A night of distinction. The 3rd Annual RAMMYS Honors celebrates the recipients of our industry’s most esteemed accolades. We gather to pay tribute to the icons and visionaries defining our region’s culinary excellence, headlined by the presentation of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award. The evening also includes our John G. Laytham Exceptional Leadership and Impact Award and Milestone Award Honorees and the live announcement of the winner of the Joan Hisaoka Allied Member of the Year Award.
The RAMMYS Honors Cocktail Reception will be held at The Watergate Hotel on May 5, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“Mayor Bowser understands that a strong restaurant industry is essential to a strong D.C.,” said Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW. “From expanding access to capital to standing up for restaurant workers and operators, she has consistently shown up for the small businesses that power our neighborhoods. Her leadership has helped our industry tremendously during her tenure, and that impact deserves to be recognized.”
Each year, RAMW’s Executive Committee selects the recipient of the award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrably elevated the profile and success of the greater Washington dining landscape and foodservice community. It is one of The RAMMYS Honors awards, which salutes individuals who best exemplify the spirit of the restaurant industry and some of the region’s most celebrated dining institutions.
Mayor Bowser has understood how policy shapes opportunities for the District’s small business community throughout her career, from her time as an ANC Commissioner to her tenure as Ward 4 Councilmember and a decade as DC’s Mayor.
Additional 2026 Honorees to be announced soon.