A trio of D.C. restaurants boasted a strong showing in the RAMMY Award nominations Monday, picking up three nods each.
Trummer’s On Main—a Clifton, Va., restaurant that’s about a 35-minute drive from the District—is up for best wine program, formal fine dining restaurant of the year and pastry chef of the year.
Meanwhile, Unconventional Diner scored nominations for chef of the year, upscale brunch of the year and pastry chef. Finally, Iron Gate snagged nominations for upscale casual restaurant of the year, pastry chef of the year, and service program of the year.
Three establishments helmed by humanitarian and celebrity chef José Andrés—minibar, barmini, and Jaleo—made the cut as well.
And newcomers St. Anselm and Poca Madre are up for two awards each.
The annual awards, presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, celebrate individuals and organizations in the District’s food service community. Any paying member of RAMW is eligible for awards. Most categories require that an establishment have been in business for at least a year to be eligible. Previous winners cannot be nominated again in the same category for five years.
A panel of anonymous judges decides most of the winners. Through April 30, the public can have their say by voting for favorite gathering place of the year, upscale brunch of the year, casual brunch of the year, and favorite fast bites of the year.
The association will fête the nominees at the 37th annual RAMMY awards gala on June 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Here’s a rundown of who’s up for what.
New Restaurant of the Year
- Chloe
- Kaliwa
- Poca Madre
- Spoken English
- St. Anselm
Rising Culinary Star of the Year
- Javier Fernandez, Kuya Ja’s Lechon Belly
- Adam Howard, Blue Duck Tavern
- John MacPherson, Three Blacksmiths
- Daniela Moreira, Call Your Mother Deli, Timber Pizza Company
- Kwame Onwuachi, Kith and Kin
Casual Restaurant of the Year
- All Purpose – Shaw
- Bantam King
- Bindaas – Cleveland Park
- Maketto
- Royal
Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
- Centrolina
- Iron Gate
- Momofuku CCDC
- Sally’s Middle Name
- Sushi Taro
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
- Blue Duck Tavern
- Bourbon Steak
- Rasika
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Trummer’s On Main
Chef of the Year
- Kyle Bailey, The Salt Line
- David Deshaies, Unconventional Diner
- Marjorie Meek-Bradley, St. Anselm
- Russell Smith, The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Nicholas Stefanelli, Masseria, Officina
Upscale Brunch of the Year
- Estadio
- Seasons
- The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
- The Source by Wolfgang Puck
- Unconventional Diner
Casual Brunch of the Year
- Brookland’s Fines Bar and Kitchen
- Casolare Ristorante & Bar
- Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen
- Maketto
- The Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse
Favorite Fast Bites of the Year
- CHIKO
- Little Red Fox
- Rasa
- Shouk
- Taco Bamba Taqueria
Restaurateur of the Year
- Victor Albisu, Poca Madre, Taco Bamba Taqueria
- Jackie Greenbaum & Gordon Banks, Bar Charley, El Chucho, Little Coco’s, Quarry House Tavern, Slash Run
- Michael Friedman, Mike O’Malley, Colin McDonough, Gareth Croke, All Purpose Restaurants
- Rose Previte, Compass Rose Bar + Kitchen, Maydan
- Daisuke Utagawa, Katsuya Fukushima, and Yama Jewayni, Daikaya Group
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Fabrice Bendano, Le Diplomate
- Ana Deshaies, Unconventional Diner
- Pichet Ong, Brothers and Sisters, Spoken English
- Paola Velez, Iron Gate
- Meagan Tighe, Trummer’s On Main
Cocktail Program of the Year
- Barmini by José Andrés
- Bresca
- Daikaya
- Petworth Citizen and Reading Room
- Royal
Beer Program of the Year
- B Side
- Caboose Tavern
- Pizzeria Paradiso – Dupont
- Republic
- Roofers Union
Wine Program of the Year
- Cork Wine Bar and Market
- Le Diplomate
- Maxwell Park
- Minibar by José Andrés
- Trummer’s On Main
Favorite Gathering Place of the Year
- Duke’s Corner
- Open Road
- Perry’s
- Quarry House Tavern
- Vinoteca
Employee of the Year
- Oscar Ardon, Doi Moi
- Maria Contreras, Jaleo Crystal City
- Valentine King, Hummingbird Bar and Kitchen
- Eloy Juarez Alvarez, Mintwood Place
- Fred Uku, The Red Hen
Manager of the Year
- Dave Delaplaine, Roofers Union
- Sabrine Marques, PassionFish, Bethesda
- Donna Seal, Oceanaire
- Richard Stewart, iRicci Ristorante
- Paris Twyman, Founding Farmers Tysons
Service Program of the Year
- Ambar – Clarendon
- Carlyle Grand Café
- Iron Gate
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, & Stone Crab
- The Riggsby
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year (This award is given to an associate member who best exemplifies commitment to and support of RAMW. RAMW’s executive committee selects the winner.)
- Coastal Sunbelt Produce
- Congressional Seafood Co.
- Saval Foodservice
- TriMark Adams-Burch
- The Veritas Law Firm
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year
- Arcadia Farm
- Atlas Brew Works
- Ayrshire Farm
- Ivy City Smokehouse
- Logan Sausage Co.
