Last night, finalists for DC’s big restaurant industry awards, the RAMMYs, were announced. It was a very good evening for the team behind Shaw Peruvian restaurantand its upstairs bar Amazonia, which collectively picked up nominations for best chef, formal fine-dining restaurant, cocktail program, and employee of the year. Georgetown neo-bistrohad an impressive showing as a contender for top pastry chef, upscale casual restaurant, and employee of the year.
An anonymous panel of food and media professionals decides the nominees and winners in the majority of categories. But the public votes on five awards: favorite gathering place, best brunch, hottest sandwich shop, best bar, and favorite fast bites. Voting, conducted viaNow, the caveats: Restaurants that aren’t dues-paying members of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington are only eligible to be nominated for the publicly voted categories.
The final winners will be announced at an awards gala on Sunday, July 21, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.: A restaurant that must have opened between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023 and already distinguishes itself as a pacesetter in food, beverage and hospitality. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW.
: The nominee is a restaurant that demonstrates a high standard of excellence in food, service and atmosphere and shows dedication to sophisticated culinary techniques in a fine dining environment. The nominee must be a current member of RAMW and must have been in business a minimum of one year by December 31, 2023.: The nominee is an executive chef or chef de cuisine who demonstrates consistent standards of culinary excellence.