As The RAMMYS 2019 approaches, longstanding DMV restaurants recognized
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan (RAMW), a restaurant advocacy group in Washington, D.C., announced the 2019 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award recipients. The Bombay Club, i Ricchi, Moby Dick House of Kabob, Silver Diner, and Taberna del Alabardero will receive the award for 30 years of service in the Greater D.C. Region. Lebanese Taverna will receive recognition for 40 years of business in the DMV. The RAMMY Awards recognize the best of the best in the D.C. restaurant scene, and will be awarded June 30.
The Honorary Milestone Awards recipients will receive the awards at the Walter E. Convention Center during the 2019 RAMMYS Ceremony and Gala, sponsored by Events DC and RAMW. These awards are bestowed upon members of RAMW that have been in business for at least 25 years.
[Related story: 2019 RAMMY Award Finalists announced]
Each year, The RAMMYS recognize excellence within the D.C. region’s dining scene in 20 different categories of service, operations, culinary achievement, food & drink programs and also popularity, which is determined by a NBC4 voting poll. “These operators are true pioneers who paved the way for so many other restaurateurs in the Metropolitan region,” said Kathy E. Hollinger, president and chief executive of RAMW.
Ashok Bajaj is a legend in the D.C. restaurant scene. He introduced gourmet Indian cuisine to the District in 1989 with the opening of The Bombay Club. He also founded Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, which fueled another 10 restaurants. Said RAMW’s announcement, “…the Knightsbridge portfolio concepts have received multiple RAMMY Awards and have been consistently nominated for prestigious awards by the James Beard Foundation including Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, Rising Star Chef, Outstanding Restaurant and Restaurateur of the Year.”
[Related story: The RAMMYS 2018 Backstage Interviews]
Four of the five restaurants receiving the RAMMY Honorary Milestone Award are restaurants in the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) in D.C. “These establishments are trailblazers and are the foundation of D.C.’s incredible dining scene as well as the new community of critically-acclaimed restaurants in the Golden Triangle and throughout the metro area,” said Leona Agouridis, Golden Triangle BID executive director. The BID will be presenting the awards at The RAMMYS 2019.
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For additional information about the 2019 RAMMY Awards Gala or sponsorship, contact therammys@ramw.org. In addition to The Bombay Club, these are five additional legendary restaurants given the nod for the Honorary Milestone Award (descriptions as provided by RAMW):
i Ricchi: In 1989, renowned chef Christianne Ricchi opened i Ricchi, one of the first Tuscan restaurants in the United States. Ricchi, a former director of the National Restaurant Association, quickly became an ambassador for the restaurant industry winning awards such as the “Piero Bargellini Award of Excellence,” given by the city of Florence for revitalization and advancement of Italian culture in the United States, among others. She continues to serve authentic Tuscan cuisine as a foundation of Golden Triangle’s vibrant dining scene.
Moby Dick House of Kabob: Since opening the first restaurant in 1989, Mike Daryoush and Moby Dick House of Kabob continue to realize its purpose by never cutting corners when it comes to the quality of food, how it’s prepared and served to guests. Daryoush takes pride in using traditional Persian cooking techniques with a Mediterranean flair and the highest-quality ingredients to make delicious, fresh food in a fast-casual environment. Moby Dick House of Kabob has grown to 24 locations across the region, managing to maintain a refined execution and success. Most recently, Moby Dick won Favorite Fast Bites at the 2018 RAMMY Awards.
Silver Diner: The restaurant first opened its doors in 1989 and founders Bob Giaimo and Chef Ype von Hengst have been committed to delicious diner food ever since. Dedicated to elevating typical diner fare and sourcing from local farmers, Silver Diner offers an array of healthy options for the entire family. Silver Diner now has 15 locations across the region, and its owners were named 2018 RAMMYS Restaurateur of the Year Finalists.
Taberna Del Alabardero: This destination first opened its doors in Spain in 1974 and is named for the royal guards outside of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Taberna Del Alabardero brought traditional Spanish gastronomy and wines to the nation’s capital in 1989 and has been a mainstay for beautifully refined Spanish dining and hospitality ever since in one of the most unforgettable dining rooms in the city. Traditional flavors of classic tapas and paellas are the focus while the chefs create new dishes elevating Mediterranean products in an innovative way.
Lebanese Taverna: In 1976, Tanios Abi-Najm and Marie Abi-Najm, along with their five young children, escaped the civil war in Lebanon on a cargo ship. In 1979, they opened the first Lebanese Taverna with the money they had saved from working in other restaurants. They kept the original sign from the purchased restaurant, but changed just one word, and thus the “Lebanese Taverna” legacy was born. Their five children now run the restaurant they grew up in, each covering a different specialty within the business that expanded to 12 locations over the past 40 years.
Photo credit: Silver Diner (featured), Eatery Pulse Media (inline 1), Moby Dick House of Kabob (inline 2)
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