Victor Albisu was the big winner at the 33rd RAMMY Awards held Sunday night in Washington, D.C., earning the coveted Chef of the Year award for his work at Del Campo in the District and Falls Church’s own Taco Bamba.
The annual gala held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington presented awards to winners in 21 categories celebrating the D.C.-area’s hospitality industry.
Albisu opened Taco Bamba in a small strip mall next to his mother’s supermarket on Pimmit Drive in the summer of 2013 and the Falls Church taqueria, known for its tacos, sopes and giant tortas, has since become a neighborhood favorite, drawing crowds daily for both lunch and dinner.
F.C.’s Mad Fox Brewing Company, another 2015 RAMMY finalists, was nominated in the Best Beer Program category for the second consecutive year but lost out to winner Pizzeria Paradiso of Georgetown.
And in other Falls Church-area RAMMY news, DGS Delicatessen, slated to open next week in Mosaic District, took home the award for best Everyday Casual Restaurant for its Dupont Circle location.
RAMMY winners were selected by an anonymous panel of volunteer judges made up of food and dining journalists, educators and food service industry professionals for most categories but in four (Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Casual Brunch, Everyday Casual Brunch and Favorite Fast Bites), a public vote was used to decide the winners.
Full list of 2015 RAMMY below:
Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year: EagleBank
Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award: Herbert Miller, Western Development Corporation, Chairman & CEO
Restaurant Employee of the Year: Evan Labb, Evening Star Cafe
Restaurant Manager of the Year: Joseph Cerione, Blue Duck Tavern
Rising Culinary Star of the Year: George Pagonis, Kapnos
Service Program of the Year: Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier
Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company
Favorite Gathering Place: Bar Pilar
Upscale Casual Brunch: Le Diplomate
Everyday Casual Brunch: The Daily Dish
Favorite Fast Bites: Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza
Upscale Casual Restaurant: Mintwood Place
Everyday Casual Restaurant: DGS Delicatessen
Beer Program of the Year: Pizzeria Paradiso, Georgetown
Cocktail Program of the Year: Bourbon Steak
Wine Program of the Year: Iron Gate
Pastry Chef of the Year: Agnes Chin, The Grill Room
Formal Fine Dining Restaurant: The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm
New Restaurant of the Year: Fiola Mare
Restaurateur of the Year: José Andrés and Rob Wilder, ThinkFoodGroup
Chef of the Year: Victor Albisu, Del Campo and Taco Bamba
