THE RAMMYS 2009 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
Contact:  Betsy Allman
(202)331-5990
betsy@ramw.org

THE RAMMYS – 2009 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
2009 RAMMY Finalists

Neighborhood Gathering Place
Belga Café, Washington DC; Cork ,Washington DC; EatBar, Arlington VA; The Liberty Tavern, Arlington VA; Marvin Washington DC

Upscale Casual
Bastille, Alexandria VA; Majestic Café, Alexandria VA; Oyamel, Washington DC; Rasika, Washington DC; Zaytinya, Washington DC

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene
CoCo. Sala, Washington DC; Marvin, Washington DC; Proof, Washington DC; The Source by Wolfgang Puck, Washington DC; Willow Creek Farm, Broadlands VA

Rising Culinary Star
Cedric Maupillier – Central Michel Richard, Washington DC; Daniel Giusti – 1789, Washington, DC; Mike Isabella – Zaytinya, Washington DC; Shannon Overmiller – Majestic Café, Alexandria VA; Tony Chittum – Vermilion, Alexandria VA

New Restaurant
Adour, Washington DC; Art and Soul, Washington DC; CommonWealth, Washington DC; Cork, Washington DC; PassionFish, Reston VA

Pastry Chef
Josh Short – Neighborhood Restaurant Group; Kate Jansen – Willow, Arlington VA; Melanie Parker – Equinox, Washington DC; Michelle Garbee-Poteaux – Bastille, Alexandria VA; Travis Olson – 1789, Washington DC

Associate Member
BB & T; Belair Produce Inc./Watermark Foods; EagleBank; The Legacy Group; ProChile

Wine and Beverage Program
Cityzen, Washington DC; Neighborhood Restaurant Group; Oya, Washington DC; The Willard Room, Washington DC; Zola, Washington DC

Power Spot
BLT Steak, Washington DC; Central Michel Richard, Washington DC; Charlie Palmer Steak, Washington DC; The Source by Wolfgang Puck, Washington DC; Teatro Goldoni, Washington DC

Restaurant Employee
Jennifer Roe –DC Coast, Washington DC; Juan Francisco Lopez – Marcel’s/Brasserie Beck, Washington DC; Marco Guzman – Café Atlantico, Washington DC; Yves Chassagneux – Willow, Arlington VA; Jose Bermudez – Evening Star, Alexandria VA

Restaurant Manager
Tom Burke – Marcel’s/Brasserie Beck, Washington DC; Diego Zeballos – Jaleo; Ryland Johnson – Zola, Washington DC; Scott Weinstein – BlackSalt, Washington DC; Brian Zipin – Central Michel Richard, Washington DC

Fine Dining
2941, Falls Church VA; Blue Duck Tavern, Washington DC; Michel Richard Citronelle, Washington DC; Restaurant Eve, Alexandria VA; Vermilion, Alexandria  VA

Chef
Jamie Leeds – Hank’s/CommonWealth, Washington DC; Todd Gray – Equinox, Washington DC; Massimo Fabri – Posto/Ristorante Tosca, Washington DC; Vikram Sunderam – Rasika, Washington, DC; Robert Wiedmaier – Marcel’s/Brasserie Beck, Washington DC

THE RAMMYS
The first Restaurant Awards Gala was held in 1982 to honor the best and brightest of our industry and was attended by a handful of the area’s restaurants.  Twenty seven years later, The RAMMY Restaurant Awards has grown to over 1300 attendees with national and international press coverage underscoring its prominence and the importance of Washington as the nation’s dining capital. 

A portion of the proceeds from the gala will benefit the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Education Foundation.  Proceeds will help area high school students develop viable careers in the restaurant industry by providing scholarships for post-secondary education in restaurant and hospitality-related fields. 

About the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington

Established in 1920, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington works to unite restaurateurs and food service industry professionals of the Washington area. Today, RAMW has more than 700 members, and is the voice of establishments ranging from casual eateries to
internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants. 

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