The RAMMYS Return Sunday, July 9, 2023. Nominations Now Open!

Nominations now open for the capital region’s premier foodservice industry awards

Washington, DC (January 30, 2023)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced today that the 41st Annual RAMMY Awards will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in partnership with Events DC, on Sunday, July 9, 2023. The awards return to honor excellence in long standing categories that range from individual professional honors to accolades celebrating culinary concepts and service.

Over the past few years, categories and eligibility criteria have been altered to reflect how the industry spent the time innovating, eventually rebuilding, recovering, and even opening new establishments in the wake of the pandemic. This year’s changes continue to evolve, including a move from Pastry Chef of the Year to Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year, ensuring the area’s many outstanding bakers and pastry chefs are able to be recognized. This category will only require the individual to have been in the metropolitan region for three years, rather than the five years that was previously required.

Similar to last year, five publicly voted categories are open to any foodservice operation in the region, regardless of RAMW membership, to celebrate the entire dynamic industry, while the remaining categories are only available to RAMW members. A new publicly voted category added this year is Best Bar to recognize the magnitude of nightlife establishments in the DMV whose primary focus is creating an experience for guests focused on the drinks, the atmosphere, the decor, and the hospitality.

For the very first time, both the top five finalists and the winners will be chosen by the public in the five publicly voted categories.

On eligibility, consistent with previous years, restaurants that were previously named winners in the past five years are not eligible to win that same category. Winners from the past five years are eligible to be nominated for other categories, except the one in which they won. Finalists who did not win their category are eligible to be nominated again in the same category. For more information on The 2023 RAMMYS eligibility criteria, visit therammys.org/eligibility-2023.

Anyone in the public can nominate and those in the industry can nominate themselves and others for the following 2023 RAMMY Awards categories. Visit www.therammys.org to submit nominations.

●      Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year

●      Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year

●      Casual Restaurant of the Year

●      New Restaurant of the Year

●      Wine Program of the Year

●      Cocktail Program of the Year

●      Beer Program of the Year

●      Service Program of the Year

●      Chef of the Year

●      Rising Culinary Star of the Year

●      Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year

●      Manager of the Year

●      Employee of the Year

●      Restaurateur of the Year

RAMW has begun accepting online nominations for the above categories at www.therammys.org and looks forward to highlighting the industry’s strength, passion, dedication, and support for communities throughout metropolitan Washington. Nominations will be accepted through Tuesday, February 28, at 11:59pm EST.

Publicly Voted Categories:

●      Favorite Gathering Place

●      Best Brunch

●      Best Bar

●      Favorite Fast Bites

●      Hottest Sandwich Spot

Online nominations will open in mid-February and run through mid-March on NBC4 WASHINGTON and TELEMUNDO 44 to determine both the finalists and winners in the five publicly voted categories. Stay tuned for updates.

Finalists for all categories will be announced at an invite-only event this April.

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

●      Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year

●      Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award

●      Honorary Milestone Award

●      John G. Laytham Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award

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.

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