Tarver King, chef at The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm, finally takes home the RAMMY for Best Chef of the Year. It was his fifth time being nominated. (Photo by Josh Novikoff)
Trophies were handed out Sunday evening to some of the best of Washington’s restaurant industry. The 35th Annual RAMMY Awards Gala recognized restaurants and food service professionals across 21 categories in the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s signature event.
With five nominees in each category, winners at top categories seemed predictable, with long-time nominees finally getting recognized and media darlings snapping up prizes.
A few important caveats: Restaurants must pay to be RAMW members in order to be eligible—and not all are, including spots like Bad Saint and Rose’s Luxury. Past winners also cannot be finalists again in the same category for five years (there are also rules about how long a restaurant needs to be open before it can be nominated).
Tarver King of The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm (42461 Lovettsville Rd, Lovettsville, VA) took home the most important award of the night, Chef of The Year.
“This is a big deal to me,” King said in his acceptance speech. “I’ve been wanting this thing for a long time.”
And it did seem to be his time. He has been nominated in the category in four of the last five years for his cooking at the earth-to-table, farmhouse destination restaurant and The Ashby Inn (692 Federal St, Paris, VA ) before that. But he had yet to take home the hardware.
Competitor Amy Brandwein from Centrolina (974 Palmer Alley NW) certainly had a shot after having been recognized as a 2017 James Beard Best: Chef Mid-Atlantic finalist. Erik Bruner-Yang, also nominated, seems a likely winner of the award down the road. He’ll have a restaurant at the soon-to-open Line Hotel in Adams Morgan, and his eatery Maketto (1351 H St. NE) won Best New Restaurant just last year.
It was also no huge surprise that Ryan Ratino was named Rising Culinary Star of the Year. Few young chefs have enjoyed more buzz than Ratino, beginning with his Masa 14 (1825 18th St. NW) tasting menu, then for taking over the kitchen at the Ripple. And when that Cleveland Park dining room closed, his name was out there again with the news that he would be opening Bresca on 14th Street later this year.
At the gala following the awards, some guests expressed surprise that Hazel (808 V St. NW) chef Rob Rubba was not chosen. His work at Hazel has drawn praise, and Rubba instead got to take the stage to accept Hazel’s recognition as New Restaurant of the Year.
It was a big night for the Mediterranean Cava Grill brand. It won Favorite Fast Bites of the Year, and the team behind it was collectively named Restaurateur of the Year.
Check out the full list of 2017 RAMMY winners below:
Employee of the Year: Joseph Cassis, PassionFish Bethesda
Manager of the Year: John Grace, The Hamilton
Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Ryan Ratino, Ripple
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: DC Brau Brewing Company
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
Upscale Brunch of the Year: Convivial
Casual Brunch of the Year: Republic
Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: Cava Grill
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Proof
Casual Restaurant of the Year: Compass Rose Bar and Kitchen
Beer Program of the Year: Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Cocktail Program of the Year: Kapnos
Wine Program of the Year: Charlie Palmer Steak
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: Acme Paper and Supply Co., Inc.
Pastry Chef of the Year: Jemil Gadea, Masseria
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: minibar by José Andrés
Service Program of the Year: The Source by Wolfgang Puck
New Restaurant of the Year: Hazel
Restaurateur of the Year: Ike Grigoropoulos, Dimitri Moshovitis, Ted Xenohristos, Brett Schulman of Cava Group
Chef of the Year: Tarver King, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
