Posted at 7:47 PM ET, 03/22/2006

Rock On

By Erin

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced the finalists for its 2006 Rammy awards Wednesday afternoon at a party at IndeBleu. On hand were RAMW president Lynne Breaux, Bob Madigan and Carole Schwartz (who spoke of her crusade to halt the smoking ban).

The categories are divided between ones where the winner will be selected by the public and ones where the winner is awarded by a panel of judges. The biggest surprise to me was that all but one of the fine dining nominees are in Virginia. I was delighted to see Anthony Chittum of Notti Bianche make the nominees for Rising Culinary Star and Cathal Armstrong pick up a nomination for Chef of the Year with Restaurant Eve, in addition to a nod for the restaurant's wine and beverage program. My favorites aside, the nominees are:

Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year: Billy Martin's Tavern, Busboys and Poets, Cashion's Eat Place, Chef Geoff's and Evening Star Cafe

Hottest Bar Scene: Clyde's of Gallery Place, Degrees Bar, Sonoma, Tabaq Bistro and Zaytinya

Power Spot: Bistro Bis, Capital Grille, Charlie Palmer Steak, the Caucus Room and the Prime Rib

The following categories will be evaluated by a panel of judges:

New Restaurant: Acadiana, BlackSalt, Hank's Oyster Bar, IndeBleu and Willow

Fine Dining Restaurant: 2941, Colvin Run Tavern, Equinox, Maestro and Restaurant Eve
Informal Dining Restaurant: Bangkok 54, Circle Bistro, Indique, Kaz Sushi Bistro and Zaytinya
Chef of the Year: Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve, Jonathan Krinn of 2941, Jose Andres, Robert Wiedmaier of Marcel's and Todd Gray of Equinox
Rising Culinary Star: Anthony Chittum of Notti Bianche/Dish, Brendan Cox of Circle Bistro, Johnny Monis of Komi, Nathan Beauchamp of 1789 and Santi Zabaleta of Taberna del Alabardero

The final category, favorite restaurant of the year, is selected by popular vote. You can vote for that and all of the other categories on the RAMW Web site or in the May 21 issue of The Washington Post Magazine.
Tell us what you think. Did your favorite place or chef make the list?

--Erin