Washington’s restaurant community gathered last night for the 2013 edition of the RAMMY Awards, the restaurant gala put on by Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). This year’s “Restaurants in Bloom” theme spoke to the growth of the food service industry in the Washington area and the sprouting of new restaurants. According to the organization, there were 50 new restaurant openings this spring, with total sales for area restaurants projected to be $2.7 billion in 2013.
Chef Fabio Trabocchi of Fiola took home coveted Chef of the Year honor. Ashok Bajaj was seemingly taken by surprise and humbled after being named Restaurateur of the Year, defeating Jose Andres and Rob Wilder, Meshelle and Cathal Armstrong, Michael Babin, and the team behind Matchbox. The most emotional awardee of the evening was Scot Harlan of Clarendon’s Green Pig Bistro, who seemed to choke back tears when accepting the Rising Culinary Star award. The most ecstatic winners were from P.J. Clarke’s, whose team’s cheers filled the room when their name was called in the Power Spot category. No winners had any insults for food bloggers — excuse me,Yelpers.
Bar Pilar’s transition from tater tot and vodka soda spot to culinary destination helped bring home the award for Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene, as the eatery has grown with the booming corridor. “14th Street has grown up,” owner Mike Benson said, as he and colleagues described how the bar had changed with the neighborhood. “We’d have never imagined the condos and everything else when we were doing the build-out and we had pimps coming in there like, ‘What’s going on in here?’ ‘We’re building a restaurant.’ And they’re like, ‘For who?’ And now we know.”
The evening was also a chance for presenter and NBC4 reporter Tom Sherwood to deliver some new lines of D.C. Council satire before attendees transitioned from the awards ceremony to a dinner reception. The spread featured Australian, Chilean, Peruvian, and Mexican buffet pavilions, a pisco cocktail bar, Virginia spirits and wines, and GBD donuts for dessert. “Here’s the big news tonight, then we’ll get to the awards,” the reporter announced. “The Home Shopping Network is going to start broadcasting on the D.C. government cable station. They say it will make it much easier to buy the politicians.”
Chef of the Year: Fabio Trabocchi – Fiola
Restaurateur of the Year: Ashok Bajaj – Knightsbridge Restaurant Group
Fine Dining: Blue Duck Tavern
Beverage/Mixology Program: Room 11
New Restaurant: Mintwood Place
Wine Program: Marcel’s By Robert Weidmaier
Casual Restaurant: C.F. Folks
Rising Culinary Star: Scot Harlan – Green Pig Bistro
Upscale Casual Restaurant: Estadio
Pastry Chef: Beverly Bates – Vidalia
Restaurant Manager: Michael Nevarez – Vidalia/Bistro Bis/Woodward Table
Restaurant Employee: Luis Noriega – Server, Zengo
Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene: Bar Pilar
Power Spot: P.J. Clarke’s
Neighborhood Gathering Place: Nellie’s Sports Bar
Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award: Linda Lee
Joan Hisaoka Associate Member of the Year: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Honorary Milestone Award: Clyde’s of Georgetown (on their 50th anniversary)
