“There’s a food revolution in our city; the restaurant scene is in overdrive,” said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The occasion was the 41st annual RAMMY Awards gala July 9 at the Walter Washington Convention Center. Bowser noted that many new restaurants have opened in the area this year. “With 80 new restaurants, we are creating more and more business opportunities,” she added. “Congratulations.”
Delivering another gracious acceptance speech was Kevin Tien, named Chef of the Year. He appeared truly surprised by the honor, noting that he hadn’t been doing much cooking lately.
“I’ve been cooking in DC since 2018,” said Tien, who helmed the kitchen at the District Wharf’s recently departed Moon Rabbit. “I’m proud to be cooking in this city…supported by my staff and my community.” Tien said that he had been taking time to consider his next move and ways to work freely and in support of his staff.
Other RAMMY winners in the Capital Community News restaurant family:
Best Beer Program: Shelter (The Roost); Cocktail Program: Servicebar (U Street NW); Rising Culinary Star: Marcelle Afram (Shababi Palestinian Rotisserie Chicken, Atlas District); Favorite Fast Bites*: RASA (Navy Yard); Best Bar*: Exiles (U Street NW); Employee of the Year: Nabil Moussa (Le Diplomate, Logan Circle); Pastry Chef of the Year: Teresa Velazquez, Baked and Wired/A Baked Joint (Mount Vernon Triangle); Restaurateur of the Year: Rose Previte (Compass Rose, Maydan, Logan Circle);
John C. Laytham Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award: Michael Curtin of DC Central Kitchen, which combats hunger and poverty through job creation and training. The non-profit organization recently relocated to the Buzzard Point neighborhood in Southwest.
Presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, The RAMMYS honor the accomplishments and hard work of the region’s restaurant and food service community. Winners are members of the association, except in the publically-voted categories (dentoed by an *).
For more information visit www.ramw.org.
With additional reporting from Elizabeth O’Gorek
