Rammy Nominees Announced

The nominees for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's annual restaurant awards, aka the Rammys, were announced last night.


Nominees are chosen by an anonymous panel of food
writers, educators and HR professionals. Winners from the following categories will be chosen by the judges, and announced at the annual gala June 26:

• Fine Dining: Bourbon Steak, Michel Richard Citronelle, Rasika, The Source by Wolfgang Puck, Trummer’s on Main

• Upscale Casual: Bibiana, Birch & Barley, The Liberty Tavern, Proof, Tabard Inn

• New Restaurant: Estadio, Kushi, Michel by Michel Richard, Pizzeria Orso, Ris

• Chef: Bertrand Chemel of 2941, Todd Gray of Equinox, Haidar Karoum of Proof, Vikram Sunderam of Rasika, Bryan Voltaggio of Volt

• Rising Culinary Star: Will
Artley of Evening Star Café, Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley, Justin
Bittner of Bar Pilar, Shannon Overmiller of The Majestic, Javier Romero
of Taberna del Alabardero

• Pastry Chef:
Rebekka Baltzell of Restaurant Eve, Fabrice Bendano of Adour, Chris
Kujala of Ris, Tiffany MacIsaac of Neighborhood Restaurant Group, Tom
Wellings of Equinox

• Wine Program: 2941, Michel Richard Citronelle, Cork, Dino, Taberna del Alabardero

• Beverage/Mixology Program: Bourbon Steak, ChurchKey, Founding Farmers,

Proof/Estadio, Tabard Inn

• Manager:
Reagan Corbett of Jackson 20, Dan Festa of Morton’s The Steakhouse,
Washington, DC, Ryan McCarthy of DC Coast, Atul Narain of Rasika, Hans
Olson of Clyde’s of Reston

• Employee:
Julie Albert of Brasserie Beck/Marcel's, Freddy Bastidas of Blue Duck
Tavern, Estaban Gueverra of Dino, Ryme Lansari of Café
Atlantico/minibar, Adam Sackett of PS7's


And you, the dining
public, will choose the winners in the following category with a special
ballot appearing in the Washington City Paper April 28 or online at
www.ramw.org:

• Neighborhood Gathering: Bar Pilar, Bastille, EatBar, Perry’s, Ted’s Bulletin

• Restaurant Power Spot: The Bombay Club, Carmine’s, Equinox, The Palm, The Source by Wolfgang Puck

• Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene: Bourbon Steak, Chef Geoff's Tysons Corner, Estadio, Masa 14, PS 7's


A big congrats to all the nominees!