The RAMMY Awards Return in Person on September 19, 2021

Foodservice industry to celebrate community’s incredible resilience and innovation.

Washington, DC (May 20, 2021) — Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced today that the 39th Annual RAMMY Awards will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as an in-person event on Sunday, September 19, 2021. New this year, the awards will pivot once again to honor the industry for the extraordinary ways in which its operators, distributors and suppliers, and industry partners were innovative, rethinking operations and navigating recent challenges in creative ways.

The RAMMY Awards honor the accomplishments of the restaurant and foodservice industry across the Metropolitan Washington region, while shining light on some bright and talented stars who are the best of the best in that year. Rather than honor winners in the 21 categories that are typically recognized, RAMW plans to bring the industry together to celebrate and recover from the devastation of the last year in a different way. Recognizing that it would not be fair to assess the industry on performance in 2020 – a year largely full of challenges and unforeseen hurdles – RAMW, the esteemed panel of RAMMYS judges, and the 2021 RAMMYS Chairs Committee, have created timely categories that speak to all the ways that the region’s industry uniquely met those challenges. Also unique to this year, nearly half of the honors bestowed will be voted on by the public.

Special for this year only, membership in RAMW is not a prerequisite for nomination. Anyone in the public can nominate and those in the industry can nominate themselves and others for the following 2021 RAMMY Awards categories:

• Managers of the Year
• Employees of the Year
• Formal Fine Dining in a Box
• Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game
• Outstanding Covid-Safe Redesign (Indoors or Outdoors)
• Most Impressive Pivot to Provisions or Market
• Good Neighbor Award
• Publicly Voted Categories:
• Outstanding Ghost Kitchen or Pop-Up Concept
• Coolest Cocktails and Beverages To-Go
• Standout Family Meal Packages To-Go
• Prime Pandemic Patio Scene
• Technology Trailblazers
• Splendid Holidays at Home Offerings
• Festive Foodie Experiences
• Hottest New Sandwich Spot
• Stellar Brunches at Home

RAMW will begin accepting online nominations for the above categories at www.therammys.org on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 9am and looks forward to shining light on the industry’s strength, passion, dedication, and support for communities throughout metropolitan Washington. Nominations will be accepted through 11:59pm, the evening of June 13, 2021.

As always, the RAMW Executive Committee will determine the nominees and honorees for the following categories:

• Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award
• Honorary Milestone Award

Due to the success of last year’s hybrid format, some portions of the awards program will be available for live streaming. For more information regarding the awards, how to support the program, and this year’s format, email therammys@ramw.org. Follow RAMW’s industry blog for regular updates and resources for the region’s restaurant and foodservice community.

The RAMMYS

Presented by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community. Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine since 2009, The RAMMYS celebrate one of metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: Its restaurants.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW strives to serve its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.