In front of a packed crowd at the Hamilton DC, the  Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington announced the finalists for the 2015 Rammy Awards. With 20 categories stretching from Favorite Gathering Place to Chef of the Year to Restaurateur of the Year, we were more than enthusiastically cheering when some of our favorite restaurants received their nominations for the awards that will be announced on June 7 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

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Without further delay the finalists for the 2015 RAMMY Awards are:

Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year
• ACME Paper & Supply Co.
• Boxwood Estate Winery
• EagleBank
• Republic National Distributing Company
• USI Insurance Services

Favorite Gathering Place of the Year
• Bar Pilar
• Cashion’s Eat Place
• ChurchKey
• Et Voila!
• Evening Star Café

Upscale Casual Brunch
• Birch & Barley
• Kapnos – DC
• Le Diplomate
• The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
• Seasons at The Four Seasons

Everyday Casual Brunch
• Beuchert’s Saloon
• The Daily Dish
• DGS Delicatessen
• Duke’s Grocery
• The Liberty Tavern

Favorite Fast Bites
• Cava Grill – Bethesda Row
• DCity Smokehouse
• G by Mike Isabella
• Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza – Friendship Heights
• Red Apron Butcher – Union Market

Cocktail Program of the Year
• 2 Birds, 1 Stone
• barmini by José Andrés
• Bourbon Steak
• Iron Gate
• Trummer’s on Main

Beer Program of the Year
• The Arsenal at Bluejacket
• Brasserie Beck
• Granville Moore’s
• Mad Fox Brewing Company
• Pizzeria Paradiso – Georgetown

Wine Program of the Year
• Charlie Palmer Steak
• Fiola
• Iron Gate
• Proof
• The Red Hen

Employee of the Year
• Aurelio Diaz – RIS
• Adnane Kebaier – Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier
• Evan Labb – Evening Star Cafe
• LaGina Lewis – Farmers Fishers Bakers
• David Sabbadino – Zaytinya

Manager of the Year
• Neill Blackwood – Mintwood Place
• Rachel Bronson – Red Apron Butcher
• Joseph Cerione – Blue Duck Tavern
• Ryan McCarthy – PassionFish Reston
• Atul Narain – Rasika

Service Program of the Year
• Bourbon Steak
• Fiola
• Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier
• Rasika
• The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm

Pastry Chef of the Year
• Agnes Chin – The Grill Room, Capella Hotel
• Naomi Gallego – Blue Duck Tavern
• Kendra Grieco – Fiola
• Michelle Poteaux – Bastille
• Susan Wallace – BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant

Rising Culinary Star of the Year
• Austin Fausett – Trummer’s on Main
• Tim Ma – Maple Ave Restaurant, Water & Wall
• Harper McClure – BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier
• George Pagonis – Kapnos DC
• Danny Wells – Republic

Everyday Casual Restaurant of the Year
• DGS Delicatessen
• Granville Moore’s
• Hank’s Oyster Bar – Capitol Hill
• Hill Country Barbecue Market
• Ted’s Bulletin – Capitol Hill

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year
• Birch & Barley
• Maple Ave Restaurant
• Mintwood Place
• Proof
• Vermilion

New Restaurant of the Year
• Crane & Turtle
• Fiola Mare
• The Partisan
• Republic
• TICO

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
• Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier
• minibar by José Andrés
• Rasika
• The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
• Trummer’s on Main

Chef of the Year
• Victor Albisu – Del Campo
• Nathan Anda and Ed Witt – The Partisan
• Cedric Maupillier – Mintwood Place
• Marjorie Meek-Bradley – Ripple, Roofers Union
• Johnny Spero – minibar by José Andrés

Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year
• Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
• DC Brau Brewing Company
• Dolci Gelati
• Early Mountain Vineyards
• New Columbia Distillers

Restaurateur of the Year
• José Andrés and Rob Wilder – ThinkFoodGroup
• Mike Isabella – Mike Isabella Concepts
• Fabio and Maria Trabocchi – Fiola, Casa Luca, Fiola Mare
• Jeff Tunks, David Wizenberg, Gus DiMillo – Passion Food Hospitality
• Robert Wiedmaier, Brian McBride, Frank Shull, and Joe Lively – RW Restaurant Group

Get ready to vote because Favorite Gathering Place of the Year, Upscale Brunch, Everyday Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites are all open for you to participate by casting your ballots on washingtoncitypaper.com from March 31 – April 28.

We’re heading to Proof later this week and are going to definitely visit some of the other restaurants here soon. Who are you rooting for?