RAMMY AWARDS GALA
June 25 • Marrio Wardman Park Hotel
BY DAVID MESSING
PHOTOS BY KYLE SAMPERTON
THE EVENT
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington's 24th Annual
RAMMY Awards benefi ting its Education Foundation and Louisiana Restaurant Employee
Relief Fund. Masters of Ceremonies Sue Palka of Fox 5 and James Adams of NBC 4
led the crowd through 18 award categories, presented by foodies like Phyllis Richman,
Food and Wine Magazine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin, and Jill Novatt , senior culinary
producer at the Food Network.
THE SCENE
Guests in black tie and glam rock attire
drinking, rocking to a live band and feasting on gulf shrimp, pappardelle with chanterelles
and grilled sirloin with béarnaise, all paired with Chilean vintages.
THE AWARDEES
The
Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award, presented to Robert P. Pincus, recognized
the prominent banker's advocacy of lending funds to restaurants, making possible the
establishment of 300 new eating establishments and ridding Washington of Big Apple
restaurant envy once and for all. Other top RAMMYS went to KAZ Sushi Bistro (best
informal dining); Clyde's of Gallery Place (hottest bar scene); Chef Johnny Monis of
Komi (rising culinary star); Danny Boylen of Notti Bianche (best manager); and Maestro
(best fi ne dining). Chef of the Year honors went to José Andrés of Jaleo, Café Atlantico,
Zaytinya and Oyamel.
THE GUESTS
Scattered among the 1,600 guests were Icelandic
Amb. Helgi Agustsson; Chilean Amb. Andres Bianchi; Washington Council Members
Carol Schwartz, Jack Evans, Vincent C. Gray, Phil Mendelson and David Catania;
WUSA 9 anchor Tracy Neal; ABC 7 anchor Doug McKelway; restaurateur Mel Krupin
and noted restaurant designer/architects Theo Adamstein and Olvia Demetriou.
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