by DCist contributor Evan Caplan
The hungry, the drunk, and the fabulous: D.C.’s big night for the food industry, the 34th annual RAMMY Awards, did not disappoint. Free-flowing cocktails, plenty of small and large bites, and all your fave local D.C. food celebs were on hand to celebrate the success of the D.C. restaurant industry this past year, and how far it’s come (oh snap, L.A., we’re getting a Michelin book!).
And it was, for one spectacular night, a time at which all the absurdly hardworking industry folk could actually let loose instead of serving everyone else. And let loose they did.
Top 10 RAMMY take-aways:
1. Fun formalwear: Shimmering gowns, lots of sparkles, and a rainbow tie, among a sea of color. Plus a few men killing it in kilts, a duo sporting a pirate ensemble, and green hair from The Red Hen’s winner, Sebastian Zutant—who was complimented for his dye job later in the ceremony (see #4 below).
2. Oysters, oysters, everywhere: The four cocktail-hour oyster bars had no plates, so guests piled briny delights on napkins, holding cocktail sauce, lemons, and drinks in talented balancing-act fashion that only those in this industry could possess.
3. Champagne flutes on fleek: Everyone had one, to match teetering heels. Bubbles kept the crowd afloat.
4. Love is love is love is love is love: Kathy Hollinger, President of RAMW, noted that the people she represents are “a family and a neighborhood”; she was echoed by Councilmember Jack Evans, who lauded the industry’s part in “revitalizing D.C. to make it the most energizing capital in the world.” Scott Drewno, who took home Chef of the Year award for The Source by Wolfgang Puck, gave a heartfelt acceptance that acknowledged the devastating attack on an Orlando nightclub earlier the same day, saying “One thing that’s beautiful about us is our acceptance, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or even if you have green hair.”
5. Salty language: Speechgivers dropped F-bombs more than once during the speeches, eliciting giggles from the increasingly inebriated crowd.
6. The food. Yes, the food: It was internationally themed, with offerings from Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Korea; each also had alcohol parings, like Malbec, pisco, more pisco, and a delightfully sweet Bokbunja black raspberry sparkling fruit wine. Guess which one was from Korea.
7. Drinks for days: Besides the food pairings, there was a spiked iced coffee station (yes, please), a bright-green Heineken beer lounge (to match the bright-green Citi Open seating area, complete with rackets and tennis balls), local beer offerings, and of course, cocktails. 2 Birds 1 Stone scored big with a ginger-heavy single-malt scotch cocktail, but Del Campo’s rum piece was the showiest, what with its dry ice magic.
8. Justifiable pride: Winner Scott Drewno said, “The blossoming D.C. restaurant scene constantly inspires me, raising the bar every day,” and 2 Bird 1 Stone’s Adam Bernbach, winner of the Cocktail Program of the Year award, agreed. He gushed that “the scene here is particularly exceptional. It’s a remarkable diverse culinary and cocktail scene. It’s expanded exponentially, and everyone is SUPER RAD” [emphasis his].
9. Dancing like nobody’s looking. Okay, maybe we looked: DJ Nikola played deep into the night as the crowd became increasingly inebriated. Chef, sommelier, service staff: all partied together.
10. Hugging it out: There were just as many hugs as drinks, including one major bear hug between Erik Bruner-Yang, Mike Isabella, and Scott Drewno. Clearly, it was a night where love—and maybe cocktails—conquered all.
