For Immediate Release: April 29, 2008

Contacts:                                                                                                       

Emily Halonen, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it                                                          

Brie McMahon, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

202.466.6286

Legendary food critic to receive the

Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award

 
Washington, D.C. – The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced yesterday that one of our nation’s most respected and influential restaurant critics of all time, Phyllis Richman, will be honored at the 26^th Annual RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala as the recipient of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award.  She will be presented the award in recognition of her leadership role in changing the dynamics of the Washington restaurant industry and putting it on the map with other top dining destinations like New York, Chicago and San Francisco.  Virginia Congressman Jim Moran came out to toast Richman’s accomplishments and support the industry, recognizing the important role restaurants play in the cultural development of metropolitan Washington.

Until 2000, Richman’s writing was widely known but her identity was not.  As The Washington Post’s leading critic for over 23 years, she wore disguises to keep her identity a secret so she could experience restaurants as a "regular guest."  Her restaurant reviews were characterized as honest, accurate and descriptive.  At a time when metro area restaurants were burgeoning, she played a huge part in propelling Washington into a top food and restaurant destination.  During her tenure at The Washington Post, she wrote weekly columns in the Sunday magazine, annual dining guides and food features for many of the sections.  Her freelance work has appeared in magazines, such as Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Food Arts.

After retiring from The Post, Richman kept busy writing a popular mystery series, in which the main character, Chas Wheatley, a Washington restaurant reviewer doubles as an amateur detective. She’s also written four editions of Best Restaurants & Others: Washington, D.C., written two editions of The Washington Post Dining Guide, co-authored Barter: How to Satisfy Your Needs Without Money, as well as contributed to a number of other books.

Winning first place for Best Section in the Newspaper Food Editors & Writers Association, second place for her syndicated column and numerous honorable mentions in other awards, including Penney-Missouri, Bert Green and James Beard, Richman is well respected among her fellow journalists and the restaurant community alike.

The award - named for legendary Washington restaurateur Duke Zeibert, who was the first recipient in 1994 - is presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to an individual whose dedication and renowned talents have helped transform Washington’s restaurant scene into today’s vibrant and thriving industry.  Richman will receive the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award at the RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala on Sunday evening, June 29^th at the Marriott Wardman Park.

In addition to recognizing Phyllis Richman, the RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala will honor the metro area’s top chefs and restaurateurs. Individual tickets for the 26^th Annual RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala are priced at $200 for RAMW members and $250 for non-RAMW members. Ticket and sponsorship information are available by contacting RAMW at 202-331-5990 or by visiting www.ramw.org.  Partial proceeds from this year’s RAMMY Awards will benefit the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Education Foundation’s scholarship program. The program helps send area high school graduates to culinary and hospitality schools around the nation. Last year’s recipients are currently pursuing culinary studies at the Culinary Institute of America, the Art Institute of Washington and Stratford University.

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