Rammy Award Winners Revealed At 2005 Restaurant Awards Gala

Washington, DC- The winners of the coveted RAMMY Awards were announced on Sunday, June 5th, at the 23rd annual RAMMY Restaurant Awards Gala, presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). Masters of Ceremonies Sue Palka of FOX5 and James Adams of NBC4 presided over the event, which honored the best and brightest of Washington's restaurant community. "This was the biggest turnout in our event's 23 year history," said Gala Chair Jodi Lehr of Santa Lucia Estate Coffee. "It was amazing to welcome more than 1500 guests who came to celebrate the stars of the Washington metropolitan area restaurant industry!"

This year's black tie/blue chic gala celebrated the Washington area's growing national reputation for its "cool restaurant scene" with cool blue dicor, food stations showcasing the area's top five food trends as determined by RAMMY nominees, and a seated awards dinner featuring food from sustainable Iceland and Chilean wines.

2005 "RAMMY" Award winners included:
Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year: Cafi Saint-Ex
Hottest Bar Scene of the Year: IndeBleu
Power Spot of the Year: Cafi Milano
New Restaurant of the Year: CityZen
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Ristorante Tosca
Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year: Johnny's Half Shell
Chef of the Year: Fabio Trabocchi, Maestro
Restaurant Employee of the Year: Efrain Velasco, Andale
Pastry Chef of the Year: Chris Kujala, Kinkead's
Wine and Beverage Program of the Year: Maestro
Restaurant Manager of the Year: Tricia Cominsky, Poste Moderne Brasserie
Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve
Favorite Restaurant of the Year: Mie N Yu

"Congratulations to all our award recipients and nominees who have elevated the reputation of the Washington metropolitan area dining scene," said RAMW Executive Director Lynne Breaux. "We are thrilled to draw attention to the stellar restaurants and chefs who do so much for our community."

The public voted on who took home the RAMMY Awards for Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year, Hottest Bar Scene of the Year, Power Spot of the Year, and Favorite Restaurant of the Year. RAMW named Clyde's Restaurant Group Co-Owner and President John G. Laytham as the recipient of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award and Dan Woodley of A.J. Dwoskin & Associates as RAMW Associate Member of the Year. In addition, WHERE Magazine presented its Where Magazine Visitors Choice Award to Mimi's American Bistro. A panel of esteemed Washington food writers and hospitality industry educators selected the winners of the remaining awards.

Under the direction of Gala Co-Chair Gus DiMillo of Passion Food Hospitality, the gala received unprecedented support. Sponsors included: The Washington Post Magazine, Icelandair, Iceland Naturally, Whole Foods, ProFish, Comcast of the District, BB&T, SYSCO Food Services of Baltimore, Hisaoka Public Relations, Group 360, Law Offices of Andrew J. Kline, Santa Lucia Estate Coffee, ProChile, WHERE Magazine, and Washingtonpost.com.

Partial proceeds from ticket sales benefited RAMW's Education Foundation, which will provide education and training programs for future leaders of the restaurant industry. Established in 1920, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's vision was to unite the restaurateurs and suppliers of the Washington area. Today, RAMW has more than 500 members, and is the voice of establishments ranging from casual eateries to internationally acclaimed fine dining restaurants.
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