A host of D.C.-area eateries—along with a bevy of new, pandemic-inspired award categories—were in the limelight Sunday night at the 39th annual RAMMY Awards.
The ceremony, held for fully vaccinated guests at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C., included honors unique to a year-and-a-half of industry pivots, such as Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game and Coolest Cocktails And Beverages To-Go.
Several local restaurants snagged honors. Silver Diner—a kid-friendly, Best of Arlington alum with 10 locations in Virginia—won Technology Trailblazer, a category open to public voting that honors an eatery that deftly incorporated tech such as virtual menus and online ordering. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, which has a storefront in Falls Church, won an honorable mention for its baked goods.
The RAMMYs also honored industry professionals and eateries with Good Neighbor Awards. David Guas, chef/owner of Bayou Bakery in Courthouse, was recognized for co-founding Chefs Feeding Families. (Bayou Bakery’s General Manager, Khawla Gasmi, also won a Manager of the Year award.) At the start of the pandemic, Guas partnered with Real Food for Kids to serve meals to local families while schools were closed; Chefs Feeding Families now has several restaurant collaborators and has served more than 180,000 meals. Chefs Kevin Tien (Hot Lola’s, Wild Tiger) and Tim Ma (Lucky Danger) were honored for co-founding Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate, a project in which proceeds from five-course dinners help support nonprofits combating racism and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Micheline Mendelsohn and Spike Mendelsohn of Sunnyside Restaurant Group (including Good Stuff Eatery and We, The Pizza) won a Good Neighbor Award for donating pizzas to National Guard troops stationed in D.C. ahead of Inauguration Day.
The RAMMYs are presented each year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. Here’s the complete list of the 2021 winners:
Managers of the Year
Otgontuya Davaasuren, All Set Restaurant & Bar
Khawla Gasmi, Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar, & Eatery
Autumn Harriger, Destination Unknown Restaurants/Espita
Jordan Lee, Thamee Restaurant
Tylyn Mallon, Right Proper Brewing Company
Brian McGahey, Modena Restaurant
Gilbert Mejia, Nobu DC
Robert Micheli, Dirty Habit
Daurio Passaia, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
Karina Wilkey, Sunnyside Restaurant Group
Employees of the Year
Gabriela Araujo, Bresca
Ruben Avila, PassionFish Reston
Freddy Bastidas, Blue Duck Tavern
Adrian Godinez, RPM Italian
Rosa Martinez, Alta Strada & Nama
Mileyda Montezuma, Immigrant Food
Fredy Nataren, Tryst Trading Co.
Celina Nava, Estadio
Alicia Ramos, Convivial
Maria Serrano, Sababa
Finer Dining in a Box: Cranes
Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game: Oyster Oyster
Outstanding Covid-Safe Redesign (Indoors or Outdoors): Clarity
Most Impressive Pivot to Provisions or Market: Neighborhood Restaurant Group/Neighborhood Provisions
Good Neighbor Award, Individuals
Erik Bruner-Yang, Power of 10
Willa Pelini, Paola Velez, and Rob Rubba, Bakers Against Racism
Anna Valero, Hook Hall Helps
Mark Bucher and Medium Rare, Feed The Fridge
Danny Lee, Support of Immigrant and AAPI Community
Kevin Tien and Tim Ma, Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate
Jonathan Krinn, A Taste of DC in VA and To Community and Beyond: Crossing Culinary Bridges Guest DC Chef Series
David, Guas, Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar & Eatery, Chefs Feeding Families
Micheline Mendelsohn and Spike Mendelsohn, National Guard Inauguration Program and More
Edward Lee, The LEE Initiative
Good Neighbor Award, Company/Organization
Coconut Club
Immigrant Food
Keany Produce & Gourmet
KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Little Sesame
Peruvian Brothers
Pizzeria Paradiso
RASA
Saval Foodservice
World Central Kitchen
Publicly Voted Categories
Outstanding Ghost Kitchen or Pop-up Concept: DC Ghostburger
Coolest Cocktails and Beverages To-Go: Cactus Cantina
Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go: Ristorante i Ricchi
Prime Pandemic Patio Scene: Le Diplomate
Technology Trailblazers: Silver Diner
Splendid Holidays at Home Offerings: Chef Geoff’s
Festive Foodie Experiences: Eva Kronenburg, YouTube Cooking Series
Hottest Sandwich Shop: Roaming Rooster
Stellar Brunches at Home: Call Your Mother
Honorable Mentions:
Wine To-Go Program
Dio Wine Bar
Domestique
Flight Wine Bar
Grand Cata
La Jambe
Maxwell Park
Sonny’s Pizza
Squash Club DC
Tail Up Goat/Reveler’s Hour
The Girl and The Vine
Sweet Relief: Baking and Pastry To-Go
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Baker’s Against Racism
Buttercream Bakeshop
Bread and Water Co.
Donut Run
MASTIHA
Pluma by Bluebird Bakery
Sunday Morning Bakehouse
The Dapper Fox
Yellow