food (but lavished praise on the bivalves) at Old Ebbitt Grille, one reader chimed in that he thought it was irresponsible for a chef to post such a "spiteful" review. Kliman disagreed, saying that he didn't find it such a big deal.

Photo from Kyle Walton.

Personally, I'm all for more information, and welcome it from any source. I think it's my job as a reader to think critically and weed out the axe-grinders and outliers. What are your thoughts on the topic? Is there a white-coat line that chefs shouldn't cross when discussing other restaurants, or should they speak their minds as informed consumers? Should we take their opinions any more seriously than a non-chef who likes to eat and write about it?

Small Bites
Summer Restaurant Week Announced
D.C. Foodies are on the ball and fill us in that the next restaurant week will run from August 6 to August 12. Start starving yourself now.

Tom Pees on Il Mulino
Recognizing that high prices don't necessarily mean high quality, Tom Sietsema gives Il Mulino one star in this Sunday's WaPo magazine. Backhanded compliment quote of the day: "minor satisfactions abound."

Clarendon Ballroom Might Need a Weight Limit
The Going Out Gurus tell us that a section of the venue's roofdeck dropped "three or four inches" last night. Anyone have first-hand accounts? This raises the question: which would you rather, terror-inducing roof failure or front row seat to a self-circumcision?

Is It Really That Bad? At Least They're Honest
Misspellings are awesome. Hat tip to the Examiner's Patrick Gavin via Metrocurean.

Musical Guide to Grilling
Ray over at DCFüd graces us with a humorous guide to cookouts. Allow me to add Eastern Market's Uncle Brutha's to the list of quality sauce purveyors.