People across the DMV’s culinary and hospitality industries gathered at The Hamilton Live in Northwest D.C. on Monday, April 14 for the RAMMYS nominations, hosted by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).
As guests enjoyed plentiful samples of food and beverages from various local establishments, dozens of businesses learned they are finalists for the 43rd annual RAMMYS, set for Aug. 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest D.C.
From the yearly awards to the second annual honors ceremony on July 1, the RAMMYS highlight exceptional talent and achievements of the Washington, D.C., region’s dynamic restaurant and food service community.
“We utilize this opportunity to point out the greatness and the uniqueness of our industry,” RAMW President Shawn Townsend told The Informer.
RAMW is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the food service industry in Washington, D.C.’s metropolitan area. Established in 1920, it is an advocate, resource, and community for its members.
During the April 14 event, 20 categories were announced, including Chef of the Year, Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year, Best Bar of the Year, Best Wine Program, Baker of the Year and Restaurant Employee of the Year.
“Some folks tell me they don’t even have to win the award, just being a finalist is half of the battle [for them],” Townsend said.
Andrea Jewett proved to be a proud employee of Jane Jane in Northwest D.C., when the bar was announced as a nominee for Cocktail Program of the Year.
“We’re so excited to be nominated for a RAMMY, we’re really proud of this,” she said.
Luis Jara, employee at All Set Restaurant & Bar in Silver Spring, Maryland, who is nominated for Employee of the Year, said he is thankful to his bosses for recognizing his work.
“I was surprised to be nominated,” Jara told The Informer. “I didn’t even think of it because I just love what I do.”
For Jennifer “Jenni” Allen, agave market manager for Pernod Richard, the nominations event was an ideal place to introduce those working in the food and beverage industry to Código 1530 Tequila.
“We’re here today with Código Tequila. For a long time, Codigo was a private, no-name, no-label tequila,” said Allen, noting it had been a family-owned product for five generations. “The secret in tequila is that the best tequila is not for sale, but now it is with Código Tequila.”
As people returned to the Código table to try out the evening’s specialty cocktails, the Jalisco Old Fashioned and Pink Slipper, which was so popular they ran out a few minutes before the event ended, Allen explained the nominations allowed for her to do some great networking with local restaurant and bar leaders.
“All of the places where we want to be are in the room,” she said. “This is a perfect opportunity to interact with buyers, bartenders and decision makers. So it was great to get this in front of a lot of people and get liquids to lips.”
Ka-ton Grant, owner of Era Wine Bar, a nominee for Wine Program of the Year, emphasized the significance of the RAMMYS events and programming.
“To be honored and recognized by the restaurant association in front of our peers, it’s fantastic and extremely prestigious from our perspective,” Grant told The Informer. “It’s the one time of year where not only customers recognize us [but so does] the industry.”
For tickets and more information, go to therammys.org.
