by contributor Wendy Gordon
Yup, it’s coming close to the annual RAMMY awards given to DC’s best and brightest in the culinary realm. Also annually, just preceding the RAMMYs, is the announcement of the winner of the RAMW’s Duke Ziebert Award—this year at a gathering at DC’s Carnegie Library.
The Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award, first awarded to its namesake in 1994, is given in recognition of dedication and leadership that has helped transform Washington’s restaurant scene into today’s vibrant restaurant industry. Tall order, given DC’s thriving restaurant climate of late.
The envelope please. …and the winner is…….former RAMW Chairperson, Linda Lee. Mayor Vincent Gray was on hand to make the announcement.
Linda Lee and Mayor Vincent Gray
For more than 50 years, Ms. Lee has worked as a tireless advocate for the Metropolitan Washington region and has supported some of DC’s biggest projects, including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and The Verizon Center.
Through her contributions as a business owner and leader, she has also worked to usher in a new era of cultural growth and opportunity for DC’s historic Chinatown neighborhood. “Tonight we added one more amazing individual to an elite group of individuals whose various talents and influences have fostered the growth and vibrancy of our restaurant industry and who has significantly contributed to the story of our community,” said Kathy Hollinger, president, RAMW. “We are pleased to carry on this annual tradition and welcome all that Linda has done for this city.”
Ms. Lee commented on DC’s evolution into an international destination and stressed the importance of regional cooperation of not only those in The District, but also those living and working in Virginia, DC and Maryland. “I cannot be happier to see this area, after years of revitalization in downtown areas especially under the leadership of able mayors, turn into an internationally recognized nation’s capital,” Lee said. “And this is not easy. You have to chip in to make things better. I thought about what I did and what I do and I will continue to make sure that DC is going in the right direction towards becoming more of an international city.”
Councilmember Jack Evans
The Duke Ziebert Award will be presented at the RAMW’s RAMMY Award gala to take place on June 23rd at The Marriott Wardman Park. Past winners of the Duke Ziebert Award have included Mayor Anthony Williams, restaurateur José Andrés, WTOP’s Bob Madigan, former Washington Post food critic Phyllis Richman and Wizards and Capitols owner, Abe Polin.
