Dine ‘N Dish…

Dine 'N Dish

by Brendan Kownacki | on June 24th, 2013 |

by senior contributor Brendan Kownacki
Photo credit: Neshan H. Naltchayan

The RAMMY’s are the culinary Oscars of the Metro Washington area and they never disappoint for a deliciously good time to celebrate the men and women of the restaurant industry for another year of great dining in the Nation’s Capital. The RAMMY’s are presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), held at The Marriott Park Wardman Hotel.

Kelly Collis and Tommy McFly of 94.7 Fresh FM

The annual gala hosted hundreds from the food and beverage world; restauranteurs, chefs, bartenders, food writers and of course a smattering of supporters from the city council and even the The Ambassador of Peru Harold Forsyth and his wife Maria. This year’s awards celebrated a booming time for restaurants in the city with more than 50 new venues popping up.

50 was a bit of a running theme at the onset of the night, also honoring the 50th anniversary of Clydes of Georgetown. Stuart Davidson, who died in 2001, opened the restaurant in 1963 and noted “I would rather dine in a saloon than drink in a restaurant” and before long, Clydes was born…and has since spawned an empire of offshoots around the DC area.

Former Mayor of DC Anthony Williams

P.J. Clarke’s nabbed “Power Spot” of the year and Mintwood Place named “Best New Restaurant”–The team from Bar Pilar was enthusiastic that “14th Street has grown up” after being named “Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene” and nobody could argue when one of the owners of Estadio (Best Upscale Casual Restaurant) explained that he quit a job in corporate law thinking that restaurants were a “helluva lot more fun.”

Blue Duck Tavern got one of the top honors of the night, being named “Best Fine Dining” and Fabio Trabocchi of Fiola was named “Chef of the Year” noting that the award was “not for one person, but for their whole team.”

The whole evening, themed “Restaurants in Bloom” proved that team spirit with elegant food and drink flowing into the night as a toast to every restaurant; whether they got a trophy or not.