RAMW Announces 2011 RAMMY Awards Nominees

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• Chef of the Year
• Estadio's cocktail table
• Best new restaurant nominees provided some food for everyone
• Including desserts from RIS
• Kicking off the event with RAMW organizers
• Local news reporters as emcees
• Best New Restaurant
• Best Power Spot
• Best Pastry Chef
• Chefs milling about waiting to get their pictures taken

Last night the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced the nominees for the 2011 RAMMY awards from the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton. Chefs, restaurateurs and other industry members showed up for an event where the vibe seemed more about the mingling of people who don't get to see each other much rather than an awards event. Nominees for best new restaurant provided appetizers, while the mixology contenders got everyone boozed up. The announcements could barely be heard over the din of chatter in the room — which didn't entirely matter since most (but not all) the nominees were notified beforehand. The winners will be named at the RAMMY gala on June 26 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Fine Dining Restaurant
Bourbon Steak, Michel Richard Citronelle, Rasika, The Source by Wolfgang Puck, Trummer's on Main

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

*Neighborhood Gathering Place
Bar Pilar, Bastille, EatBar, Perry's, Ted's Bulletin

New Restaurant
Estadio, Kushi, Michel by Michel Richard, Pizzeria Orso, ris

Chef of the Year
Bertrand Chemel (2941), Todd Gray (Equinox), Haidar Karoum (Proof), Vikram Sunderam (Rasika), Bryan Voltaggio (VOLT)

Rising Culinary Star
Will Artley (Evening Star Cafe), Kyle Bailey (Birch & Barley), Justin Bittner (Bar Pilar), Shannon Overmiller (The Majestic), Javier Romero (Taberna del Alabardero)

Pastry Chef
Rebekka Baltzell (Restaurant Eve), Fabrice Bendano (Adour), Chris Kujala (ris), Tiffany MacIsaac (Neighborhood Restaurant Group), Tom Wellings (Equinox)

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

Mixology/Beverage Program
Bourbon Steak, ChurchKey, Founding Farmers, Proof/Estadio, Tabard Inn

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene
Bourbon Steak, Chef Geoff - Tysons Corner, Estadio, Masa 14, PS7s

Power Spot
The Bombay Club, Carmine's, Equinox, The Palm, The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Restaurant Employee of the Year
Julie Albert (Brasserie Beck/Marcel's), Freddy Bastidas (Blue Duck Tavern), Estaban Gueverra (Dino), Ryme Lansari (Cafe Atlantico/minibar), Adam Sackett (PS7s)

Restaurant Manager of the Year
Reagan Corbett (Jackson 20), Dan Festa (Morton's The Steakhouse), Ryan McCarthy (DC Coast), Atul Narain (Rasika), Hans Olson (Clyde's of Reston)

Joan Hisaoka Associate Member of the Year
Adams-Burch, BB&T, EagleBank, Fiji Water, The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC, SYSCO Food Services of Baltimore