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Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Announces 2013 RAMMY Award Nominees

March 20, 2013

The “Oscars of DC Restaurants” Names Finalists for Annual Restaurant Awards

WASHINGTON, DC (March 19, 2013)
– Hundreds of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area’s top restaurateurs, chefs and key restaurant industry players gathered tonight as the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the nominees for its annual RAMMY Awards. This evening’s Nominations Party, hosted at The Hamilton’s Hamilton LIVE in Washington, DC, and emceed by Kelly Collis and Tommy McFLY of 94.7 FRESH FM, is a highly anticipated yearly event, second only to the Restaurant Awards Gala, The RAMMYS, to be held on June 23, 2013 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

“We’re pleased to be able to honor the individuals who work hard to provide area residents and visitors with exceptional, world-class hospitality,” said Kathy Hollinger, RAMW’s new President. “Their dedication to the world and work of food and beverage adds an incredible vitality to the entire Washington Metropolitan Area. This year’s theme – ‘Restaurants in Bloom’ – acknowledges their creative contributions to the region’s burgeoning restaurant scene, and credits their talent which has earned DC recognition as a dining destination.”

The RAMMY Awards recognize excellence in 16 categories, including “Casual Dining”, “Chef of the Year”, “New Restaurant of the Year” and “Beverage/ Mixology Program of the Year”. Selecting the RAMMY nominees, and ultimately the winners, involves two separate panels of judges, the voting public and, for just one award – the Joan Hisaoka Associate Member of the Year – the RAMW Executive Committee. Any RAMW member is eligible for nomination as long as they meet the qualifications of any given category. The nominees are then reviewed by the appropriate anonymous panel of judges comprised of food/restaurant writers, educators and HR professionals who ultimately select the five finalists in each of the categories announced tonight.

The public will decide the winners in three categories: Neighborhood Gathering Place, Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene and Power Spot of the Year. The winners in these categories are determined entirely by the public vote tallies. Votes can be cast on the Washington City Paper and finalists’ websites or at ramw.org from April 4-18.

See the full list of the 2013 RAMMY Awards Nominees

 

Media Contact: Dusty Lockhart
ThreeLockharts Communications
202-664-9881 | dusty@threelockhartspr.com

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About the RAMMYS

Presented by the 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 in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, The RAMMYS celebrate one of Metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: Its restaurants.

About the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington

Established in 1920, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington was formed to unite, represent and promote restaurants and the regional food service industry. Today, RAMW, a 501 (c) 6 trade association, has more than 700 members in the District, Northern Virginia and Maryland and serves as the voice of establishments ranging from casual eateries to internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants.  For over 90 years RAMW has been "fighting for the right to eat, drink and be merry, hospitably, responsibly and profitably®.” For more information go to www.ramw.org.