Springfield Restaurant Snags Award At 2020 RAMMYs

SPRINGFIELD, VA — Restaurants from Washington, DC dominated the list of winners at the 2020 RAMMY Awards, but a Springfield restaurant earned an accolade too. The awards, which recognize accomplishments of restaurants and food service community in the DC region, were announced on Sunday by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).

Among the winners was Yasmin Orozco of Taco Bamba Taqueria Springfield for the employee of the year award. Taco Bamba is a locally-based taquería owned by Chef Victor Albisu with the most recent location opening in Ballston. Albisu was named chef of the year in 2015 by RAMW and also owns Poca Madre and Del Campo. Poca Madre won the RAMMY award for upscale casual restaurant of the year but has been permanently closed. Taco Bamba's location has also closed, leaving the taquería with five Northern Virginia locations.

The RAMMY Awards were conducted virtually for the first time Sunday night from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Finalists were based on the 2019 year of dining, but RAMW acknowledged the resiliency of the restaurant community in 2020 as they continue to navigate challenges related to the pandemic.

Winners in four categories — Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites — were chosen by the public. An anonymous panel of judges made up of food and dining journalists, educators, and food service industry professionals, chose the remaining winners, according to a RAMW release.

RAMW's Executive Committee honored two of its members with special awards. RAMW presented the Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year award to Coastal Sunbelt Produce, for its commitment to and support of the organization. It also presented the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award to restaurateur Randy Norton of Great American Restaurants, recognizing his more than 45 years in business.

In addition, the 2020 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Awards were handed out to Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. (30 years - Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, and, Washington, D.C.), Vace Italian Delicatessen (40 years - Bethesda, Maryland, and, Washington, D.C.), and Mrs. K's Toll House (90 years - Silver Spring, Maryland).

Here are the remaining winners of the 38th Annual RAMMY Awards:

• Upscale Brunch of the Year: Trummer's (Clifton, Virginia)
• Casual Brunch of the Year: All-Purpose - Shaw
• Favorite Gathering Place of the Year: The Salt Line
• Favorite Fast Bites of the Year: Shouk
• Service Program of the Year: St. Anselm
• Beer Program of the Year: Roofers Union
• Cocktail Program of the Year: Royal
• Wine Program of the Year: Field & Main (Marshall, Virginia)
• Casual Restaurant of the Year: CHIKO - Capitol Hill
• Employee of the Year: Yasmin Orozco, Taco Bamba Taqueria (Springfield, Virginia)
• Manager of the Year: Jamal Flowers, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co. ( Alexandria, Virginia)
• Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Atlas Brew Works
• Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Three Blacksmiths (Sperryville, Virginia)
• New Restaurant of the Year: Cane
• Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Poca Madre
• Pastry Chef of the Year: Paola Velez, Kith/Kin (now Maydan and Compass Rose)
• Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Angel Barreto, Anju
• Restaurateur of the Year: Yama Jewayni, Katsuya Fukushima, Daisuke Utagawa, Daikaya Group
• Chef of the Year: David Deshaies, Unconventional Diner

Patch reporter Michael O'Connell contributed to this report.