The 2010 RAMMYS kicked off with a strong start last night, glammed up for the evening with its Casablanca theme based on their own version of the famous line “We’ll always have…restaurants.” Northern Virginia made a respectable showing – with 2941 taking the award for Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year and the Pastry Chef of the Year to its Anthony Chavez. Vermilion claimed the trophy for Best Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year.
Anthony Chavez of 2941 accepts his award as Pastry Chef of the Year
In the past, the awards ceremony took place during a seated dinner. But the 2010 RAMMYS is introducing a new format with a theatre-style ceremony followed by buffet-style dinner in the main ballroom. Chef Liam LaCivita of Liberty Tavern (and nominee as Rising Culinary Star) says yes to the latest changes. It was quick, he says. LaCivita is currently busy with the recent opening of Northside Social, a coffee and wine bar in Clarendon.
Theatre style seating for the new RAMMYS format
The table of 2941 also reports glowing praise of the new format. Executive Chef Bertrand Chemel says the RAMMYS of 2009 had been a disaster as it seemed like people didn’t care. But he found this year’s set-up to be much more “tasteful.” (Yes, he did use that exact word, but I don’t think he knew how much his unexpected pun delighted me!) Chemel says that the new format shows that it is more about the event than the party.
However, Anthony Chittum, Executive Chef of Vermilion might disagree. He was not a fan of the changes, saying it was too chaotic. I was surprised when he told me that he had to stand during the ceremony as there were not enough seats.
Miles Vaden, Executive Chef of Eventide, had the same problem. I’ll attest to that as I was standing on the side of the show right next to him.
I didn’t have the chance to survey every guest, but from the handful of reactions I gleamed, I may have recognized a pattern. Those nominees left without a chair in the house were less inclined to embrace the new style.
RAMW President Lynne Breaux absolutely loves the theatre-style format and reports a positive consensus. She concedes that with any new thing, we will have to tweak it to make it better in the coming years. For RAMMYS 2010, she says people paid attention to what was important.
Scott Drewno, recipient of the Chef of the Year title, especially appreciates not having to worry about going up on stage with spinach in his teeth.
Anthony Chittum and his girlfriend, Dominique
In other exciting news, Anthony Chittum tells me he is headed to Crete for some culinary research. I hope we get to see some of that Greek influence in their next Outstanding in the Field dinner, an evening of al fresco dining set for September 12th. (Opa!) In the meantime, Chittum and his girlfriend, Dominique recommend we try Duangrat’s Thai Restaurant in Falls Church, a traditional family restaurant which they say is not recognized enough.
- photos and story by Jamel Daugherty