Bourbon Steak, Fiola, Rasika, Estadio Triumph At ’12 RAMMYs; Jeff & Barbara Black Win Big!

NORTHWEST -- Close to 1,600 guests streamed into the Marriott Wardman Park hotel early Sunday evening, for the D.C. restaurant industry’s annual gala honoring the city’s best and brightest.

In a nod to the 2012 “Hats Off to Restaurants” theme, the crowd came adorned in a diverse and colorful sea of headwear, with top hats, cowboy hats, fasteners, and even a Monopoly piece hat on full display.

Taking the top marquee honors for “Best New Restaurant” and “Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year”, respectively, was Fabio and Maria Trabocchi’s Fiola and the Georgetown Four Seasons hotel’s Bourbon Steak -- the latter led by Executive Chef Adam Sobel.

But Jeff and Barbara Black, owners of the omnipresent Black Restaurant Group, also won particularly big with two of their properties earning awards – in addition to them being named “Restaurateurs of the Year”.

Popular 14th Street bar Black Jack landed the title of “Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene”, while BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant was named “Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year”.

Chef Vikram Sunderam of Rasika and recently opened Rasika West End fame took home one of the most coveted awards of the night as the 2012 “Chef of the Year”. And Adour’s Fabrice Bendano kept his acceptance speech short and sweet, as he accepted the “Pastry Chef of the Year” prize.

The District’s bartenders, mixologists, and sommeliers were also, of course, well represented at this year’s RAMMY Awards. Mark Kuller’s Estadio won the award for “Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year” with Cork Wine Bar toasting their “Wine Program of the Year” honor.

The original location of Founding Farmers is apparently the place to people watch as the area’s “Power Spot of the Year”. But for those just looking to relax, they need look no further than the 2012 “Neighborhood Gathering Place”: Café Saint-Ex.

Former D.C. mayor Anthony A. Williams received a particularly warm welcome from attendees when he accepted this year’s Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award for his pivotal role in helping develop parts of the city, which now, as a result, boast hundreds of new restaurants and bars.

This year’s RAMMY Awards followed the model of the last two ceremonies, with a theatre-style presentation followed by an evening of celebration. Guests were treated to a buffet dinner of gourmet delicacies from Australia, Spain, and Virginia, with the night’s kick-off reception sponsored by the country of Chile.

After parties stretched across the city, with Black Jack perhaps attracting the biggest crowd, including a playful bocce ball tournament featuring current and past RAMMY winners.

Hats off to restaurants, indeed!