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Looking back on a pandemic year, the D.C.-area dining awards that Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington doled out last night eschewed traditional categories in favor of honors that played up the gymnastic maneuvers professional kitchens performed to stay in business. So there was no “Chef of the Year” or “New Restaurant of the Year,” but a ghost kitchen for Mexican-influenced cheeseburger, a Michelin-starred bento box, and drive-up parking lot dining tables all got their due.
Categories recognizing outstanding service — both from a professional capacity and a community service standpoint — recognized large groups, an adaptation from the anonymous panel that picks winners. The local restaurant association also opened up nominations to nonmembers, making for a more representative and competitive field. Public voting decided several (marked with asterisks below).
Here’s the full list of the winners feted at a gala for fully vaccinated attendees:
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
*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
Wine To Go Program - Honorable Mention
Dio Wine Bar (Closed)
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 - Honorable Mention
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
Good Neighbor Award, Individual Honors:
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 Honors:
Coconut Club
Immigrant Food
Keany Produce & Gourmet
KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Little Sesame
Peruvian Brothers
Pizzeria Paradiso
RASA
Saval Foodservice
World Central Kitchen
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
2021 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award:
Glory Days Grill (25 years)
La Chaumière (45 years)
Peacock Cafe (30 years)
Pizzeria Paradiso (30 years)
Ristorante Piccolo (35 years)
