Alexandria Businesses Nominated For 2020 RAMMY Awards

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Finalists for the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington's 2020 RAMMY awards were announced Monday, and several Alexandria businesses made the cut.

Del Ray's own Stomping Ground is nominated for favorite gathering place of the year. While Stomping Ground is limited to takeout during the new coronavirus crisis, it normally sees locals line up on weekends for biscuits and a casual dining atmosphere. Other finalists in the category include Brookland’s Finest, Lapis, Quarry House Tavern and The Salt Line.

Logan Sausage Co., an Alexandria-based specialty sausage maker, is up for regional food and beverage producer of the year. The family-owned business supplies grocery stores, hundreds of restaurants, and other food service distributors in the DC and Baltimore areas. Other nominees in the category are Arcadia Farm, Atlas Brew Works, Ayrshire Farm and Bluejacket.

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company is up for several awards. Jamal Flowers of the Alexandria location is nominated for manager of the year, along with Charlie Idol of Mission Navy Yard, Rizza Leguro of Founding Farmers Tysons, Jeremy Mancuso of Old Ebbitt Grill and Bethany Wagener of Alta Strada – Mosaic. The restaurant will also receive one of the special RAMMY awards, the 2020 Honorary Milestone RAMMY Award, for 30 years in business. Other milestone awards will go to Mrs. K’s Toll House for 90 years and Vace Italian Delicatessen for 44 years.

Another special award, the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award, will go to Randy Norton of Great American Restaurants "for his dedication and leadership that has helped transform the region’s restaurant scene into today’s vibrant industry," RAMW said in a press release.

Restaurants that are members of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington who met category requirements were eligible to be nominated. The finalists and winners are selected through the voting public and an anonymous panel of volunteer judges, including food and dining journalists, educators and food service industry professionals. The public will decide winners in four categories: favorite gathering place of the year, upscale brunch of the year, casual brunch of the year and favorite fast bites of the year. Dates for voting this summer will be announced.

Winners will be announced at the 38th Annual RAMMY Awards Gala, scheduled for Sunday, July 26 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. RAMW could reschedule to a later date if warranted by the new coronavirus crisis. See the full list of finalists for 2020 RAMMYs.