Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the winners of its 38th annual RAMMY Awards (annual restaurant awards) in mid-September during a two-hour virtual program broadcast live from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The event, which celebrated the region’s resilient hospitality community and honored winners in 20 award categories with special distinctions, was viewed live by a first-ever public audience. 

The best part? A Springfield restaurant was among those that earned a top honor! Yasmin Orozco of Taco Bamba Taqueria Springfield took home the coveted Employee of the Year Award. This popular taqueria, owned by Chef Victor Albisu, has five Northern Virginia locations, but it was Orozco’s fine work and service at the Springfield location that earned her the accolade. 

For over thirty years, RAMW’s RAMMY Awards have honored the hard-working individuals and organizations of the metropolitan Washington region’s restaurant and food service community. 

Historically the RAMMYs are all about the accomplishments of the year before, but as more than 80 venues in the region have already announced they will permanently shutter, RAMW President Kathy Hollinger said it would be “ridiculous not to acknowledge the moment that we’re in right now.”

She described the future of the industry as “challenging, but hopeful,” and touted RAMW’s work to support it during these long months of the pandemic. So while the program honored finalists based on the 2019 year of dining, RAMW recognized that 2020 has posed unique challenges that the industry continues to navigate.

Winners in four categories for the annual restaurant awards were voted on by the public, including Favorite Gathering Place, Upscale Brunch, Casual Brunch, and Favorite Fast Bites. All others were chosen by an anonymous panel of volunteer judges, consisting of food and dining journalists, educators, and foodservice industry professionals.

Orozco appeared at the virtual annual restaurant awards to thank the panel that selected her as the Employee of the Year winner.  

“First of all I want to thank God for letting me win such a prestigious award,” she said, continuing on to thank her family, friends, coworkers, bosses, and “Chef Victor.” 

“The day that I had my interview, I told my son, ‘I think I did pretty good.’” But she said that even if she didn’t win, she’d still feel happy “as if I won it.” 

And she did win at the annual restaurant awards! She deserves congratulations upon your next visit to Springfield’s Taco Bamba.  

Here is the full list of winners from the 38th Annual RAMMY Awards (annual restaurant awards):

Upscale Brunch of the Year: Trummer’s

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

Casual Restaurant of the Year: CHIKO – Capitol Hill

Employee of the Year: Yasmin Orozco, Taco Bamba Taqueria – Springfield

Manager of the Year: Jamal Flowers, Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Co.  – Alexandria

Regional Food and Beverage Producer of the Year: Atlas Brew Works

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Three Blacksmiths

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

All of these restaurants won at the annual restaurant awards this year. It’s a great honor for any of the winners and certainly offer something to be very proud of. With a Springfield restaurant winning at the annual restaurant awards, we can all be proud.